More space in the meter cabinet: Compact plug & play components from Raycap for the 40-millimeter busbar according to VDE-AR-N 0100-4100
Garching, 27.02.2023 – Raycap, an international technology solutions provider and manufacturer of surge protection, connectivity, and monitoring solutions, continues expanding its products for the pre-metering sector. The company has developed a range of matched components for time- and space-saving installation on the 40-millimeter busbar in the meter cabinet.
On a 40-millimeter busbar in the meter cabinet, components for power supply, overcurrent and overvoltage protection and power supply for the smart metering gateway (SMG) and modem must fit in a very confined space. The DIN VDE-AR-N 0100-4100 standard describes specific requirements for the low-voltage connection. Raycap’s lightning and surge protection specialists have addressed these requirements with their portfolio of compact solutions for the 40-millimeter busbar in the pre-metering area, the ZPS and ZPN product lines.
Basically, the challenge in the meter cabinet is to connect the power cable to the 40-mm busbar as efficiently as possible. In conventional installations having main fuse switches (SH), surge protector, power feed terminals, and the power supply for the smart meter gateway (SMG), the wiring is very complex, and the space is severely limited. In most cases, not all components fit into one installation panel, so another panel must be added. The individual wiring of the feed line alone results in a large amount of time spent on the installation, consuming more space than is necessary. In addition, serious errors can occur due to the inadequate fastening of the connection terminal.
Raycap’s new portfolio of compact ZPN solutions for the 40-millimeter busbar in the pre-metering area significantly reduces the installation effort. The compact, pluggable ProTec ZP-TB feed terminal is simply snapped onto the 40-millimeter busbar, and the main line for the building supply is connected to it. Contacts on the 40-millimeter busbar are achieved by simply snapping the product onto the busbar, using high-quality spring contact elements. An interlock ensures that all five contact elements make dependable contact and that the continuous current is transferred to the busbar without any problems. The contacts are also capable of carrying lightning current. Lightning pulses or overvoltages are routed out of the system thanks to the overvoltage protection installed next to it, preventing negative effects on the entire system. The very compact design of the components means that significantly less valuable installation space is required than before. This means that, if required, surge protection can also be implemented with the power supply for the SMG and feed terminal between two SH switches in one panel.
Simple and space-saving power supply
Connecting the conductor is also an extremely simple and time saving task. Electricians can use a screwdriver to open the terminal area and connect the conductor. Since the contact between the conductor and busbar is particularly important in continuous current operation, each contact to the busbar has its own locking mechanism, ensuring the permanent power supply to the building. Using the predefined measuring points along the feeder terminal, measurements using a test probe can be conducted without any problems, even with connected conductors.
For larger electrical installations, to which, for example, heat pumps or solar cells are also connected, cabinets with larger busbars are used. In this case, the power supply must be distributed to different areas and devices in the cabinet. The ProAcc ZP-FH plug & play device from Raycap, with integrated fuse holder and integrated fuse, provides additional power connections in compliance with standards.
This makes subsequent expansion of the cabinet easier and eliminates the need for a separate isolation holder. The simple and reliable locking mechanism facilitates contact with the busbar.
Reliable surge protection in a small installation space
The latest plug & play surge protection component for Raycap’s ProTec ZPN 40-millimeter busbar with an integrated back-up fuse for the SMG and modem is plugged directly onto the busbar and reliably contacts it with its locking mechanism. With the help of the specially developed short-circuit-proof conductor connection set, the wiring of the SMG and modem is very simple. The ProTec ZPN has extra narrow dimensions so that the ProTec ZP-TB feed adapter can be mounted directly next to it without any problems. It’s easy to find space on the busbar for this combination due to the very narrow product designs. An integrated spare fuse on the ZPN also ensures increased availability in the event of a failure in the circuit at the SMG. Simply remove the spare fuse from the device and insert it in the fuse holder. An integrated remote signaling contact also simplifies monitoring in the context of a smart building system.
The new plug & play components for the 40-millimeter busbar in the pre-metering area from Raycap find space in any main distribution board because of their compact design and still meet all the requirements of the new DIN VDE-AR-N 0100-4100. They can be easily plugged in with little installation effort, provide reliable protection against overvoltage damage and ensure a safe power supply in the building.
