The automatic SOLARCHECK RSD photovoltaic panel shutdown has won the GIT Security Award

The automatic SOLARCHECK RSD photovoltaic panel shutdown won the GIT Security Award in the Fire & Explosion Protection, Industrial Safety category.

The coveted prize in safety technology is awarded each year by the magazines GIT Sicherheit, GIT Security, and messtec drives Automation on behalf of publisher Wiley-VCH.

Electrical safety in photovoltaic systems: in 95% of systems the panels are connected to strings in series. This can generate potentially lethal DC voltages of up to 1000 V. Disconnection to protect against electric shock is difficult. Occupational health and safety can only be guaranteed if each individual panel is disconnected automatically. SOLARCHECK RSD safely shuts down your system during installation, maintenance or in hazardous situations. A safe state is achieved without intervention by an electrician. Even those who are not familiar with the safety rules and dangers, such as roofers or cleaning personnel, are protected.

Find out why the SOLARCHECK RSD makes working on photovoltaic systems so safe

Top 10 product news in 2016

See for yourself a highlight of the most read articles in 2016 that were most interesting to our readers.

1) KEMA-certified IEC 61850 switches

The 4800E series 19″ Managed Switches from Phoenix Contact have been successfully tested by the world-renowned KEMA institute according to the requirements of IEC 61850-3 (as amended in 2013, Edition 2).

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2) High-quality tools for easy and safe screwing

Whether bits, screwdrivers with a wide range of drives and sizes, cordless screwdrivers or manual torque screwdrivers – Phoenix Contact has the right screwdriver tool for you.

Your advantages

•     Durable: specially hardened and tempered drives
•     High torque transmission, thanks to the special two-component handle geometry
•     Solid, thanks to high-quality components and raw materials
•     Everything from a single source, thanks to the comprehensive product range

Learn more about our Screwdriver tools

3) Ethernet extender system

Thanks to the new Ethernet extenders, you can connect Ethernet networks across up to 20 kilometers via simple two-wire cables. By doing so, you can combine Managed and Unmanaged Ethernet extenders in one network. This innovative combination and the extremely easy startup using Plug and Play enable cost-effective networking and diagnostics of all devices and paths via IP.

Your advantages

•     Ethernet communication up to 20 kilometers via any two-wire cables
•     Fast startup via Plug and Play
•     Use of Unmanaged extenders in complex IP networks
•     Continuous diagnostics of all devices and paths via IP, regardless of the location
•     High fault tolerance, thanks to intelligent PLUGTRAB PT-IQ surge protection

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4) Mobile thermal transfer printers

The THERMOMARK PRIME card printer and the THERMOFOX handheld printer for material off the roll from Phoenix Contact are suitable for stationary use as well as mobile on-site marking.

More about THERMOFOX and THERMOMARK PRIME

5) Highly Compact Safety Relays

PSRmini is the most narrow safety relay on the market. On widths of just 6 and 12 mm, we provide you with proven safety, thanks to the force-guided contacts. The needs-based structure starting at an enable path also ensures increased flexibility in your application without limiting performance.

Your advantages

•     Up to 70% space savings without limiting performance, thanks to new relay technology,   developed in-house
•     Maximum safety and availability, thanks to force-guided contacts
•     Cost/benefit optimization when structuring applications starting with one enable path
•     Wide usage range thanks to extensive product portfolio with compatibility to a wide variety of sensors
•     Approvals for all global markets

More about our Highly compact safety relays

6) Flexible, fast and easy

The TOPMARK LASER marking system provides you with the flexibility to implement the requirements of challenging industrial identification. With over 400 markers for your terminal, conductor, cable, and device marking, you will find the ideal solution for your application.

Your advantages

•     Comprehensive range of marking material to suit your needs
•     Easy operation, thanks to automated material handling
•     Save time through integration into the CLIP PROJECT planning and marking software
•     Save equipment and costs, thanks to direct marking

More on our Direct Laser Printing

7) Small terminal blocks – maximum benefits

Convenient wiring and variable mounting options in a confined space – with terminal blocks in miniature format.

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8) Relay Modules – Benefit from the full range

Whatever the function you require: whether switching, isolating, monitoring, amplifying or multiplying. Our range satisfies all requirements. Whether for electromechanical and solid-state relays or timer and monitoring relays.

Your advantages

•     Versatile, thanks to industrial relays with numerous functions
•     Always the right solution – thanks to world-leading product variety
•     Space saving due to compact, narrow design
•     Excellent quality, thanks to high-grade materials and innovative technologies
•     Save costs: standardized accessories that are available worldwide

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9) Power supplies with maximum functionality

The fourth generation of the high-performance QUINT POWER power supplies ensures superior system availability by means of new functions. Signaling thresholds and characteristic curves can be individually adjusted via the NFC interface.

Your advantages

•     SFB technology selectively trips standard circuit breakers, loads connected in parallel continue working
•     Preventive function monitoring indicates critical operating states before errors occur
•     Signaling thresholds and characteristic curves that can be adjusted via NFC maximize system availability
•     Easy system expansion, thanks to static boost, starting of heavy loads, thanks to dynamic boost
•     High degree of immunity, thanks to integrated gas-filled surge arrester and mains failure bridging time of more than 20 milliseconds

More about Power supplies with maximum functionality

10) New SIL-certified signal conditioners

Phoenix Contact adds four new input-loop-powered passive conditioners to its MACX Analog product range of SIL-certified signal conditioners.

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Reliability, Sustainability and Process Safety across Systems and Operations

Phoenix Contact to showcase new innovative products at SABIC Technical Conference 2016

We are participating at the upcoming 12^th SABIC Technical Conference- the largest industrial exhibition in Saudi Arabia from 6th to 9th November at King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Cultural Centre in Jubail Industrial City. Our booth will be located at stand number 47 showcasing innovative solutions for automation of all processes surrounding oil & gas and petrochemical production, transport and processing.

We will be displaying a wide range of first class products and new innovations in the field of electrical connection technology, electronic interface, automation systems as well as solutions for the process industry at the event.

We are looking forward to network and build on cumulative experience through our participation at STC-12 2016.

Among the new products that we will display are the security router – mGuard and the new innovative safety relay – PSRmini.

The mGuard is a security router that protects industrial networks against IT attacks. The new security router FL MGUARD is an innovations especially for the process industry which satisfies the demanding hardware and IT requirements for security products in process technology and process engineering.

PSRmini on the other hand, is the new innovative safety relay range from Phoenix Contact. Thanks to its proprietary relay technology, this series is extremely compact. No wider than 6 or 12 mm, the new safety relay with force-guided contacts offers enormous space-saving potential of up to 70 percent at full capacity.

Phoenix Contact offers a comprehensive RFID system for device and system marking

Store and read information on marking material with the integrated RFID transponder

Phoenix Contact offers a comprehensive product range for contact-free system and device marking via RFID technology. With the RFMARK reader with HF or UHF technology, you can write marking material with integrated RFID transponders without contact.

You may use Radio-frequency identification (RFID) for contact-free identification, data exchange, and localization of transponders/tags without visual contact. With the aid of an RFID handheld device, which acts as a transmitter and receiver, data is transmitted to and received from a transponder/tag by electromagnetic waves (UHF) or a magnetic field (HF).

RFID is used in Power plant identification

When it comes to RFID technology, a distinction is made between active and passive transponders (transmit and response). The fundamental design of an RFID transponder consists of an antenna, a microcontroller, and a permanent memory that can be read and written. In order to ensure optimized maintenance, passive transponders that do not have a seperate battery supply tend to be used in power plants.

In the case of passive transponders, a distinction is made between high frequency (HF) and ultra high frequency (UHF) transponders. The HF transponder is excited at a frequency of 13.56 MHz, e.g, using a handheld device. It therefore reaches a maximum distance of 1 m. The UHF transponder, which has a frequency of 868 MHz (central Europe), is suitable for larger distances of up to 4 m. Both transponder types are used in power plant applications:

• Since for electrical equipment clear identification is the primary aim, greater distances and the associated bulk detection are not possible here. In the case of bulk of bulk detection, all RFID transponders within range of the handheld device are detected.
• In the case of mechanical structures and large units, it is more practical to use UHF transponders due to the inaccessibility of some areas. Bulk detection of multiple RFID transponders is certainly a possibility here.

Moreover, if you wish to know more about our RFID Transponder and its applications, please visit our website.

Phoenix Contact expands its expertise in the area of industrial network technology: Acquisition of Perle Systems Limited, Canada

On August 31, 2016, Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG, Blomberg, concluded a contract for the acquisition of the Canadian network specialist Perle Systems Limited, Toronto. Thus, Perle Systems is another international subsidiary of the Phoenix Contact Group, a global market leader for components, systems and solutions in the area of electrical engineering, electronics and automation.

Perle Systems provides products and solutions for industrial networks. Since 1976 the company has been developing and selling media converters, industrial Ethernet switches, and serial devices. The product range comprises a large number of variants and allows numerous and new applications as part of the digitalization process.

The Canadian company currently has approximately 50 employees. It is the objective of Phoenix Contact to expand the new subsidiary to another competence center for industrial networking within the Group. With the acquisition of Perle Systems, Phoenix Contact has strengthened its competence as a provider of solutions for Industrie 4.0. “Perle Systems has extensive product know-how and successfully operates a global online business. This constitutes an important reinforcement for us with regard to the digitalization of business models. Due to the incorporation of this know-how, we complement our product portfolio and furthermore gain a valuable development resource”, says Frank Stührenberg, Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Contact.

Finally, the company Perle Systems Limited will continue its business operations under its own name.

Phoenix Contact Middle East receives a token of appreciation from Action Care

In recognition of our continuous support in giving back to the community and our commitment to social development, Action Care presented us with a token of appreciation.

Phoenix Contact Middle East has been extending its support to Action Care for more than five years now. From events like the big annual gala dinner to smaller ones, Phoenix Contact team has voluntarily taken the initiative to participate at various occasions, to help support less privileged people in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.
Additionally, the Action Care Gala Dinner celebrates humanitarian causes that Action Care and its partners supports in the region. Just like in previous years, Phoenix Contact sponsored the gala dinner in 2015 and joined in celebrating the milestones reached, lives changed, and friendships discovered along the way.
Action Care is a charity found in the United Arab Emirates which provides humanitarian assistance and conducts a diversity of educational development programs to enhance the quality of life of the community especially those who are disadvantaged.

Read this news release on the website