Components: Relays, transformers, ‘light engine,’ power

Recent products in the component area include relays that can switch two or three phases, low-voltage transformers, “light engines” to increase brightness with fewer LEDs, UPSs, inductors, and a smart label encoder-applicator.

By Control Engineering Staff February 3, 2005
Solitrons, relays from Carlo Gavazzi, are offered in two housing styles, and can switch up to 32 Amps (two-phase switched or three-phase switched with an integral fan) at 600 V ac.

Recent products in the component area include relays that can switch two or three phases, low-voltage transformers, “light engines” to increase brightness with fewer LEDs, UPSs, inductors, and a smart label encoder-applicator. Companies include Carlo Gavazzi , Foster Transformer , Lumitex , Maxwell Technologies , Pulse , and Weber Marking Systems .
Carlo Gavazzi ’s new addition to the RJ Series Solitrons (solid-state relays) can switch two or three phases, and are ideally suited to replace electromechanical contactors or mercury contactors in high switching frequency applications. They have a heat sink and can be snapped onto a DIN-rail or mounted to a back chassis. Solitrons include LED indication of control input and have optional over-temperature protection. Installation is simplified via cage-clamp terminals. They have direct-copper-bonding technology, used in the company’s relays more than a decade ago.

With Foster’s Class 2 Transformers, lead wires are standard; quick disconnect tabs also are available.

Foster Transformer introduced a line of Class 2 Transformers for reliable, cost-effective power for low-voltage circuits. Standard models are available with capacities of 5, 20 and 50 VA, with either 60 Hz or 50/60 Hz ratings. Primary input voltages include 115 V, 115/230 V, and 200/230 V—with either 12 V or 24 VCT outputs.

Lumitex says its Light Engines offer brightness of 100 ft-L or more, for a 3 x 5-in. fiber-optic panel illuminated by a single high-brightness LED.

Lumitex ’s new Light Engines combine advanced Luxeon high-power LEDs with Lumitex fiber-optic panel technology to spread light from one LED over a wide, flat area. Encased in an aluminum housing that acts as a heat sink, the assembly provides significantly increased panel brightness by 20-50 times, the company says, by driving these high-power LEDs at a higher current through more efficient heat management.

Powercache ultracapacitor modules from Maxwell Technologies can serve as backup power.

Maxwell Technologies Inc . has introduced two Powercache ultracapacitor-based backup power modules said to provide a space-saving, maintenance-free, alternative to batteries for short-term “bridge” power in uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems for industrial, telecommunications, medical, and other applications. The new 48-volt rack-mount modules, rated at 1.6 and 2.3 kW, are designed and built to comply with Network Equipment Building System (NEBS) standards required for telecommunications installations. The modules stay charged, recharge in seconds in case there are multiple grid power interruptions, and operate reliably for the life of the system with zero maintenance, the company says.

Pulse introduced the PG0087NL series of power-shielded surface-mount inductors. They feature a small 6.2 x 6.2 x 2-mm maximum footprint package for any low-power dc-to-dc conversion application. All parts are compliant to the Restrictions on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive.

UltraVolt Inc . released a statement concerning the Restrictive Use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in the safety and compliances section of its Web site. “Restrictions on the Use Of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) – EU Directive 2002/095/EC” limits use of various substances in the manufacture of electrical and electronic components sold after July 1, 2006. The list of restricted materials includes hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs). The latter four materials (Pb, Hg, Cd, and PBBs) are also listed on California’s Proposition 65, UltraVolt says. The company expects to comply with the EU Directive 2002/95/EC before the deadline.

Weber Marking Systems Inc.’s AlphaRFID smart label encoder-applicator verifies as it encodes and applies.

Weber Marking Systems Inc. ’s AlphaRFID smart label encoder-applicator encodes, verifies, and applies pressure-sensitive RFID smart labels to items on the production or packaging line. In addition, if an RFID tag embedded in a smart label cannot be verified, the smart label is rejected before application and is retained on its liner. This is the only such system available, the company said at the time of this announcement. As a smart label is unwound from its supply roll, an RFID reader transmits digital information to the thin, ultra-high frequency (UHF) tag embedded between the pressure-sensitive label material and its liner. That information immediately is verified by the system and, if the tag is non-compliant, the applicator automatically disengages and the faulty smart label is rewound onto the unit’s take-up roll for subsequent disposition.
Related reading from other Reed Business Information resources includes:

  • Absopulse Electronics has introduced the FTT 6000-C, an addition to its line of three-phase to three-phase frequency converters. For more about the product from ECN , click here .

  • “Complying with new electrical safety regulations. A major National Electric Code change that affects industrial control panels becomes enforceable in January 2005.” For more from Plant Engineering , click here .

  • “Measured response: Can benchmarks usefully compare energy efficiency? Tools and benchmarks are beginning to appear that try to tackle how to compare power and energy efficiency between processors.” To read more on this topic from EDN, click here .

—Mark T. Hoske, editor-in-chief, Control Engineering, MHoske@cfemedia.com