FLASHTRAB compact – Ahead of its time
This year, Phoenix Contact presents a completely new concept for surge protection, which it is exhibiting at the Light & Building and Hanover trade fairs. FLASHTRAB compact is a pluggable surge protection combination in acc. with EN type 1 and 2, consisting of lightning current arresters that are all encapsulated and pluggable, as well as pluggable surge arresters.
The direct parallel wiring of both arrester types is based on the proven AEC (Active Energy Control) principle. All the arresters work autonomously and in this way attain maximum performance. The arrester combination fulfills the high requirements of arrester class I. This means a current carrying capacity of 100 kA (10/350) µs. The protection level is less than or equal to 1.5 kV and the high arrester rated voltage of 350 V AC offers unlimited possibilities – worldwide!
As far as handling is concerned, FLASHTRAB compact also has quite something to offer. One big advantage is the pluggability of the arresters. In the case of an unexpected overload as a result of extreme lightning strikes, for example, the plug affected can be replaced at little expense. Another example is maintenance work: When insulation measurements are performed, pluggability pays off, as it is not necessary to switch off the plant. A worldwide novelty is the pluggable N-PE spark gap.
The question of which plug from the arrester combination belongs where is no longer relevant, since coded slots make the handling of FLASHTRAB compact child's play and it is impossible to mix up the arresters or plug them in incorrectly.
In addition to pluggability, the FLASHTRAB compact arrester combination offers even more benefits. The individual arresters are constructed in such a manner that they can be plugged into the base element in both directions. For this reason, the protection combination can be adapted to any control cabinet environment, regardless of whether the connection cables are led in from above or below. The labeling is always clearly legible.
Signaling of the arresters is also an important subject. In addition to the mechanically monitored surge protection arresters familiar from the past, FLASHTRAB compact offers the first monitored spark gaps. Signaling takes place directly on the module, mechanically, that means without using any power at all. It is therefore possible to read off the status even when the module is not installed. Monitoring of all the relays is over a common floating PDT contact. This allows individual and reliable signaling to the control system of the plant.
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