DC power relays respond to renewable energy needs

15th August 2014

Switchtec Ltd

Mick Elliott

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Datasheet

Switchtec is now stocking Hongfa’s high voltage DC power relays. The components are a response to the growing renewable energy market that includes electric vehicles and the storage of DC energy, where there is a parallel requirement within these applications to switch high voltage DC circuits. The relays use Hongfa’s own patented technology and independent intellectual property to achieve high levels of performance.

Dubbed the HFE18 and HFE80, the relays feature a ceramic chamber filled with a mix of hydrogen and nitrogen gas that provides high arc extinguishing capabilities and a high DC voltage cut-off. This feature also protects the contacts against environmental oxidation and corrosion, thus extending relay life even further.

Rated currents range from 10A to 300A with rated voltages from 12VDC to 750VDC. The maximum switching voltage can be as high as 1000VDC. The HE80V series relays is aimed at automated guided vehicles (AGV), personnel and tourist transportation shuttles, forklifts, golf carts, community vehicles, while the HFE80 series is designed for PV, UPS and transformer applications. The HFE18V is aimed at alternative energy vehicles, and the HFE18 is aimed at other DC input and output applications. There is a relay in the range for virtually any kind of HVDC switching where a compact relay is required.

The compact, encapsulated design meets size, and weight considerations with for example, a 300A rated relay measuring just 78 x 69 x 59mm (HxWxD).

The relays can be used in power charging devices, PV- and wind-power systems, construction and industry vehicles, DC server power and UPS, medical apparatus and instruments. In the world of power generation, the relays can be used in DC/AC inverters in the power grid, and in storage batteries systems in the role of battery management systems (BMS). Other applications include elevators, industrial robots, and testing devices.