• • • POWER • • •
Safety for photovoltaic systems E
XPLEO Kft in Budapest (Hungary) has extensive expertise in renewable energy applications. The focus of the young, highly specialised enterprise with 20 employees is on low- and medium-voltage applications, as well as electrical systems for photovoltaics and electric vehicles.
Managing Director Károly Schottner and his team markets and provides support for short- circuit protection and distribution panels, low- voltage fuses and medium-voltage RMUs, as well as chargers for electric cars and scooters. Schottner says: “Our customers are PV wholesalers, PV installers and system integrators, electric wholesalers and retailers, and installers of electric vehicle systems.”
Important market for photovoltaics
EXPLEO has been using components from Mersen since the company was founded. “We use NH fuse switch disconnectors, surge protective devices (SPD), and fuses for PV systems’ DC and AC applications,” Schottner explains. “We are quite satisfied with them. Mersen products have a good cost-effectiveness ratio.” Károly Schottner says he is also impressed by the company’s service. “We experience a high level of flexibility with
Mersen, where the focus is always on problem- solving,” Schottner adds.
Since the launch of a new Multibloc 000 generation in the summer of 2021, EXPLEO has also been using this NH fuse switch disconnector. It particularly meets the demand for reduced spaces and smaller enclosures in industrial and building applications, but also for industrial control applications such as actuator, starter and motor protection.
Photovoltaics is an important and growing market, in which the compact Multibloc 000 is ideal for use in smaller electric fuse boxes.
High short-circuit rating and low power loss
The Multibloc 000 boasts a robust design and a power rating of 125 A, which makes it superior to the competition: “Many products on the market are only designed for amperage of up to 100 A,” explains Mersen product manager Corentin Lavenas. “With a short-circuit strength of 80 kA and a low power loss, the Multibloc® 000 is one of the best in its class in this market segment.”
Mersen offers two versions of the Multibloc: One for mounting on 60-mm bus bar systems, (Multibloc
000.RST9) and one for base plate mounting with a width of only 53 mm (Multibloc
000.ST9).
A highly specialised company for renewable energies in Hungary relies on a fuse switch disconnector from the French electrical engineering expert Mersen
Compact design and
user-friendly installation The Hungarian electrical engineering specialists at EXPLEO use the RST9 for bus bar assembly. “We use it in PV systems for inverter connections and the general power supply,” explains Károly Schottner. It provides protection against short circuits and surge currents, and also functions as a disconnector switch for maintenance. Schottner is very satisfied with this new fusegear. He especially values the compact design requiring installation space of only 60 mm. Another important aspect for him is the ability to install the cable connections either above or below. This not only makes assembly more flexible, but also simplifies the wiring, therefore reducing the overall costs of the switch cabinet.
Additional safety features In addition, Mersen has equipped the Multibloc 000 series with several safety features. In closed position, the fuse switch disconnectors can be locked with a padlock or sealed with a lead seal,
38 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • SEPTEMBER 2023
which substantially increases the safety of the installation. “These devices should be used only by technicians, and the padlock or seal function increases safety in the case of small current distributors, such as those that are installed in locked cabinets in residential areas,” emphasises Corentin Lavenas.
The fuse switch disconnectors are optionally available with a fuse monitoring function. If a fuse is blown, this is detected by the electronic module, which sends an NC/NO signal via the digital output. “The monitoring of fuses is not yet widespread, but it will be increasingly needed to improve service availability in critical areas such as continuous processes in industry, hospitals or data centers,” explains Lavenas.
This safety monitoring feature also makes maintenance more efficient. Micro switches for detecting when the switch door is opened are available for all versions. Schottner is especially impressed by the safety features, and definitely sees future potential for use of the device.
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
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