Intelligent residual current monitoring with Doepke e.Guard

Predictive maintenance is an integral part of industry 4.0. It refers to proactive maintenance of installations with the goal of avoiding costly failures or damage. Data on the condition of the installation and forecasts regarding future installation behaviour are used for this purpose.

The residual current protection expert Doepke and software professionals twingz have now teamed up to present the e-Guard – a modular system made up of smart hardware and flexible software components for intelligent residual current monitoring of electrical installations.

e.Guard permanently monitors the residual currents in the electrical installation and therefore offers comprehensive surveillance of their status. Thanks to this continuous residual current monitoring with documentation, Doepke e.Guard there is no need for repeated insulation measurement according to DIN VDE 0105-100/A1.

The residual current data collected can also be combined with machine learning (ML) methods to predict future installation behaviour. This means that it is possible to plan preventive maintenance, testing and repairs at an early stage and to combine them, and to detect and prevent any impending damage in good time. e.Guard thus provides predictive maintenance in the electrical installation, increasing safety and minimising risks for companies and insurance providers in the process.

Doepke e.Guard is designed in five levels and can therefore be planned according to individual requirements – from a flexible individual solution through to fully integrated monitoring of the system landscape for complex industrial structures.

Residual current protection for the energy transition - Heat Pumps

The new DFS 4 HP (HP for heat pump) has been specially developed for the
protection of Heat Pumps. The protection level of the AC/DC sensitive residual
current circuit breaker meets all requirements of heat pump manufacturers. In
addition, the HP-optimised short-time delay ensures increased system availability.

• increased system availability
•  meets the requirements of all heat pump manufacturers
• also available as FI / LS-combination
• energy-efficient due to low power loss

Residual current protection for the energy transition - Photovoltaics

The new DFS 4 PV was specially developed for use in photovoltaic systems and
offers the highest possible protection level. With a PV-optimised short-time delay, the all-current sensitive residual current circuit-breaker is resistant to surge
currents. It thus provides higher system availability due to fewer false trippings.

• meets the normative requirements for fire-hazardous premises
• PV-optimised short-time delay
• also available as FI / LS-combination
• energy-efficient due to low power loss

DHS FANA - Reliably switch off and easily switch on 

The new DHS FANA combines a switch-disconnector, emergency stop and remote actuator in one compact device. If a connected emergency stop button is pressed, the DHS FANA completely disconnects all poles of the connected system components and loads from the electrical supply. Thanks to the remote actuator, it is easy to switch back on without having to go all the way to the electrical distribution board.

• remote switch-on and switch-off
• enables the connection of several emergency stop buttons
• no tripping in the event of a power failure
• fulfils the requirements of DIN VDE 0100-723 for classrooms with experimental equipment in combination with a type B residual current circuit-breaker
• for schools, laboratories, research facilities and wherever experiments are carried out with electrical circuits

The safe way to use three-phase current

DPRCD-M: Compact core for personal protection switches

With the new DPRCD-M, the residual current protection expert Doepke is presenting a compact module to produce a five-pin personal protection switch (PRCD, portable residual current operated device) for 400 V sockets.

Over just 8 module widths, the DPRCD-M combines an AC-DC sensitive residual current protection device with network and protective conductor monitoring to increase the level of protection in mobile distribution boards. With a rated residual current of 30 mA, the DPRCD-M offers reliable personal protection and also ensures the protective function of upstream residual current circuit-breakers due to a 6 mA DC threshold. If it is triggered due to undervoltage, for safety reasons the DPRCD-M does not switch on again automatically when the voltage is restored. The module also offers external residual current and rotating field detection.

Personal protection switches are applied when sockets of existing electrical installations are used for consumers that require AC-DC sensitive residual current protection and the upstream protective measure is either unknown or insufficient. PRCDs are used between the socket and consumer. Typical applications include the construction sector, events industry and also rescue operations.

The DPRCD-M from Doepke is available up to 63 A nominal current. It offers full flexibility as the module can be used in a wide range of mobile distribution boards (mounted on mounting rails).