Sunday, September 16, 2018

Important Features Of A High Voltage Contactor

By Robert Hughes


Developments in semiconductor technology have led to the innovation of solid state switches that can replace thyratrons, ignition and spark gaps that were being used before. Older electronics used drivers that are being replaced by TTL input. These advances have improved the efficiency of switches over time. A high voltage contactor has the flow features that make them one of the best inventions.

There is a lower input power loss compared to another type of switches. This is attributed to the use of MOSFET technology. This technology dramatically decreases the power losses. This power loss can be attributed to the total charge, voltage and the frequency of the switch. When the gate charge is small it means that the input loss will also be minimal. This is totally different from switches that use bipolar transistors where input power losses are very high.

The contactors are reliable when it comes to high current applications. Even when short circuited, they guarantee steady hard saturation which is very necessary when running high current applications such as medical test equipment. The fact that they are able to switch faster also make them efficient for use in these applications. The switching speeds generally increase the efficiency of the equipment.

Switches are easily customized especially when it comes to the housing and footprint. This helps them suit and fit where they are meant to be used. Besides the customization, these contactors are quite easy to use due to the incorporation of galvanic isolation with TTL control. The sensitivity of the switches is also customized in different ways to suit the specified use.

When designing the switches, one important factor considered is prevention against voltage reversal and overload. Chances of voltage reversal are very low with these switches. This prevents cases that would have been otherwise catastrophic. There are different technologies used when making the switches including MOSFET and SCR. These ensure safety and security whenever the switch is in use. Especially during switching.

These contactors are voltage controlled unlike those controlled by current. This helps them to switch using very little current which means they can handle high loads without heating. On the other hand, other switches require a fair amount of current to switch which makes them create a lot of heat when handling high loads. The possibility of these switches operating in linear mode is very minimal. This is because the level of drain current does affect the gate-source voltage.

These type of switches ensures that there is a faster switching. This is made possible because the switches are able to handle high frequencies. The faster switching also does not leave a chance for much loss. The transistors are insulated with a thin oxide layer which prevents drawing of current during switching. This advantage has a lot of effect on the overall performance of the contactors and the power losses.

These power contactors are effectively used with both high and low power equipment. The few discussed features have been the reasons why they have become common. The factors mentioned above are very important and make considerable impacts on the performance of any equipment.




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