Selector switches with IP 66 ingress protection feature a re-designed internal mechanism for improved feel and feedback, with added functionality and improved ergonomics.

Selector switches have IP 66 ingress protection Selector switches with IP 66 ingress protection feature a re-designed internal mechanism for improved feel and feedback, with added functionality and improved ergonomics. As part of Telemecanique's continuous improvement programme, their world leading Harmony Selector Switches with IP 66 ingress protection have undergone a transformation, with added functionality and improved ergonomics. Featuring a re-designed internal mechanism for improved feel and feedback, the number of switching options has been increased by enabling actuation of three contact blocks per row.

Concurrently, the Harmony key switch ranges have been further upgraded and now feature a sliding shutter to protect the key aperture, and plastic encapsulated keys for better grip.

These improvements come at no extra cost, and have been incorporated in both Harmony style 4 (metal) and Harmony style 5 (all insulated) ranges.

All are backwardly compatible with the existing Harmony products they replace, and feature IP66 degree of protection.

A range of double-density connectors save space and weight, which are critical factors in the design of modern cabling systems where more data lines are wanted in cramped, harsh environments.


Now available from Aerco is a range of double-density D38999 Series 3 connectors from Deutsch. Space and weight are becoming critical factors in the design of modern cabling systems where there is an increasing demand to supply more data lines in cramped, harsh environments. These new connectors have been specifically designed to address this issue and the greater pin density compared with standard D38999s provides engineers with increased design flexibility and cable management.

Built in accordance with Mil-DTL-D38999 in high strength, aluminium alloy with either olive drab cadmium or RoHS compliant nickel plating finish and with gold plated copper alloy contacts, these connectors are extremely rugged and reliable.

Five IECEx certificates 'open the door' for dual ATEX-IECEx marking for hazardous area connection products.

Renowned for the quality of their ATEX certified cable glands and hazardous connection products, Hawke International, has now received a suite of five IECEx certificates from BASEEFA. This opens the door for dual marking. In place since 2004, IECEx was introduced to provide a worldwide certification scheme where participating countries readily accept test information for IECEx certified products that have been tested against the requirement of the IEC 60079 series of standards.

This new approach enables these products to be accepted in those countries that take part.

Although the IECEx introduces some additional requirements, common elements in the IECEx and ATEX certification markings make it possible for Hawke International to include both sets of marking on their cable gland ranges.

'Dual marking will make gland selection much easier for users.

It will enable Hawke International's cable glands to gain an equal acceptance status in the countries signed up to IECEx as they currently receive within Europe, commented Phil O'Connor, Hawke's head of development and marketing.

'Safety is paramount in situations where potentially explosive environments are a hazard such as oil, gas, mining, chemical and many processing industries.

These activities take place on a global scale so a worldwide certification scheme will give company buyers even greater confidence,' concluded O'Connor.

Cable shunting ring greatly eases cable installation in network cabinets and open frameworks, by offering a defined and supported installation path.

Some years ago when EMKA first declared 'Everything but the Enclosure' it referred solely to the envelope - locks, handles, hinges, gasket and special windows/glazed doors. Now cabinet usage has moved on and so have EMKA - their introduction of the 1071-01 program Cable Shunting Ring adds signficantly to their one-stop approach for specialist panel builders. The 1071-01 greatly eases cable installation in network cabinets, open frameworks, patch panels etc by offering a defined and supported installation path for increased speed of installation for all types of cable.

The ring itself is manufactured from tough durable polyamide VO fire retardant rated.

Throat size is 87mm x 31mm and fixing is by standard M6 screw.

An innovative and future-leading series of modules for intrinsically safe circuits, an isolator series has two input channels; all standard analogue and digital signals are accommodated.

Paving a new direction in safety isolation, R Stahl has launched the IS isolator series, an innovative and future-leading series of modules for intrinsically safe circuits. The series consists of IS pac modules, together with two mounting options, IS pac bus and IS pac carrier, to form a solution for every installation. Each galvanically isolated, compact 17.6mm module has two input channels; all standard analogue and digital signals are accommodated.

Display and control elements, such as DIP switches, are on the front side with sufficient space for individual labeling.

A new feature of the IS pac are the removable terminals that allow modules to be exchanged while the system is in operation.

The isolators have integrated line error messaging systems that can be set up on an individual channel basis, or a collective messaging system can be implemented with the pac Bus or pac Carrier.

There are three ways the modules can be mounted in the control cabinet.

First, they can simply be snapped onto a DIN rail and wired individually for use.

For more mounting sophistication, Stahl provide two options.

The first is the IS pac bus, which consists of small plastic connectors which fit inside the DIN rail.

Any number of pac bus connectors can be assembled until the desired length is attained.

The pac modules then plug into the pac bus using the customary tilt-on procedure.

The advantage of the pac bus is that all the IS pac modules can be powered from a single input module that is mounted anywhere on the bus (a second input module can be added for redundancy) and line errors and power supply failures are relayed over floating contacts as collective messages.

A second mounting option provided by Stahl is the IS pac carrier.

With either 8 or 16 slots, the pac carrier provides the opportunity to house the IS pac modules and connect them to a control system via fieldbus modules or a HART multiplexer.

The pac carrier has, as standard features, a redundant and safety fuse-protected power supply as well as error messaging regarding the status of power interruptions and line errors.

It can snap onto a DIN rail or it can be screwed directly to a mounting plate.

The isolator series modules and mounting options are approved in accordance with ATEX and meet international requirements.

The series is designed for application in Zone 2, respectively Division 2, as well as for use in combustible dust-Ex circuits.

All units are vibration and shock tested, and operate in ambient temperatures ranging from -20degC to +70degC.

About Stahl - with an annual turnover of EUR 240 million and over 2,000 employees worldwide, the R.

Novel electronic, rail-mounted circuit breaker selectively protects individual component circuits powered by SMPS and maintains productivity in manufacturing plants.

E-T-A Circuit Breakers has introduced a new electronic circuit breaker designed to selectively protect individual component circuits powered from single switch-mode power supplies (SMPS). Easily added to a DIN/EN rail, the new ESS20 provides advanced circuit protection for components used in factory automation systems, including sensors, actuators, field bus couplers and controls. The E-T-A ESS20 Electronic Circuit Breaker solves a serious problem affecting manufacturing lines and processes powered by 24V DC switch-mode power supplies.

Without the ESS20, an overload in a single circuit will cause a power supply to shut down the output to all the circuits it supplies.

On recovery it may go into 'hiccup' mode.

Costly downtime, scrap and even danger to personnel may result.

The ESS20 physically isolates single faulty outputs, while allowing all other load circuits connected to the same SMPS to continue working as normal.

It is designed to limit the prospective load current to a maximum of 1.8 times the rated current and rapidly disconnects the output in the event of an overload or short circuit.

For optimum adjustment to the particular application, the current rating of the ESS20 is switch selectable for 3A or 6A.

An LED, and integral auxiliary contacts, provide status and failure indication for visual verification and as a signal to a logic controller or factory software.

An On/Off button also enables manual isolation of the load circuit.

Utilising Electronic Circuit Breakers type ESS20, it is possible to design highly efficient, cost-effective manufacturing equipment and complex industrial lines.

Under worst-case failure conditions, the fault current will always be limited to a minimum value, the rest of the system will remain in operation, and power can be quickly restored once the faulty output circuit has been corrected.

This guarantees maximum efficiency and productivity of the entire process.

The ESS20 is a further addition to E-T-A's product family of electronic circuit breakers.

It has a width of only 12.5mm and is designed to be plugged directly into an E-T-A power distribution socket, Module 17plus, which is mountable on a DIN/EN rail.

All electrical connections are made by means of convenient screwless terminals.

Traditional protection solutions do not provide the answer.

Circuit breakers with fast operating characteristics would be likely to cause nuisance trips during current peaks, and capacitive loads such as sensors and interfaces could not be reset.

On the other hand, neither delayed operation nor high performance circuit breakers will respond adequately in this situation to overcurrents.

To ease the installation of industrial connectors onto motor junction boxes an adaptor allows an angled connector to be fitted to a standard PG 13.5 cable entry with a choice of mountings.

A new adaptor designed to ease the installation of industrial connectors onto motor junction boxes has been introduced by Harting. The new Han 3A adaptor allows an angled connector to be fitted to a standard PG 13.5 cable entry with a choice of mounting positions. The circular nickel-plated brass adaptor plate contains 12 holes, allowing the housing to be turned in steps of 30deg after termination.

This ability to orient the connector in a number of different positions makes it an attractive option for motor manufacturers or installers who are often faced with fitting connectors into restricted spaces.

An illuminated pushbutton range uses LED's that are much brighter than incandescent bulbs. This greater brightness improves colour recognition and consequently safety.

Matsushita Electric Works has introduced an updated range of 3A/250VAC-100mA/125VAC, pushbutton and selector switches designed to meet the ISO12100 series of international safety standards. The man-machine interface must be designed to enable the status of the machine to be recognised, clearly and correctly by anyone running the machine, without the need of special training or expertise. For this reason display lamp colours conform to standards set out under IEC60073 (JIS C 0448) and IEC60204-1 (JIS B 9960).

This durable, splash proof switch series has a lock lever system for ease of installation and due to the light operational load, enabled by the snap action actuation, has a pleasant, light switching action.

The ND series, apart from the buzzer, is UL and CSA approved and carries the CE mark.

The illuminated pushbutton range use LED's that are much brighter than incandescent bulbs.

This greater brightness improves colour recognition and consequently, safety.

The difference between yellow and green is particularly easy to see.

The power consumption of the 12V type has been greatly reduced, particularly in the 16mm diameter type, to 10mA or less.

The LED's have a life of 5 years (50,000 hours) if continuously illuminated.

The current limiting resistor and protective diode are already built into the LED bulb.

Product is available in 6 illuminated colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and white and the splash proof types have an IP 65 seal.

The emergency pushbutton switches, available in 25mm and 40mm diameters, are equipped with a safety lock mechanism.

The contact does not move until the pushbutton has been completely locked and will not switch until the button has been depressed completely, thus avoiding inadvertent actuation.

Another safety feature is the forced contact separation mechanism, which will ensure that a circuit will be shut off even in the event of contact weld.

The ND Series is available in a variety of shapes and sizes, with a range of covers, mounting hole plugs and maintenance tools.