Safety Interlocks
NK Technologies’ Current Operated Switches are available in models that will switch at measured currents from just a few milliamps (mA) to over 100 amps. Detecting current flow is the definitive measurement to determine if equipment is on or off, a motor is running or not, a heater is on or off etc. NK’s Current Switch products are installed for interlocking for operational and safety purposes.
Drill/Tool Status
Automated drilling machines usually provide fast and accurate holes, that is until the drill bit breaks. The last thing a high production furniture manufacturer wanted to do is to keep drilling parts with one hole missing! NK Technologies’ Current Operated Switches were installed over the current carrying conductor feeding the drill motor and when the amperage dropped below a preset level a signal was sent to the controller to stop operation so that the drill bit could be changed. NK’s range of current transducers are used in a variety of applications on machine tools to detect status.
Welder Tip Dressing
Motor-driven tip dressers are used in conjunction with robotic resistance welders in a manufacturing area like an automobile body assembly plant. Essentially they are like large pencil sharpeners and they require regular maintenance. After maintenance the dressers are not always switched back on, so that when the robotic welder requests tip sharpening, the tips are not dressed and poor quality welds result, which in turn produces poor quality panels. By installing an NK Technologies’ Current Operated Switch on the tip dresser the status is signaled and an alarm is generated to warn if the dresser remains un-powered and offline. NK’s unique split-core packaging is ideal for retrofit installation and the compact solid-core unit is well suited for OEM applications.
Solar Panels
Photovoltaic arrays are used primarily in two ways to:
- Charge batteries that are used to power remote loads where installing a connection to the utility grid would be cost prohibitive
- Energize installations where the DC power is converted to 60 HZ AC power through a solid-state inverter
NK Technologies’ DC Current Transducers can be installed so the output of the arrays can be monitored. These transducers are available in bipolar versions so that current may be measured during charging or discharging of the batteries.
Additionally NK Technologies’ Power Transducers can be installed to monitor the voltage, current and frequency output from the inverter.
Isolated Alarm System Interfacing
If an alarm or monitoring system is to be installed adjacent to another, (for example: a municipal hurricane or tornado warning system) it is desirable to tie in to it. This can be achieved by the utilization of an NK Technologies’ Current Operated Switch (The split-core version is ideal for this). The switch simply detects current flowing in a conductor to say the audible or visual alarm providing a fully isolated ‘repeater’ signal. Switches are available for both AC and DC applications.