Hello,
What kind of reclosing circuit breakers are we using in the field? I’m on a large ABB-SACE but would like to switch to a newer type. TIA!
1 Like
Hi Cotje,
That one is actually a sample from a manufacturer we were evaluating at the time.
We have some new hardware on the way that is needed to make use of it, and they will likely be released at the same time. In other words, a few months, but expect it to be plug and play.
Let me know if you have any other questions about it.
Thanks! I’ll await the update and manufacturer info.
I am using TE EV200ADANA: https://www.te.com/de/product-1-1618002-1.html
And I am very satisfied with it.
To not have short circuit currents floating during power on because of large capacitors being loaded, I use REC-BMS Precharge. But James already showed how to implement a pre-charge just with Batrium.
1 Like
Thanks kleini! Was already looking into these Kilovac breakers, but why didn’t you go for the normally-closed type (EV200B)?
And, can you share the link to James’s pre-charge method with Batrium?
Maybe the normally-closed type would fit better. But then you need a voltage and current to break the whole circuitry. Using the normally-open type will break the circuitry if voltage or current get lost. This looks for me as a safer solution. Power consumption to keep the normally-open type closed does not seem to be very high: 1.5W from the datasheet.
Precharge was described in this topic: Precharge circuit - Expansion board settings - #2 by James
2 Likes
Both Gigavac and TE make latching contactors.
Im using a Gigavac 3 wire type where you send a pulse down one wire to close it and a pulse down the other wire to open it.
there are also 2 wire versions where you just reverse the polarity of the pulse for your open /close
1 Like
Ok ,I bought a Gigavac contactor (100V/400A) but this one is to be PWM driven. What kind of boards do you use for controlling the coil current (economizers)?
I’ve seen boards based on DRV101/102/103/110, but not sure which one to use.
No need for PWM
I am using The SSR’s on the watchmon core expansion card
Critical Pulse on
Critical Pulse Off ( CB trip)
with whatever voltage the coils are rated at
Or are you using a non latching contactor
The economizer feature is internal to the contactor you just need to supply the coil with its rated voltage.
1 Like
Thanks OgAus!
I guess it all comes down to the type of contactor one bought/uses. Mine (Gigavac GV141PAX) is an external PWM-type (P) and draws over 2,5A current without PWM. From what I learned, by using PWM, it could be maintained with only 0,2A.
Meanwhile I ordered a DRV103 chip that does this job. Yesterday I tested a simple inline RC solution that already dropped the current to 0,8A.
Will let know the results once I found a working solution.
Just tested the simple RC-circuit switched by Relay A “Critical BattOK”, and it works like a charm. Only drawing 0.3A of current.
Thanks for all the input!