Abstract: A method is for status monitoring at least one of two or more current-carrying electrical components, supplyable with electrical energy from an electrical energy source via a common current feed line and from the common current feed line in each case via a separate current supply line, individually openable or closable. In an embodiment, the method includes detecting measured values of an electrical variable in the common current feed line before and after opening or closing one or a plurality of the current supply lines; calculating a difference between a measured value detected before opening or closing and a measured value detected after opening or closing; and determining a status change of at least one of the two or more components based upon a time series of the difference.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a contactor having electronic coil control for a magnet coil, the operation of keeping the pull-in power of the magnet coil constant being formed by current clocking, and having a safety-related output assembly of a programmable logic controller for the fault diagnosis of the contactor, the safety-related output assembly determining the flow of current flowing into the contactor and detecting a fault if a limit value is undershot and switching off. In the contactor disclosed herein, a connectable base load is integrated in the contactor.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a contactor having electronic coil control for a magnet coil, the operation of keeping the pull-in power of the magnet coil constant being formed by current clocking, and having a safety-related output assembly of a programmable logic controller for the fault diagnosis of the contactor, the safety-related output assembly determining the flow of current flowing into the contactor and detecting a fault if a limit value is undershot and switching off. In the contactor disclosed herein, a connectable base load is integrated in the contactor.

Abstract: A circuit configuration is disclosed for eliminating EMC interference, and a device includes such a circuit configuration, where a damping member is connected to at least one supply line leading to the consumer or consumers. In at least one embodiment optimal elimination of EMC interference of the electrical consumer or consumers is ensured, and overloading the power supply grid is avoided. To this end, in at least one embodiment the damping member is connected in series with a current-limiting element and can be connected to the consumer in parallel. It is thus possible to compensate for the effect of the current-limiting element and short-circuit said element for the operating state by way of a switch, whereby the element does not cause any loss of power outside of the power circuits and nevertheless has a current-limiting, that is, grid-friendly, effect during the power-up and charging process.

Abstract: A free-wheeling circuit is disclosed for the rapid reduction of a shutdown overvoltage of an inductive load when the latter is shut down. The free-wheeling circuit includes a switching threshold component by which the free-wheeling circuit becomes active more rapidly compared to a free-wheeling circuit without said switching threshold component, thereby ensuring a more rapid reduction of the shutdown overvoltage. If a control voltage provided by a control voltage source falls below a threshold voltage set by the switching threshold component, a capacitive energy accumulator is immediately discharged and not only when the control voltage is reduced to near zero, and the energy accumulator then activates the free-wheeling circuit for reducing the shutdown overvoltage, when in the nearly discharged state.

Abstract: A switchgear includes a power supply built into a common housing, and at least two drives. The power supply can be fed by an external supply voltage and an external consumer can be connected to the two drives. In at least one embodiment, the switchgear includes, in the same housing, a built-in overload detection for the two drives and/or a built-in circuit breaker function for the two drives, and/or a built-in control circuit for the common control of the two drives. The switchgear can optionally be completed by a transformer providing an additional function of the targeted charging of a buffer capacitor and/or by an energy accumulator providing an additional function of the targeted discharge thereof by temporarily switching on a connected consumer.

Abstract: A method for operating a switching device and a device for use with the method are provided. In at least one embodiment, an energy storage medium provided for EMC considerations, in particular a capacitor, is energized in a controlled fashion through short-term activation of a switching element even after the respective connected user is turned off, the energy storage medium being thereby discharged.

Abstract: A protective device is disclosed for combination with an electrical switching device including a main current line or for integration in such a switching device. In at least one embodiment, the protective device includes a switching element and a switching apparatus, which is provided for the actuation of the switching element and is influenced by a current flow through the main current line. In at least one embodiment, in order to influence the switching apparatus, a current transformer is integrated in the main current line and an electrical resistance of a secondary winding surrounded by the current transformer can be measured. A method for operating a protective device is also disclosed wherein the switching apparatus is triggered so as to actuate the switching element if the measured resistance reaches or exceeds a predetermined or predeterminable threshold value.

Abstract: A free-wheeling circuit is disclosed for the rapid reduction of a shutdown overvoltage of an inductive load when the latter is shut down. The free-wheeling circuit includes a switching threshold component by which the free-wheeling circuit becomes active more rapidly compared to a free-wheeling circuit without said switching threshold component, thereby ensuring a more rapid reduction of the shutdown overvoltage. If a control voltage provided by a control voltage source falls below a threshold voltage set by the switching threshold component, a capacitive energy accumulator is immediately discharged and not only when the control voltage is reduced to near zero, and the energy accumulator then activates the free-wheeling circuit for reducing the shutdown overvoltage, when in the nearly discharged state.

Abstract: A switchgear includes a power supply built into a common housing, and at least two drives. The power supply can be fed by an external supply voltage and an external consumer can be connected to the two drives. In at least one embodiment, the switchgear includes, in the same housing, a built-in overload detection for the two drives and/or a built-in circuit breaker function for the two drives, and/or a built-in control circuit for the common control of the two drives. The switchgear can optionally be completed by a transformer providing an additional function of the targeted charging of a buffer capacitor and/or by an energy accumulator providing an additional function of the targeted discharge thereof by temporarily switching on a connected consumer.

Abstract: A method for operating a switching device and a device for use with the method are provided. In at least one embodiment, an energy storage medium provided for EMC considerations, in particular a capacitor, is energized in a controlled fashion through short-term activation of a switching element even after the respective connected user is turned off, the energy storage medium being thereby discharged.

Abstract: A circuit configuration is disclosed for eliminating EMC interference, and a device includes such a circuit configuration, where a damping member is connected to at least one supply line leading to the consumer or consumers. In at least one embodiment optimal elimination of EMC interference of the electrical consumer or consumers is ensured, and overloading the power supply grid is avoided. To this end, in at least one embodiment the damping member is connected in series with a current-limiting element and can be connected to the consumer in parallel. It is thus possible to compensate for the effect of the current-limiting element and short-circuit said element for the operating state by way of a switch, whereby the element does not cause any loss of power outside of the power circuits and nevertheless has a current-limiting, that is, grid-friendly, effect during the power-up and charging process.

Abstract: A protective device is disclosed for combination with an electrical switching device including a main current line or for integration in such a switching device. In at least one embodiment, the protective device includes a switching element and a switching apparatus, which is provided for the actuation of the switching element and is influenced by a current flow through the main current line. In at least one embodiment, in order to influence the switching apparatus, a current transformer is integrated in the main current line and an electrical resistance of a secondary winding surrounded by the current transformer can be measured. A method for operating a protective device is also disclosed wherein the switching apparatus is triggered so as to actuate the switching element if the measured resistance reaches or exceeds a predetermined or predeterminable threshold value.

Abstract: An input voltage contacted at the input of a contact can be through-connected to an output of the contact or switched off via a movable contactor. In order to determine the switching state of the contact, any drop in the contact voltage between the input and the output is detected. By the detected contact voltage, it can at least be determined whether the input voltage has been through-connected to the output or switched off.

Abstract: In order to achieve a reduction in the switching noise during operation of an electromagnetic switching device with little complexity, a coil for moving an armature with moving switching contacts is driven in order to make contact at a first minimum value of a supply voltage. The supply voltage is then increased from the first minimum value to a second minimum value as a function of time, such that the moving switching contacts can be moved with the stationary switching contacts into sufficient mutual contact with pressure applied.

Abstract: An input voltage (UL) contacted at the input (2a) of a contact (2) can be through-connected to an output (2b) of the contact (2) or switched off via a movable contactor. In order to determine the switching state of the contact (2), any drop in the contact voltage between the input (2a) and the output (2b) is detected. By means of the detected contact voltage, it can at least be determined whether the input voltage (UL) has been through-connected to the output (2b) or switched off.

Abstract: An electromagnetic switching device is monitored at least for the correct connection of an input contact and of an output contact by a contact bridge. For this purpose, a monitoring circuit is coupled to the contacts before the contact bridge is moved into a connection position when a connection command is given, and an indicator of the correct connection of the contacts is determined by evaluation of a contact voltage dropped across the contacts and supplied to the monitoring circuit.

Abstract: Switchgear, in particular relays and/or contactors having a solenoid system with armature and yoke, a coil and an open- and/or closed-loop control device of the switchgear drive are described, wherein actual values of drive-specific parameters are detected by sensors. After a switching command, the open- and/or closed-loop control device does not affect an output quantity (e.g., coil current) until at least one predefined threshold value of the switching parameters (for example, of contact speed) is attained.

Abstract: An electromagnetic switching device includes a contact arrangement with three contacts which couple a three-phase load to three phases of a three-phase power supply system, and disconnect the three-phase load from the three phases. Switching erosion takes place on the contacts. An overall erosion is determined for each contact, and is supplied to a drive circuit. The contact arrangement is operated by the drive circuit as a function of the overall erosion such that the overall erosion of the contacts are approximated to one another.