A logging device for a trip unit records temporal information related to a circuit breaker trip event, with the circuit breaker (11) including a trip unit (12). The device (10) includes at least a clock circuit (13), a microcontroller (14), and a storage medium (15). The device (10) can be configured as either a plug-in module for the trip unit (12), or as an accessory is mounted on the panel proximate to and in communication with the trip unit (12). The clock circuit (13) generates signals representing temporal information, such as real-time date and time information. The microcontroller (14) is adapted to be coupled to the trip unit (12) to receive signals from the trip unit (12). These signals from the trip unit (12) indicate a circuit breaker trip event. The microcontroller (14) receives the time and date information from the clock circuit (13) and associates a given trip event with the time and date information related to that given trip event. The microcontroller (14) then generates output signals representing the given trip event and the temporal information associated with that given trip event. The storage medium (15) is coupled to the microcontroller (14), and receives and stores the output signals from the microcontroller (14). These output signals indicate the given trip event and the time and date information associated with the given trip event. The storage medium (15) records the output signals for review by an operator.