Panasonic Launches “PA-N Relay” Suitable for Programmable Logic Controllers

Panasonic Corporation announced  that it has developed the “PA-N Relay”, and will launch the product in April 2016. The new product has been developed to comply with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards and is certified to the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Inc.’s standards for programmable logic controllers used to control production facilities at factories. The product achieves a high breakdown voltage of 3,000 V, as well as showing excellent shock resistance and low power consumption. It is expected to assist PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers) manufacturers to develop products that are compatible with the new standards.

Industrial equipment used in factories needs to be safe and reliable. Changes are planned to be made to the European IEC standards and the UL standards of the United States to impose further safety requirements on PLCs, such as securing better insulation to prevent accident. PLC manufacturers are urgently developing products to meet the new standards, and highly reliable products compliant with the new standards are being sought for relays that control the output from PLCs. In response to these developments, Panasonic has modified the internal structure of its relay to improve its breakdown voltage from 2,000 V to 3,000 V, to make it compatible with the new standards.

This new product has the following features.

1. Compatibility with the changes to be made in the IEC standards and the UL standards will assist PLC manufacturers to develop new products that meet the higher standards.
   •Breakdown voltage: 3,000 V (Panasonic’s conventional product^*: 2,000 V)
   •Sufficient insulation distance between the coil and the contact:
   Clearance: min. 5.29 mm, Creepage distance: min. 5.35 mm
   (Dimensions: 5.0 x 20 x 12.5 mm)
   Panasonic’s conventional product^*: Clearance: 2.36 mm, Creepage distance: 3.05 mm (Dimensions: 5.0 x 20 x 12.5 mm)
2. High breakdown voltage and excellent shock resistance prevent malfunction of industrial equipment and contribute to improved safety and reliability.
   •Shock resistance: 147 m/s²
3. Reduction of coil power consumption by approximately 10% from the level of Panasonic’s conventional product^*contributes to the enhancement of energy efficiency of industrial equipment.
   •Power consumption: 110 mW, Panasonic’s conventional product^*: 120 mW/180 mW

* Panasonic’s conventional product: Relay for PLCs (PA relay)

Applications：

Output from programmable logic controllers, industrial equipment, etc.