Category Archives: Best Switching

Happy 13th Birthday Contactron

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Written by Fraser Cowie, Product Manager- Interface

It only seems like yesterday that we launched the 1st iteration of the innovative and unique Contactron Hybrid Motor Starter, but in fact this year sees its 13th birthday.

The Contactron offer has evolved several times since that starter was released – see if you can remember all the different variants that have been produced since that momentous day:

2008 – the very first 4 in 1 hybrid motor starter is launched. This revolutionary 22.5mm wide fixed speed motor starter has forward and reverse, motor protection and emergency stop functionality.

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Connect, set, start!

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Written by Fraser Cowie, Product Manager – Interface

The CONTACTRON CSS Speed Starter is Phoenix Contact’s new device class in the market of drive technology for asynchronous motors. In terms of functionality, this new class can be positioned between hybrid motor starters and today’s standard frequency converters. 

This compact and economical solution for achieving different speeds combines the characteristics of the Contactron hybrid motor starter with a variable speed drive and an intuitive operating concept. 

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An introduction to the new speed starter

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Written by Fraser Cowie, Product Manager- Interface

Do we really need another range of Variable Speed Drives?

I had a look online the other day and I was astounded by the number of different Variable Speed Drives ( VSDs) manufacturers and the breadth of offer of that is available today!

There is a lot of product out there!

Today’s drive OEMs have a variety of different VSDs for each frame size they do, and then each of these may have options, depending upon the application.

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You get what you set with MACX-TR

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Written by Fraser Cowie, Product Manager- Interface

Most timer relays are quite fiddly to set up and you often need some minutes and a technical data sheet to do it. The new MACX Smart Timer from Phoenix Contact can be set up in seconds and does not require access to a data sheet or a technical brochure!

MACX-TR timer relays are multifunctional timer relays with an OLED display and push buttons. Users benefit from both the intuitive handling and the precise time function setting options. You can adjust the time parameters either via an app on your smartphone, or directly using pushbuttons on the device.

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Relays for every application – nearly!

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Written by Fraser Cowie, Product Manager- Interface

Customers today have a vast choice of relays from lots of manufacturers – so how do they choose the best one for them? Does it really matter, because a relay is just a relay – right?

Relays are used for hundreds of different applications, so it is best to pick the relay and relay range that most suits an application.Phoenix Contact has been making relays for over 30 years, but always with customer applications in mind and always with the best quality materials and clever design.

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Do you have issues when switching DC Solenoids?

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James West, technical support engineer for Interface technology and switching devices discusses one of the technical problems he regularly gets asked about.

As a technical support engineer, I get a lot of support enquiries requesting replacement relays. Most of these application problems could be avoided by using the correct type of relay.

Solenoids are a common method of controlling valves in an automated machine. They do not have a particularly high holding current, however they are often used in high frequency switching applications and it’s this factor which will cause any associated mechanical relay to eventually fail.

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Switch motors intelligently

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Written by Fraser Cowie, Product Marketing Manager- Interface

Contactron hybrid motor starting solutions- constantly evolving to meet market needs!

The Contactron Hybrid motor starter was launched in the UK in 2008 with a limited offer, but has been developed into a comprehensive product family of motor starting solutions and motor and machine monitoring variations.

What you may have noticed recently is the change of colour. The original green (RAL 9010) is replaced by a smarter more ergonomic grey (RAL 7035) – the size and functionality of the starters remain exactly the same.

 

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