Pulse Electronics Corp. has introduced its new 50Hz/60Hz, di/dt AC current sensor that can be clamped onto an existing solid conductor without having to disconnect the conductor. The PA3828NL clamp-on sensor has a linear current range of 0.1 amps to 200 amps with 1.0 percent accuracy for high precision power measuring applications at 50 Hz/60 Hz AC. Another growing application is for arc fault AC current monitoring, sensing frequencies up to 1 MHz. This sensor is the latest addition to Pulse Electronics’ Sidewinder current sensor family. Applications include metering, industrial motor control, power monitoring, circuit protection, and current fault monitoring.
“Pulse’s new current sensor is quite unique,” said Glenn Roemer, field applications engineer, Pulse Electronics. “It enables the sensor to be installed into an existing application without disconnecting the system, thus providing a lower installation cost for AC current measurement and AC power control applications.”
The sensor has an internal diameter of 6.2 mm and opens to 7.0 mm to easily clamp onto a conductor. It is core-less, lightweight, and can be quickly installed. The robust clamp feature can be opened and closed multiple times.
The Sidewinder family of current sensors provides a highly linear output voltage over a very wide dynamic range from 0.1 to 1,000 amperes. These sensors differ from traditional current sensors because they do not contain a magnetic core. This makes them more accurate, highly linear, lighter, easier to assemble, less expensive, and offers flexibility of design to suit a wide range of applications.
Pulse’s new Sidewinder PA3828NL clamp-on current sensors are RoHS compliant and meet ANSI C12.20 accuracy Class 1.0 standards. They are sold in trays with prices around $1.75 in quantities of 10,000. Leadtime is 8 to 10 weeks. More information can be found on the datasheet located on the Pulse Electronics website at http://productfinder.pulseeng.com/product/PA3828NL.
