ABB has released a new family of terminal blocks that dramatically reduce installation times without compromising safety. Based on ABB's insulation displacement connection (IDC) technology, the new ADO system terminal blocks can reduce wiring times by up to 80% compared with conventional terminal blocks.

The system eliminates the most common risks associated with connections, such as forgetting to strip the wire, folding over of wire strands, stripping too much wire, incorrect tightening torque or badly inserted terminal ends.

The ADO system uses a hand-operated tool to enable the operator to execute simple and accurate high-speed wiring and cutting. By ensuring a tight connection every time, ADO terminal blocks eliminate the problem of loose screw terminations, maximising safety in heavy industrial applications subject to vibration and shocks and reducing subsequent maintenance time and cost.

When a connection is made, the tool strips away the wire insulation and pushes the non-prepared conductor cable into a cutting jaw, which holds it tight and ensures a sound electrical contact. The manual tool has been specially designed for on-site maintenance and can remain permanently inside a panel. A semi-automatic version is also available, which enables repeated connections to be made quickly with minimum effort from the installer.

For wiring flexibility, users can choose ADO system blocks with an IDC termination on both sides or with a combination of IDC and screw clamp terminations.

Another key benefit of ABB's ADO system blocks is their reduced size. Up to 50 terminals can be installed per foot of DIN rail, helping to reduce the overall installation space compared to conventional terminal blocks. Further space savings are also achieved by the terminal's ability to accept two similar wires into each termination. The ADO system terminal blocks are available as standard mounted on DIN3 rail.

A 'mini' version is also available for installations with severe size constraints. Up to 25% smaller than the standard IDC blocks, the 'mini' blocks are ideal for reduced space environments. For mounting, mini block models are offered for DIN 2 or DIN 3 rails. Other models can be screwed or snapped directly onto a metal chassis, such as a panel mount. For wiring flexibility, mini IDC blocks are available with insulation displacement on one side and a standard screw clamp on the other. The 6-mm wide block is rated 18 A, the 8-mm wide block 25 A.

All ADO system blocks are UL recognized, CSA certified, 600 V up to 25 A, and meet IEC and VDE standards. In addition to the ADO system blocks, ABB also offers terminal blocks with screw clamp and spring connections.

ABB also offers an ATEX certified terminal block range for safe use in explosive atmospheres. The range is certified to the highest possible level of the ATEX directive 94/9/EC European directive.

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ABB Limited has launched a new microprocessor-based relay device offering comprehensive protection for utility, industrial and marine feeder applications. Featuring a wide range of protection functions, the REF610 feeder protection relay offers a versatile device for protection of incoming and outgoing feeders as well as back-up for motors, generators and transformers.

The REF610 provides complete protection against overcurrent and earth faults. In addition to single, two and three-stage overcurrent and earth fault protection functions, the REF610 also features thermal overload protection, phase discontinuity protection, trip-circuit supervision and multi-shot auto-reclosing for automatic clearing of line faults.

Where an electrical disturbance or fault does occur, its details are recorded by the REF610's in-built disturbance recorder, triggered by a start or a trip signal or by a digital input signal. Utilising microprocessor technology, the recorder collects instantaneous values or RMS values of measured signals via four analogue channels or up to eight selectable digital channels.

Based on a withdrawable 'plug and play' cassette design, the REF610 can be easily fitted and removed, greatly reducing the amount of downtime required for installation, testing and maintenance. Based on two separate units, this design automatically closes off the current transformer when the unit is removed, enabling work to be carried out safely without shutting off the supply.

Added reliability is ensured by the inclusion of a self-supervision system that continuously monitors the operation of both the relay electronics and software and ensures that users are alerted of any faults. This, combined with a long mean time between failure (MTBF), enables the REF610 to offer high availability.

A key strength of the REF610 is its user-friendliness. Parameters are displayed in plain text on an LCD screen. These parameters can be programmed using the push buttons on the front of the unit, via serial communication using a computer connected to the communication port or remotely through a control or monitoring system connected through the unit's serial communication bus.

The REF610 features a range of communication options, including SPA-bus slave, MODBUS, IEC 60870-5-103 and DNP 3.0. It can also communicate wirelessly with a laptop computer if required.

The REF610's compact size and small mounting depth makes it ideal for retrofits and confined space installations. Optional mounting kits for 19" racks, as well as for semi-flush mounting with raising and 45° tilted raising frames also offers a choice of installation arrangements.

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Schurter’s stylish metal line switches are now available with blue illumination. The new colour option joins the existing yellow, red, green and bi-colour red/green options in point or ring illuminated versions.

The luminous switches are designed for use in applications where lighting conditions are low and indication is necessary to identify the switch actuation area. Customisation can be achieved to meet customers individual needs, including special finishes and legends. Pictures and/or text can be applied to stainless steel types. The hard-wearing laser-etched letters and symbols are resistant to abrasion and fading for a lifetime that exceeds that of the switch.

The Schurter Metal Line comprises a wide range of vandal-resistant metal switches, engineered in Germany for a high quality finish.  Metal Line products are available with Piezo electronics for long-life, protection against outdoor elements, high impact resistance and virtually indestructible wear.  Also available are switches with electro-mechanical actuators for applications requiring travel with the switching action. Mounting dimensions range from 16 to 30 mm with IK ratings from 02 to 07 for high impact resistance. IP ratings range from 40 to 67 for degree of sealing protection.

The blue illuminated metal line switches are at home in many applications including ticket terminals, parking garages, petrol stations, roadside call boxes, lifts, door controls, cashpoints, internet terminals, and information booths.

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Schurter’s new TF600 non-resettable fuse assists manufacturers of telecommunications equipment in meeting power cross and lightning surge requirements outlined in North American standards Telcordia GR-1089, TIA-968-A (formerly FCC Part 68), and UL 60950, as well as the international standards ITU-T K.20 and IEC 60950. The fuse has a rated breaking capacity of 60A at 600 Volt AC, over a current range of 0.5 - 2 Amps.

The TF 600 is RoHS compliant according to Directive 2002/95/EC. Its low profile and small footprint conform to industry norms for size, placement and process compatibility. Its time-lag tripping characteristic provides reliable secondary protection of secondary circuits in a variety of telecom systems and networking equipment designated for use around the world. Typical applications are customer premises equipment (CPE) like telephones and modems, high-speed transmission equipment like ADSL modems and splitters and analog line cards (SLIC’s).

The TF 600 is built to UL 248-14 and carries UL/CSA recognition.  It also holds a “Free of CCC” confirmation for China. It is supplied either on tape (2000 pieces) or loose in a bag (100 pieces).

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April 2006 – Penetrating the growing architectural lighting market where optoelectronics at component level are largely unknown is an important opportunity for leading LED manufacturer CML Innovative Technologies (CML-IT). LEDs have been perceived as difficult to use, requiring a range of power supplies, drivers, resistors, soldered connections, making them tricky to market in this industry. CML-IT’s new Connect&Glo© program, is designed to make solid state lighting easy, and is changing this perception. The company is offering a system of linking LED lighting units that anyone can connect together, just as easily as ordinary light bulbs.

Part of the Connect&Glo© program and specifically targeted at the architectural lighting market is CML-IT’s Arcilume range of products, designed to illuminate different interior or exterior areas of buildings with style and innovative LED solutions.

A key product is the Acsentio series of accent lighting offering subtle shades of light. Available in blue, red, green, yellow and white, Acsentio lights are available in 12V, 24V and 240V versions. Easy to fit and install, the lights feature an internal heat management system enabling them to run at relatively low temperatures, making them an ideal for use within furniture and fittings. Manufactured in CML-IT’s European facility in Hranice (Czech Republic), Acsentio accent lighting carries all necessary approvals for worldwide use.

Also within the Arcilume range are LEDules, a behind-the-scenes system of LEDs mounted on PCBs in a whole variety of shapes and sizes and designed to allow designers to mount lighting into whatever shape is available.

The Arcilume portfolio also includes Color Line, a range of rigid and flexible light guides complete with ‘light engines’ that offer a linear light in either straight or curved form to enable specific features to be illuminated to their best effect.

Completing the Arcilume range is a programmable illumination effects lighting system for interior and exterior use. Color Ray offers lighting units in a variety of shapes and sizes. The devices are all LED based providing an infinite variety of colours and effects.

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February 2006 - In order to test new LED lighting concepts, CML Innovative Technologies equipped three KTM enduro motorcycles with LED lighting system prototypes for the inaugural “Desert Logic” rally for such motorbikes. Philippe Gosselet from CML-IT in Besançon, France, one of the company’s engineering centres of excellence for light design, kitted out the bikes for the rally. He also formed part of the CML-IT/KTM team riding them to a winning position after seven days and 1000km in the desert of southern Tunisia.

All LED lighting systems used on the motorcycles were specifically designed to withstand the difficult environmental conditions in the desert (big temperature changes from very hot at day to very cold at night, high winds containing grains of sand and constant shocks and vibration from riding in sand and over dunes). Due to the low power requirements of the LEDs, the batteries of the bikes experienced only minimum drain from CML-IT’s LED lighting systems.

Each motorcycle featured a high power LED brake light offering increased security in conditions with limited visibility. A LED system illuminating the roadmaps with high brilliance white LEDs ensured roadmaps were readable in all lighting conditions. A rheostat enabled the system to be adaptable to ambient luminosity. A security system consisting of two high power LEDs blinking consistently at the front and back of the bikes allowed the riders to be seen in the pitch black of the desert nights.

Created and organized by Fabio Fasola, Italian specialist of enduro and long-distance motorbike rallies, the first “Desert Logic” enduro motorbike rally took place from December 3 to December 10, 2005 in South Tunisia. The venue for this first event, which totalled 1000km of links and specials tests, was the oasis of Ksar Ghilane.

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February 2006 – A new range of Xenon filled wedge based lamps is available from CML-IT. Designed for use in a variety of automotive, gaming machinery, aviation, signalisation and architectural applications, the latest Xenon lamps are currently available in three different models: 1503X (14V 3.4W rating, T10 size, 10000 hour life), 501x (12V 5W rating, T10 size, 3000 hour life) and 1260X (12V 6W rating, T10 size, 1000 hour life).

Xenon bulbs offer numerous advantages over traditional Argon, Krypton or Vacuum filled lamps. The new devices offer suppressed tungsten evaporation meaning a cleaner, longer burn with less blackening. A three times longer life and an increased light output by typically 30% more luminous flux are further benefits.

Bulb wall temperature is 30°C lower compared with corresponding Argon filled lamps. This is significant when the devices are in close proximity to surrounding plastic or wood materials, which could be damaged. Furthermore, Xenon lamps also benefit from a whiter light. A higher filament temperature provides excellent contrast ratio and affords attractive sparkling appearance to the eye.

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April 2006 – The latest design innovation from CML Innovative Technologies (CML-IT) is a LED replacement for traditional 6S6 lamps currently used in theme parks as decorative lamps and for illuminating entrance portals to attractions. Developed in partnership with a major theme park, CML-IT’s new Sixcess lamp significantly reduces cost of ownership due to the LEDs’ low power consumption and longer life (5x) than traditional lamps. Maintenance savings alone are estimated to be over £170/€250 per device over its five year life cycle.

Sixcess lamps incorporate eight LEDs within a traditional screw based package. LEDs are laid out in a pattern to exactly mimic the visual effects of a regular filament lamp. CML-IT specifically developed the colours of the LEDs used for the Sixcess range, creating a visually equivalent drop-in replacement for 6S6 lamps.

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The 18 Series of PIR movement detectors from Finder has been extended to include a new model that operates outdoors in addition to the existing indoor model. The units detect body heat to control lighting in a range of applications, including energy saving and security.

The detectors can reduce energy consumption by automatically switching off lighting when it is not required. This addresses the increasing pressure on companies from both governments and environmental groups to reduce energy consumption, which means that areas of unnecessary lighting have come under scrutiny.  In parallel to this, there is a need for improved lighting particularly in exterior areas to deter potential intruders.

Finder’s PIR detectors are targeted at designers, engineers, contractors and installers of lighting control systems in commercial, industrial and domestic premises.  They will be of particular use in areas inside and outside buildings that are not permanently occupied, such as offices, washrooms, corridors, stairwells and stores as well as outside loading bays, access ramps, etc. where constant lighting is not required.

The output contact for both the 18.01 interior model and the 18.11 exterior model is rated at 10A, with a 20A peak current capability, suitable for switching a 230V incandescent or halogen lighting load of up to 1kW or a compensated fluorescent lighting load rated at up to 350W.

The coverage area spans 110° in both the vertical and the horizontal plane, and the sensing range is specified up to 8m. An integral adjustable threshold light sensor ensures that energy is not wasted by preventing the lights from being switched on in conditions of high ambient light.

To avoid accidentally switching off lights when personnel are still in the lighting zone, the Series 18 PIR units feature an extended ‘on time’. This enables the length of time the lights remain on after movement detection ceases to be extended by a preset delay time, which can be adjusted to between 10 and 180 seconds.

The versatile design of both Series 18 PIR models features a ball joint construction that enables simple, trouble free mounting on a flat vertical or horizontal surface, with the ability to angle the detection head to adjust the required detection area by up to 180° in the horizontal plane, and 27° in the vertical plane.

The 18.01 model allows concealed cable entry via the mounting bracket, while the IP54 protected 18.11 exterior model features a PG9 cable gland entry in the base. The electrical contacts are lead-free AgSnO2.

The Series 18 PIR range is entirely designed and manufactured in-house at Finder’s European facility near Turin in Italy. The design includes custom embedded system programming, CAD evolved optics, custom designed electronics, tooling and test equipment.  The units are competitively priced and offer specifiers and end users a European designed and built PIR with unparalleled flexibility, in a neat and compact housing.

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New from Arcolectric is a range of smart indicators - intelligent devices that operate like standard neon indicators, but with added functionality. The intelligent embedded microcontroller can be programmed for multiple applications, and the first three offerings from this family are a Single phase supply checker, a Maintenance indicator and a Temperature monitor.

The indicators have the familiar and convenient snap-in profile and feature fast-on terminals, so are drop-in replacements for Neon lamps, making it simple and fast to upgrade an existing product design with new functionality. The smart indicators feature dual LED illumination, so there is a wide choice of illumination colours and colour combinations.

Single phase supply checker (C1431AL)
The supply checker can be fitted as a direct replacement for a Neon indicator, giving clear visual equipment safety indication. The device connects to Live, Neutral and Earth terminals, and monitors the appliance and incoming mains supply for swapped or missing electrical connections. Blue LED illumination indicates correct connections, while Red LED illumination indicates a swapped connection fault. A flashing Red LED indicates a missing connection, such as detached neutral or earth.

Intended for use on appliances or equipment where cable damage is a possibility, such as: portable appliances, site equipment, power tools, garden equipment, extension cable reels, audio equipment, commercial kitchens and stainless steel appliances.

Maintenance indicator (C1432AL)
The indicator monitors appliance usage, and operates as a preventative maintenance or regular inspection reminder for the equipment user. A direct replacement for a neon indicator, the unit counts time that mains power is applied, and remembers the accumulated time even if power is switched off. Blue LED illumination indicates normal operation, but when the factory set operating time is exceeded the illumination changes to flashing Red, indicating that service or maintenance action is required. Connecting the ‘reset’ terminal to neutral resets the timer to zero, and timing starts again.

Typical domestic applications are reminding coffee machine users to decalcify their machines, change deep fat fryer oil, and change or clean cooker hood filters. For service interval indication, the unit could be fitted into gas appliances to indicate when servicing or inspection is overdue. Additionally, users could be given an indication when their appliance warranty period is about to expire.

Temperature monitor (C1433AL)
The temperature monitor is a snap-in device to clearly indicate that refrigeration temperatures are within safe limits. Upper and lower temperature limits can be factory programmed to suit the application. The monitor operates like a standard neon indicator, giving visible on/off status indication for the appliance. Normal operation shows continuous blue LED illumination while the monitored temperature is within the ‘safe’ range between lower and upper limits. Should the measured temperature fall outside of the ‘safe’ range, the LED illumination changes colour to Red. The unit has a pre-connected temperature sensor on a flying lead, ready for quick installation.

Intended for convenient monitoring of deep freeze, refrigeration, cold storage, chiller or air conditioning operation, giving a visual check of the correct temperature without having to know the exact temperature or the limits.

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