In today’s data centers jam-packed with electronic equipment, sophisticated power protection is critical but any way to make the best use of space is also important. The same dynamics are encountered frequently in equipment-intensive telecom and renewable energy sites. Hydraulic-magnetic circuit breakers are often relied upon to provide that protection and are made by a number of manufacturers including Eaton, Schneider-Electric – and Carling Technologies, a Littelfuse brand headquartered in Plainville, Connecticut.
Designed to protect against short circuits and overcurrent, hydraulic-magnetic circuit breakers use a solenoid coil’s magnetic force to operate with a sensitively calibrated time-delay. They operate on the magnetic force produced by the load current flowing through the solenoid coil which is wound around a hermetically sealed tube containing an iron core, a spring and a dampening fluid. As the electric current passes through the electromagnetic coil, the induced magnetism moves the iron core to trip the actuator and break the circuit. The hydraulic fluid, depending on its viscosity, determines the time the iron core needs to push through the fluid to reach and trip the actuator, an important feature in an environment prone to current surges.
Carling recently introduced a new R-Series configurable 13 mm DIN rail mount hydraulic-magnetic circuit breaker designed for the purpose and sporting a thin profile. Available with up to four poles, the R-Series circuit breaker features no hardware or front panel cutout requirements, an optional rail button, and a choice of 45 mm or 57 mm mounting panels, making DIN rail mounting simple.
“Datacom and telecom applications and renewable energy projects require a lot of equipment in increasingly smaller spaces. Our customers are looking for ways to fit more equipment in without sacrificing circuit protection and safety,” said Gary Chan, Global Product Manager. “The new R-Series circuit breaker has a narrow design, which frees up valuable real estate for revenue-generating devices, and it has recessed wire-ready terminals that are touch-proof and shock-resistant.”
Measuring only 13 mm, the DIN rail mount hydraulic-magnetic circuit breaker combines maximum protection with ease of use. It can be configured with one to four poles and has voltage ratings of 80 VDC, 240 VAC, 415 VAC, or 480 VAC.
