Safety switches help reduce panel space

Tag: electric contactors

Schneider Electric has introduced the Telemecanique Preventa XCSDM3 and XCSDM4 Hall Effect non-contact safety switches in order to eliminate the need for an external safety relay to monitor safety circuit input and output integrity.

The magnetic safety switches are compact and easy to install and are tolerant to misalignment. They can be used a safety interlock on movable machine guards and/or where frequent wash-down takes place. Standard safety switches are wired back to a panel with a safety relay for failsafe operation.

By incorporating a safety relay, the devices can self-check and detect their own failure without the use of additional external safety relays. They can directly drive two external 24VDC contactor coils, and in the case of the XCSDM4, monitor those external contactors’ normally closed auxiliaries (known as EDM) to directly and safely control electric motor driven loads.

Certified for use in SIL2/Cat3 and SIL3/Cat4 safety circuits, the main advantage the devices offer OEMs and machine builders is the convenience of buying a single device, which reduces cabling complexity and panel space, and a lower price compared with buying an individual switch and safety relay.