Abstract: A multi-spark gap for an overvoltage protector, having multiple electrodes and insulation elements arranged between the electrodes, a holding arrangement for mechanical holding and for making electrical contact with the electrodes of the multi-spark gap, wherein the holding arrangement has at least a first electrically conductive clamping element, a second electrically conductive clamping element, and a first electrically conductive connecting element, wherein the electrodes are arranged between the first clamping element and the second clamping element, wherein the first clamping element makes electrical contact with the first electrode of the multi-spark gap, and wherein the second clamping element makes electrical contact with the last electrode of the multi-spark gap, and wherein the at least first connecting element mechanically connects the first clamping element and the second clamping element to one another.

Abstract: A multi-spark gap having both a high power-follow current extinguishing capacity as well as a relatively low protective level in which a distance x1 between a first electrode and an adjacent second electrode, which together form a first individual spark gap, is larger than respective distances x2 between other adjacent electrode pairs of additional individual spark gaps. The distance x1 is at least 0.5 mm and the distances x2 of the additional individual spark gaps are at most 0.2 mm. Additionally, an ignition aid for igniting the first individual spark gap is provided, which aid has at least a resistive ignition element and a voltage-limiting element, wherein the ignition element is connected to an electric-arc combustion chamber of the first individual spark gap and is electrically connected on the one side to the first electrode and on the other side via the voltage-limiting element to the second contact element.

Abstract: A control and data transfer system for supporting different communication protocols, in which the system includes a control device that can store a plurality of different communication protocols. The control device is adapted for loading and executing at least one of the stored communication protocols. Further, a first adapter module is connectable to the control device. The first adapter module includes an identification device which enables the control device to identify the first communication protocol, and a communications interface for connecting, to the first adapter module, at least one first device that is configured for communication according to one of the stored communication protocols. The control and evaluation device is configured to use the identification device for identifying the first communication protocol when the first adapter module is connected to the control device, and to load and execute the identified first communication protocol from the storage device.

Abstract: A switching monitoring device for monitoring a switching operation of a relay switching contact of a relay includes a control terminal, a controller, and an impedance circuit. The control terminal is configured to apply a control signal for switching the relay switching contact to the relay switching contact. The controller is configured to produce an excitation signal. The impedance circuit has a signal input and a signal output, and the controller applies the excitation signal to the signal input. The impedance circuit converts the excitation signal into a switching monitoring signal and outputs the switching monitoring signal at the signal output for application to the relay switching contact. The controller is further configured to detect a change in a signal present at the impedance circuit and, if the change in the signal is present, detect the switching operation of the relay switching contact.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data between a peripheral device and a data acquisition unit, the data acquisition unit having a configurable communication interface via which the data are transmitted according to one of a number of defined communication protocols, includes: carrying out a communication protocol analysis by the peripheral device upon connection to a power supply; and carrying out an adaptation of the configurable communication interface of the peripheral device after detection of a communication protocol, providing a detected communication protocol, used by the data acquisition unit in order to carry out data exchange according to the detected communication protocol.

Abstract: An assembly for electrical equipment includes: a plurality of connection devices to be modularly arranged side-by-side in a row along a row direction, each having a housing and at least one termination point for connecting at least one electrical conductor; and a connecting element having a main body and a connecting portion formed on the main body, the connecting element connecting together two of the plurality of connection devices which two connection devices are adjacent to each other along the row direction. The connecting element is connectable via the connecting portion to the housing of at least one of the two adjacent connection devices by material-to-material bonding.

Abstract: A modular switch apparatus for controlling at least one electric drive includes a mounting rail bus system having a control line and two power supply lines, a power supply device, and a safety relay module that is configured to obtain a first, high level control signal from a DC supply voltage applied to the two power supply lines and to feed the first control signal to the control line via the first bus interface if the emergency stop command device has not been actuated. Furthermore, at least one safety motor starter module is provided, which includes a processing device with an input that can be electrically connected to the control line via a bus interface. The processing device is adapted to evaluate a first, high level control signal as transferred via the control line and to provide control signals for controlling the at least two switch devices.

Abstract: To easily identify an invalid device certificate by means of a validity check when signing keys that are used to create device certificates are compromised, a piece of status information is provided for device certificates that comprises positive evidence of the existence and validity of the device certificate, and alternatively or additionally to apply a special validity model for device certificates, wherein the time of issue of the device certificate is documented by means of a signed electronic timestamp, and wherein a different signing key is used for signing the timestamp than for signing the device certificate. Additionally, all information that is required for the validity check of a device certificate is stored in a memory of the device or in a memory associated with the device, so that an identity check on the device can be performed at any time without fetching additional data.

Abstract: An interface arrangement for connecting at least one control device to a plurality of field instruments, includes: a carrier board having a plurality of signal channels, and a connector designed for electrical and mechanical connection to a second, complementary connector of a signal processing device, being arranged between a first and a second connecting device of each signal channel. Each signal channel has an electrical interface which is designed for releasable connection of respective surge protection modules, each interface electrically connected to an electrical resistor and to a surge arrester which is arranged at least partially on and/or in the carrier board and is designed for arresting surge voltages and/or surge currents which may occur.

Abstract: A test plug block (1) for plugging onto a series terminal block (2), comprising a plurality of test plugs (4) connected to one another and two fastening parts (5), which are arranged on both sides of the plurality of test plugs (4) and are connected to one another by means of a grip piece (6), the fastening parts (5) each having a housing (7) and an insertion portion (8), which can be inserted into a receiving portion (9), the receiving portion (9) being formed in the clamp housing (10) of a fastening clamp (11) of the series terminal block (2).

Abstract: A contactless PoE connection system and a contactless PoE connector for use in the connection system, in which the contactless PoE connector has a first contactless interface configured for bidirectional data transfer, a second contactless interface configured for unidirectional power transfer, and a third interface to which a first Ethernet line can be connected. The third interface is configured to receive data and power, which are to be transferred jointly via the Ethernet line. Furthermore, a data and power splitting device are connected to the first, second, and third interfaces, which splitting device is configured for splitting power and data as applied to the third interface and for selectively supplying data to the first contactless interface and for selectively supplying power to the second contactless interface.

Abstract: A conductor rail module for distributing and a corresponding connection module for tapping a direct current distributed along a mounting rail is described. The connection module comprises a housing whose electrically insulating rear section is connected or connectable to the mounting rail in a form-fit manner. A front section of the housing has a plurality of electrically insulating transverse struts extending transversely to a longitudinal direction of the conductor rail module. Furthermore, the conductor rail module comprises at least two conductor rails extending in the longitudinal direction in the housing between the rear section and the front section, which conductor rails are configured to contact the connection modules for distributing the direct current through a gap between the transverse struts when the connection modules are in a position mounted on the conductor rail module.

Abstract: A current meter for detecting currents in electrical lines includes: a housing having a plurality of receiving grooves formed on a housing wall, into which receiving grooves an electrical line is in each case insertable from outside the housing; and an arrangement of magnetic field sensors enclosed in the housing. The arrangement of magnetic field sensors detects a magnetic field on electrical lines inserted into the receiving grooves. The housing encloses an interior delimited by the housing wall, inside which interior the arrangement of magnetic field sensors is arranged.

Abstract: A current measuring device for detecting a current in an electric line includes: a housing; a fastening device arranged on the housing for fastening the housing to a supporting rail; and at least one magnetic field sensor. The housing has a first housing part and a second housing part which together form an accommodating device for accommodating an electric line between the first and second housing parts. The first and second housing parts are separable from one another in order to place an electric line onto the current measuring device and placeable onto one another in order to accommodate the electric line in the accommodating device between the first and second housing parts. The at least one magnetic field sensor detects a magnetic field on the electric line accommodated in the accommodating device.

Abstract: An electrical circuit breaker system including an input terminal connecting an electrical current source and a plurality of output terminals for connecting electrical loads. Each output terminal includes an electrical switch and a current measuring unit. The circuit breaker system includes a current acquiring unit for acquiring current magnitudes measured at the output terminals and for determining a total current magnitude. A temperature acquiring unit acquires a temperature, and a computing unit is configured to determine a total current limit as a function of the acquired temperature. Further, a control unit is configured to select one of the plurality of output terminals based on a ranking of the output terminals and to interrupt the current supply at the selected output terminal by means of the corresponding electrical switch when the total current magnitude exceeds the determined total current limit.

Abstract: A current monitoring device for detecting an electrical current in a line includes a housing bottom part, a first current sensor, a housing top part, and a second current sensor. The housing bottom part has a first wall in which a first wall bead is formed and configured to partially enclose the line. The first current sensor is arranged in the housing bottom part and obtains a first current measured value by measuring a current strength of the electric current. The housing top part has a second wall in which a second wall bead is formed and configured to partially enclose the line. The second current sensor is in the housing top part and obtains a second current measured value by measuring the current strength of the electric current. The first and second wall beads align with one another to at least partially enclose the electrical line.

Abstract: A flexible circuit breaker includes at least two semiconductor switches, at least one input and at least two outputs. Each of the at least two semiconductor switches can carry a defined current, and each of the at least two semiconductor switches is monitored individually in relation to the current flowing therethrough, the first output is assigned to a first semiconductor switch, where by a selection using a selection device on the flexible circuit breaker, one can select whether the current flowing through a second semiconductor switch is assigned to the second output or the first output.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surge protection device ensemble comprising a surge protection device having an overvoltage protection means in a first housing, wherein the first housing has at least two connections for contacting the overvoltage protection means, characterized in that the surge protection device ensemble also has a fuse module having a fuse in a second housing, wherein the second housing has at least two connections for contacting the fuse, characterized in that the second housing having one of the connections of the fuse module is inserted in a form-fitting manner into one connection of the at least two connections of the surge protection device, wherein the fuse module provides an electrical connection on the inserted side between the fuse module and the surge protection device.

Abstract: A method and a device for configuring a hardware component, in particular of a configurable safe input/output module, includes using a configuration program that is designed to display a graphical user interface on a display apparatus that is connected to a data processing system, which user interface provides function blocks having inputs and outputs. By way of the method and the device, two function blocks can be interconnected so as to form a combined function block having at least one input and one output, at least one of the inputs or outputs of the first function block and at least one of the inputs or outputs of the second function block forming at least two of the inputs/outputs of the combined function block.