Posted to News on 23rd May 2014, 13:36
Trip blocks convert PKE basic units to protect cables and lines
Eaton is adding the new PKE-XTU CP trip blocks to its offering for the PKE electronic motor-protective circuit-breakers. Thanks to this addition, users can instantly convert an existing PKE basic unit into an IEC 60947-2 circuit-breaker for protecting cables and lines. When used in conjunction with the SmartWire-DT module, the devices also enable the data of switches and consumers to be read out and monitored so that plant availability and energy consumption can be optimised.
The modular PKE system consists of the PKE basic device and a tool-less pluggable trip block, enabling any retrospective changes to the switch to be made simply and conveniently. The user benefits from a high degree of flexibility and saves time and costs with the conversion, as a complete exchange of the switch is unnecessary. The concept also allows optimised stock-keeping.
Eaton offers the new trip blocks in the two Standard and Extended variants. With the help of the new PKE-SWD-CP function element, the Extended models allow the PKE circuit-breaker to be connected to the SmartWire-DT connection system. This offers an affordable communication option for monitoring the circuit-breaker and the protected loads in the energy distribution system. Both variants of the PKE trip blocks for system protection are available in the two current ranges 15 to 36A and 30 to 65A, and in two different mounting widths 45mm and 55mm. The PKE circuit-breaker offers an outstanding short-circuit breaking capacity of 50kA/ 400V.
Unlike motor protection trip blocks, the trip blocks for system protection enable the user to adapt the tripping threshold of the electronic short-circuit releases to different cable lengths and cross-sections. An imbalanced load has no effect on the tripping behaviour, so that the PKE circuit-breaker also offers reliable protection for single-phase loads with different rated currents.
When the trip blocks are connected to SmartWire-DT using the PKE-SWD-CP modules, the user can set the size of the data provided by selecting the appropriate data profile. Besides the basic data of the circuit-breaker (switch position, setting values, cause of tripping, switch type) the current values of each individual phase can be transferred. Additional measuring devices and the installation effort normally required for this function become unnecessary.
To learn more about Eaton's power management products, including the new PKE-XTU CP trip blocks, visit www.eaton.uk.com/electrical.
