In this fast paced and rapidly changing world we live in, it is vital that our Safety-related systems, such as signalling systems found on our railway networks, evolve as well.

With the advent of digitalization in the Railway network, imagine if you could combine the quality and reliability of Phoenix Contract lightning and surge protection, with the easy installation and renown versatility of our Terminal Blocks ! Meet CLIXTRAB…

Our new product family, CLIXTRAB, is specifically designed for use in the kind of safety-related systems you find in the railway industry but is also suitable for many other industries, like the process, water, power & renewables sectors.

As part of many new world-wide railway safety standards, for safety critical applications the surge protection devices must remain impact-free and cannot affect other signal paths. In CLIXTRAB, this is achieved via the series connection of a metal oxide varistor (MOV) and gas discharge tube (GDT) which prevents any impermissible influence on signals from leakage currents.

Of course the CLIXTRAB range incorporates all of the features you would expect from Phoenix Contact surge arrestors, including overload protection/thermal disconnect, visual status indication, pluggability and the ability to incorporate into your Maintenance program with the Checkmaster 2.

Up until CLIXTRAB the common industry solution for this type of application required 3 terminal blocks per signal pair – 2 for the Signal Pair and another 1 for the common Surge Earth. The CLIXTRAB terminal block features an integrated DIN rail earth contact, thus reducing the overall width per signal pair to just two terminals – or only 10.3mm total. This is a 33% saving in total space vs the 15mm originally.

Critically, CLIXTRAB is also compatible with the TERMITRAB Complete (TTC) “Remote Monitoring Set” (FMRS) which allows monitoring of up to 40 surge arrestors per set back to a control system. Crucially the Remote Monitoring Set does not need to draw any power from the signals to be protected. You can also combine CLIXTRAB with TERMITRAB Complete surge protection devices on the same DIN rail all monitored by the same Remote Monitoring Set (FMRS).

CLIXTRAB is the result of collaboration between the Surge Protection and Terminal Block business units, so provides the best of both worlds. The terminal block part was specifically designed for the CLIXTRAB Surge devices but can equally be used on its own being part of COMPLETE line, making it easy to co-ordinate all your Control Cabinet parts requirements.

Being a part of the CLIPLINE complete terminal block system allows you to make use of the HUGE range of standard accessories available. This now opens up many cabinet design opportunities by combining CLIXTRAB with, for example, other terminal blocks that can accommodate larger cross-sections, using Plug-in bridges to create potential distribution systems, as well as various test-disconnect and grounding connectors that are available for measurement and installation tasks.

The connections are of course our premium “Push in” Terminals, with all the advantages that come with this connection technology (speed and ease of installation, better resistance to vibration, etc), and the Terminals have standard “Maintenance” knife disconnects that make insulation and current loop measurements a breeze.

For more information please contact Michael Hennessy on +61 448 287 406 or email mhennessy@phoenxcontact.com.au.

Original article by Mark Lloyd, Senior Product Manager- Power Supplies & Surge Protection, Phoenix Contact UK. Rewritten by Michael Hennessy, Product Manager – Power Reliability Phoenix Contact Australia & New Zealand.