CODING INTERNATIONAL CO LTD

Pulse Electronics Corporation introduces its new Sidewinder AC current sensors. Sidewinder products alter from traditional current sense transformers because they do not need have a core. This may cause them lighter, easier to assemble, and less expensive. The sensors give a highly linear output voltage over a very wide dynamic range from 0.1 to 1000 Amperes (A), which makes them especially fitted to applications likes distributed power generation, alternative energy and storage, load balancing, power monitoring, advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), circuit breaker panels, and smart meters.

Pulse’s current sensors possess a phase error of <0.05 degree, a 100KHz bandwidth, and a low temperature coefficient. They are based on the Rogowski Coil principle. Pulse Electronics’ patent-pending precision winding technique controls the parameters which directly influence the output voltage in current sensors. The segmented winding approach allows for a high number of winding turns per unit length to provide a sufficiently large output voltage for detection and integration.

Sidewinder products satisfy the Class 0.2 percent accuracy limits determined by the IEC 62053-22 and ANSI C12.20 standards for currents from 0.1A to 200A and above along with the the Class 1 dependence on immunity to external magnetic fields. They may be resistant to external AC magnetic fields and DC magnetic fields. Adding a Faraday shield with the winding prevents electrostatic coupling from the AC voltage of the primary conductor and acts as a good barrier against external electrical fields associated with nearby current carrying conductors.

Even though the standard sensor is round, much like traditional sensors in the market, because Pulse’s sensors usually are not depending on the traditional toroid core (round) shape, but with a coil configuration, the sensor can be created in a number of shapes and thicknesses besides the traditional round shape. The AC current sensors are offered in trays, but other packaging choices are available. They cost $1.90 each for 100k pieces. Samples and costs can be purchased upon request.