Voltage sensors are compact and meet rail requirements
Available in a compact, light and robust packages, the DVC 1000 series of voltage sensors have been released by LEM for insulated nominal voltage measurements in rail traction and industrial applications.
The sensors provide panel mounted voltage measurement in a compact package which measures 29 x 51 x 89mm, for a total volume of 131.6 cm3.
The DVC 1000 sensors measure voltages by a direct connection on their primary sides, through an internal resistor network and other components designed to feed the signal to an isolation amplifier.
An isolated signal is recovered and then conditioned in order to supply a voltage or a current at the sensor’s output connections, which is an exact representation of the primary voltage. No additional components are needed – the connections are simply connected between the voltage to be measured and the control device.
Designed to measure a nominal voltage of 1,000V RMS, they provide high levels of isolation with a safety insulation voltage of 4.2kV, says LEM. The design uses an isolating amplifier for what are described as “significant space savings” compared with sensors of similar capacity, which use bulky galvanic insulation.
The robust DVC 1000 sensors offer high levels of accuracy and temperature stability. An optional DIN rail mounting adapter eases integration into users’ own applications.
The DVC 1000 is compliant with the International Railway Industry Standards (IRIS). Engineers in the railway industry working with both rolling stock and sub-stations can use the sensors to measure DC links, the output voltages of inverters, the input voltage of four quadrant converters or the battery voltage of light rail vehicles. The DVC 1000 voltage sensors are also suitable for a range of small-to-medium voltage measurements in industrial markets such as DC power supply monitoring, EV chargers and battery storage applications, says LEM.
The DVC 1000 family can supply instantaneous ± 30 mA current output (DVC 1000) or ±10V output (DVC 1000-B) at ±1,500V peak. The DVC 1000-UI model supplies a unipolar instantaneous 4.0 to 20mA current output at 0 to +1,000V DC (unipolar DC voltage measurement only).
All models deliver ± one per cent accuracy at +25 degrees C with a high stability in temperature, leading to an overall accuracy of ±1.7 per cent with an operating temperature range from -40 to +85 degrees C.
Measurement frequency bandwidth (-3dB point) is 35kHz and power consumption is only 12 to 22mA at no primary voltage, depending on the model and the power supply used (from ± 15 to ± 24V for the DVC 1000 and DVC 1000-B and from a unipolar +15 to +24V power supply for the DVC 1000-UI).
The sensors are compact and light, weighing only 57g, and exhibit a fast response time of 12 to 17 microseconds at 90 per cent of nominal voltage.
The DVC 1000 models are designed in accordance with the latest standards applicable for traction and industry, they comply with all relevant fire and smoke requirements (EN 45545), mandatory in railway applications and are CE marked. They are supplied with a five-year warranty.
