High-voltage contactors for the mobility of tomorrow
C310 DC contactors are equipped for use in electric cars
Current climate and environmental protection objectives can only be achieved if road traffic makes a significant contribution. In the ‘smart cities’ of tomorrow, this means fewer emissions and better quality of life.
A key building block for this is the increasing trend for electric drives in all vehicle classes. High-performance battery systems of up to 1,000 V DC are used in this new vehicle category.
Here, the so-called BDU (Battery Disconnect Unit) is the link between the components in the vehicle which require power from the battery. It assumes an important safety function by isolating the high-voltage battery from the high-voltage network along with all the electrical components of the vehicle in the event of danger.
The compact C310 series of Schaltbau contactors can be used for this application:
They can be used as a main contactor in the positive and negative cable of the drive battery. In the event of thermal overload or a short circuit, the electrical drive train is reliably galvanically isolated from the battery using the contactors.
Why the C310 series of contactors is suitable here:
In order to achieve comparable power in electric vehicles as in combustion engines, high DC voltages are indispensable. However, during disconnection these cause a switch arc which heavily wears out contact areas. The main aim of contactor manufacturers is to minimise the combustion period of this switch arc. The C310 high-voltage contactor from Schaltbau meets precisely these requirements, rendering this technology safe and controllable using an air system. In contrast with solutions commonly available on the market, an encapsulated switching chamber filled with gas can be omitted. Circuits in the limit range can therefore be distinctly better controlled.
Further key characteristics for this approach:
- Full bidirectionality
- Power classes from 150 to 1,000 A can be covered
- High short-time current-carrying capacity of up to 3,000 A
- Up to 1,500 V rated insulation voltage
- High thermal continuous currents – high breaking capacity
