Standex Newsletter

Alternative Energy and Electric Vehicles

NEWSLETTER | June 2021

Alternative Energy Application Alley

There is a range of products available from Standex Electronics for use in the Alternative Energy market. Those products include reed relays and switches, which are ideal for high voltage and isolation applications for photovoltaics and solar power. They also serve in efforts for the smart grid and smart metering functions related to measuring utility usage, custom power supply, and distribution magnetic products.

Reed Relays for Isolation Measurement

High, consistent and reliable isolation properties are crucial for the precise functionality and safety of a diverse array of modern and complex electric applications, such as Electric Vehicles, Solar Panels, Medical and Test & Measurement. Reed relay technology offers outstanding capabilities for this kind of isolation measurement thanks to its high dielectric strength and negligible leakage currents in the open state.

Reed Sensors for Wind Turbines

Reed sensors for wind turbines are surface mounted and used for sensing wind turbine rotor speeds. These sensors use magnetic field detection to sense the rotor speeds without contact. Standex Electronics designs its reed sensors in a robust thermoset over-molded package to handle harsh conditions and extreme temperatures.

Solar/Photovoltaic Isolation Monitoring

Photovoltaic systems require exceptional isolation to prevent current from flowing into the ground and creating dangerous situations, as well as a loss of power. Three components comprise isolation resistance – the PV module, the DC cable and the inverter.

Green Energy

Standex Electronics’ Christopher Riccardella discusses the shift toward green energy on a worldwide level and how the company’s product line is versatile enough to accommodate the changing energy landscape. These products can be used in one way or another to minimize energy consumption.

Planar Transformers for EV On-Board Chargers and DC-DC Converter Applications

Planar magnetics withstand extreme temperatures, vibration, and other harsh conditions, making them ideally suited for electric vehicles. One example comes from planar transformers in DC-DC converters, which take high-voltage battery power and convert it to low-voltage DC. Then, the electric car onboard charger takes the power from the wall and rectifies it to DC.

KT Series Reed Relay

The KT series high voltage reed relay and high insulation reed relay is available in both a surface mount (SMD) or through-hole (THT) design. This high voltage reed relay is capable of switching up to 1kVDC, breakdown voltage of 4.2kVDC, isolation voltage to 7kVDC and features a high insulation resistance (IR) >10^13 Ω. This KT series is supplied in a rugged thermoset overmolded package.

Reed Sensor vs. Hall & Mechanical

In this video, we review how to select the correct technology for a given sensor requirement, focusing on the following sensor options – Reed, Hall and Electromagnetic.