Benefits Of A High Voltage Contactor

By Robert Hughes


Developments in semiconductor technology have led to the innovation of solid state switches that can replace thyratrons, ignition and spark gaps that were being used before. Older electronics used drivers that are being replaced by TTL input. These advances have improved the efficiency of switches over time. A high voltage contactor has the flow features that make them one of the best inventions.

There is a lower input power loss compared to another type of switches. This is attributed to the use of MOSFET technology. This technology dramatically decreases the power losses. This power loss can be attributed to the total charge, voltage and the frequency of the switch. When the gate charge is small it means that the input loss will also be minimal. This is totally different from switches that use bipolar transistors where input power losses are very high.

The contactors are reliable when it comes to high current applications. Even when short circuited, they guarantee steady hard saturation which is very necessary when running high current applications such as medical test equipment. The fact that they are able to switch faster also make them efficient for use in these applications. The switching speeds generally increase the efficiency of the equipment.

These contactors can be customized in a number of ways to suit where they are being used. The customization is mostly done with the housing and the footprint. Another area that customization can be done is sensitivity. These innovations help the switches to run effectively with the equipment.

The switches are designed to prevent against overload or voltage reversal. Cases of voltage reversal are common and they lead to catastrophic events. The technologies used in these switches make them safe for everyday use. The technologies include MOSFET, IGBT, SCR, and thyristor. With such technology, these contactors are highly recommended.

These switches are able to handle high loads without heating. Heating has been the main concern with fuses. They are voltage controlled and do not use a lot of currents. Other models require more current to switch which leads to increases in heating especially when handling high loads. Now, the drain current does not affect the voltage at the source gate. This ensures that switches never operate linearly.

These switches guarantee faster switching. The speed advantage of these contactors makes them a better choice for everyday use. They are able to handle high frequencies due to the thin oxide layer used when making the transistors. This layer prevents the use of current when switching. Most switches especially those that use bipolar transistors take much time when switching.

There are many developments still being made in the semiconductor technology in order to reduce limitations if these contactors. They are efficient enough to be used in day-to-day operations but still have a few downsides that need to be taken care of. The above-discussed features are just some of the advantages of using these switches. These are sure to make your work easy.




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