Power Distributor for Industrial Automation

In this project, CORESIGHT was entrusted with realising an overcurrent protection for two current paths of a PLC. The enquiry related to a simple protection of two +24V channels at 3A each. Initially, the use of self-resetting fuses was considered. However, the requirement was that the fuse should not automatically switch back on after tripping. Resetting had to be triggered manually without exception.

This meant that the original approach had to be discarded and a self-holding circuit had to be integrated. Since the development effort had to be kept to a minimum, we used suitable integrated circuits. Tasks in the area of hardware:

• Connector connection concept since no suitable connector was available (adaptation for right angle)
• Electronics development
• Prototype testing with
  • various loads
  • thermal stress
• Adaptation of straight connectors for right-angle mounting
• Integrated circuit for current measurement and shutdown in case of overcurrent
• Overcurrent indicator with red LED
• Voltage OK indicator with green LED
• Reset of overcurrent condition by switching voltage off / on
• Housing and connectors with IP65 protection