Electric.ie May/June 2021

ELECTRIC.IE • The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry • 25 Phoenix Contact Surge protection for electromobility T he market for electric cars is growing exponentially and automobile manufacturers are increasingly focusing on electromobility. However, surge protection also has a part to play in this technology. Charging stations and home charging stations are high-quality and highly complex systems that always need to be available. A surge protection concept provides the necessary protection for both the charging station and the electric car that is connected, protecting against overvoltage’s caused by lightning strikes and switching operations on the grid. Feed-in is protected with Phoenix Contact's new Valvetrab EV surge protective devices developed specifically for e-mobility applications. The new product family consists of a type 1+2 combined lightning current and surge arrester and a type 2 surge protective device. Both versions are available with optional remote indication contact. The plugs enable easy insulation measurement and are mechanically coded. This prevents accidental mismatching of the plugs. For a Ready-to-connect distribution blocks with integrated disconnect element T he PTFIX distribution blocks with Push-in connection from Phoenix Contact are individually configured and just need to be unpacked and connected at the user’s premises. The first distribution blocks with integrated function are now available. They can be used to separate signals quickly and easily as well as implement fuses and components. There are three different versions: TG for various isolating plugs, fuse plugs, and component connectors, MT featuring integrated knife disconnection, and MTL featuring integrated lever knife disconnection. The function distribution blocks have test points for all common test probes. The ready-to-mount distribution blocks save a lot of time. The compact and minimalist size also saves a considerable amount of space. Various mounting adapters for DIN rail and direct mounting provide flexible mounting options. All PTFIX blocks can be aligned without any loss of pitch. For custom creation, Phoenix Contact offers the web based PTFIX configurator. Guidance is provided when entering the desired properties and the order is placed via the integrative connection to the Phoenix Contact e-shop. consistent protection concept, sensitive components, such as Ethernet communication or the control panel, are protected with appropriate type 3 surge protective devices. These devices are already available in the Phoenix Contact product portfolio and work with the new VAL-EV devices.