Xpole entering the digital age
An electronic system issues a warning before everything breaks down
Bonn, March 2008 - Moeller and their joint development partner DeepStreamTechnologies announce the next step towards the digital world of modern electrical installation. At this year's Light+Building Trade Show, the pioneer in terms of protective switchgear will for the first time present an RCD equipped with digital features not found on conventional RCDs.
Innovation and competence have always been top priority at Moeller. As the inventor of the residual current device - patent owner Professor Gottfried Biegelmeier headed the development department for low-voltage switchgear as a freelancer - we feel a commitment to the consumers, especially regarding the protection of persons against residual currents. This is a commitment that is met through steady expansion and enhancement of our own product portfolio. But also the electrical systems need protection to guarantee equipment availability. For example, new and innovative products sound the alarm before residual current paralyses an entire system.
Digital extra features assist the residual current device in its job
The IEC/EN 61008 product standard for RCDs stipulates that devices of this type must trip at a range between 50 and 100 percent of the nominal residual current specified. This means that a typical 30mA RCD intended for personal protection may trip starting at 15mA, but must trip before 30mA is reached.
Now, when a problem arises in a system, caused by actual residual currents or by operation-related leakage currents, it is only noticed when it is already too late - when the residual current device has already tripped. When only a small residual current is present, nuisance tripping often occurs with conventional RCDs which in turn causes further problems such as a production standstill or a time-consuming search for the error. Especially when it happens on weekends!
Moeller is the first company with a digital RCD that significantly reduces nuisance tripping and prevents such problems occurring. The digital RCD will always monitor the current system status. If the system's current moves to earth within a range of 0 to 30 percent of the set nominal residual current (IΔN), a green LED will indicate that everything is fine. If the LED changes to yellow this calls for caution, indicating a residual current that is within a range of 30 to 50 percent of the IΔN. This warning means that the level is rising - however the digital RCD does not cause nuicance tripping in this circumstance, but instead indicates that its tripping threshold is being approached. If the LED turns red, the residual current is moving above 50 percent of the IΔN. The system is in a state of alarm and the digital RCD will only trip if the residual current increases beyond 90% of the IΔN.
The digital RCD communicates with its environment via a potential-free switching contact. Where the Digital RCD is connected to the Moeller Xcomfort system you don't need to continuously obtain information on the system at the distribution board, instead you can automatically receive an advance warning at IΔ > 0.3x IΔn. Many options are possible including simple actuation of external lamps or buzzers, and if there is an Xcomfort connection, in addition to a visual display, mobile phone SMS messages can be sent when specific threshold values have been exceeded.
The digital RCD - a cool guy that only intervenes when it's really necessary
Thunderstorms or other temporary disturbances won't unsettle the digital RCD thanks to an optimised tripping threshold and a type "G" short-time delay which is independent from the supply voltage. In addition, load situations - however close to their designed threshold - will not require additional thermal protection, thanks to the integrated overload protection mechanisms. And regardless of the supply voltage, it will always perform its duty in compliance with the IEC/EN 61008 standard. By taking advantage of the LEDs that indicate the tripping threshold is being approached - but not exceeded - you can undertake corrective maintenance to the system before the situation develops further and thereby avoid an inconvenient interruption to your power supply.
The usual accessories such as reset devices or auxiliary contacts are compatible with the new star among Moeller's protective switchgear portfolio. Like its RCD colleagues, it is of course equipped with a contact position indicator. Its new features include the identification label and the "Tripped" indicator.
Four new products will be introduced that incorporate this new digital RCD technology, two RCBOs and a two-pole and four-pole RCD.
These digital capabilities build further on products already launched by Moeller who is pioneering the utilisation of digital technologies in residential applications. For systems already using Xcomfort, by adding a Moeller PDIM leakage current monitor to the existing conventional RCD, these digital benefits can also be realised in existing installations - simple step-by-step installation, commissioning and operation by the user
Moeller's PDIM leakage current monitor, which is absolutely compatible with the existing Xpole series in terms of the busbar and its shape, can be snapped onto a 35 mm DIN rail. The same LED indications described on the digital RCD above are provided and the same visual and SMS alerts are possible when integrated with an Xcomfort connection. The PDIM is configurable for the characteristic (non-delayed type G or type S) and trip threshold appropriate to the RCD which it is monitoring.
Moeller GmbH, 53105 Bonn
Phone: +49 (0)228 602-0
Fax: +49 (0)228 602-2275
E-Mail: presse@moeller.net
Internet: www.moeller.net
Please direct your enquiries to:
Corporate Communications, Tel.: +49 (0)228 602-2915
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