Wago 4-channel electronic circuit breakers: Program trip characteristics, current monitoring

Germantown, WI – Three 4-channel Electronic Circuit Breakers have joined Wago Corp.s 787 Series Power Supply System. DIN-rail mount 787-860, 787-861 and 787-862 Electronic Circuit Breakers each separately protect up to four current paths (up to 10 A at 24 V dc max each), while offering independent programming of appropriate channel- or circuit-specific ratings and trip times via free 759-860 Configuration software, company says.

In the event of a fault or short circuit, the Electronic Circuit Breakers can shut down the tripped channel within 100 ms. Rather than halting the entire system, power is maintained to other loads (such as to a PLC on one path and HMI on another). This prevents a system-wide shut down, as well as possible data loss. Afterward, the tripped load may be remotely reset via a control input.

Through free 759-860 Visualization software (and available RS-232 cable) or on-unit LCD, the 787 Series Electronic Circuit Breakers provide independent channel monitoring of voltage, current, fault diagnostics and energy consumption. Additional Electronic Circuit Breaker features include four current channels with delayed switching-in of channels (250 ms/channel), rugged metal housing, LED status indication, signal outputs and Wago Cage Clamp Spring Pressure Connection Technology for vibration- and maintenance-free terminations.

The 787-861 Electronic Circuit Breaker features an integrated short-circuit current limitation, which avoids overload of upstream power supply units. This guarantees definite shutdown selectivity. The 787-860 and 787-862 do not feature short-circuit current limitation; however, they have adjustable trip times for quicker responses than those of melting fuses or traditional circuit breakers. Both units also allow for current path monitoring (overload or short circuit), as well as power consumption.

Optimized for advanced applications, or widely distributed

The Electronic Circuit Breaker modules are optimized for advanced applications, or those distributed over great distances. The Electronic Circuit Breakers can be used behind primary switch mode power supply units with any overload or short circuit behavior. If output of the power supply unit is divided into several circuit paths, the electronic circuit breaker will protect the circuit paths separately. This makes the Wago Electronic Circuit Breakers ideal for control panels or machines powered by a single, larger power supply, the company says.

Monitoring capabilities are also ideal for applications where events must be logged (such as those in food, medical or process industries), where loads are separated over long distances (process), or if remote access is required (such as those in water/wastewater treatment and petrochemical facilities).

Also read: Wago offers free add-on instructions for Allen-Bradley RS-Logix 5000 .

– Edited by Mark T. Hoske, editor in chief, Control Engineering

More system integration news: www.controleng.com/integration

Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our CFE Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.