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Solid State Contactors -- SuperSwitch?

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thorn(at)starflight.aero
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:13 pm Post subject: Solid State Contactors -- SuperSwitch?

Hello,  

   

Has anyone had experience with the solid state contactors from Lamar Technologies they call a SuperSwitch?  See this Aircraft Spruce link for info:  

   

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/superSwitch.php  

   

I know they’re expensive – but, we’re already in that category of contactor with the need for 28V high continuous current contactors (100 A alternator, all electric A/C).  We already have very nice Blue Sea high capacity contactors that are hermetically sealed (~$150 each).  They weigh about a pound each, though, and the significant weight savings with these solid state contactors looks good.  

   

I’d appreciate comments and advice.  

   

Thanks,  

   

Valin Thorn  

Legacy  

Houston, TX USA  

   

[img]cid:image001.jpg(at)01CABD3E.343549D0[/img]  

   

[img]cid:image002.png(at)01CABD3E.343549D0[/img]  

   

Exerpt of info on web link:  

                                               

Features                 Up        to 66% lighter weight     
99%        more reliable     
5        to 44 volt operating range     
Replaces        all mechanical contactors     
Solid        state technology     
No        moving parts     
Up        to 600 amps momentary operation     
Up        to 100 amps continuous     
Negative        or positive turn on                 

Specifications                 Input:        Input control current 5 to 44 volts     
Output:        Operating DC voltage range 0 to 44 volts     
Maximum        continuous current 100 amps     
Maximum        surge current (IDM) - .1mS: 1200     
Ambient        operating temperature range: -40 C to 85 C     
Weight:        Uni-directional .3 lbs     
Bi-directional        .5 lbs     
Encapsulation:        Potting or conformal coating

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nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 3:40 pm Post subject: Solid State Contactors -- SuperSwitch?

At 03:04 PM 3/6/2010, you wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  Hello,

  

 Has anyone had experience with the solid state contactors from Lamar Technologies they call a SuperSwitch?  See this Aircraft Spruce link for info:

  

   http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/superSwitch.php

 

  

 I know they’re expensive – but, we’re already in that category of contactor with the need for 28V high continuous current contactors (100 A alternator, all electric A/C).  We already have very nice Blue Sea high capacity contactors that are hermetically sealed (~$150 each).  They weigh about a pound each, though, and the significant weight savings with these solid state contactors looks good.

  

 I’d appreciate comments and advice. 	




   This same question came up a few years ago



  http://www.matronics.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=26571



   I'd not heard of them at that time. I did write to Lamar

   asking for an engineering data package that would help

   me evaluate the potential for incorporation onto TC

   aircraft. As I recall, I got an answer from somebody

   in sales who promised to forward my request to the

   right individual.



   Never heard back and I guess it slipped my mind.

   I just did an advanced search on "superswitch"

   limited to  http://www.lamartech.com/ and the

   search engines did not return a hit. Did anohter

   search on "07-01283" and "lamar". Got hits on

   Aircraft Spruce and Skyshop in Australia.



   Searched the whole constellation of matronics forums

   and got two hits . . . THIS thread and the one I

   cited above from some years ago. So I guess

   the short answer is, haven't got a clue as to

   how good the product is (although Lamar is

   usually a low risk choice for other things).

   It doesn't appear that they've made much of

   a splash in the marketplace.



   Bob . . .    [quote][b]

user9253

Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 1908
Location: Riley TWP Michigan

Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 5:34 am Post subject: Re: Solid State Contactors -- SuperSwitch?

Solid state contactors might have a small leakage current when they are off.

Joe

_________________
Joe Gores

jonlaury

Joined: 06 Nov 2006
Posts: 336

Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 2:47 pm Post subject: Solid State Contactors -- SuperSwitch?

Haven't used these, but they look identical to  Teledyne's. $$ to donuts that the manufacturer is the same.

  

 http://www.futurlec.com/RelSS.shtml

   [quote][b]

mrspudandcompany(at)veriz
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 3:51 pm Post subject: Solid State Contactors -- SuperSwitch?

Haven't used these, but they look identical to Teledyne's. $$ to donuts that the manufacturer is the same.  

    

   

    

http://www.futurlec.com/RelSS.shtml  

  [quote]   If you are planning on using one of these devices in your airplane, make sure you purchase the ones for a DC load.  Some of the ones for AC load, require a zero crossing to switch and will not work for DC. Roger [b]

nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 6:11 pm Post subject: Solid State Contactors -- SuperSwitch?

 	  Quote: 	
		  



  	  Quote: 	
		  If you are

planning on using one of these devices in your airplane, make sure you

purchase the ones for a DC load.  Some of the ones for AC load,

require a zero crossing to switch and will not work for

DC.[/b] 	
	


   The device being discussed is offered by an aviation

   equipment specialty house as a replacement for contactors

   (where bi-directional current flow is needed) and another

   version (relay) where uni-directional current flow will

   suffice. They are expected to function in a DC power system.



   Bob . . .    [quote][b]

jbr79r(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:49 am Post subject: Solid State Contactors -- SuperSwitch?

good morning Bob

I was hoping you would offer some comment on these devises.  Pros / cons / etc

Jim

 

James Robinson

Glasair lll  N79R

Spanish Fork UT  U77

From: "Robert L. Nuckolls, III" <nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com>

To: aeroelectric-list(at)matronics.com

Sent: Sun, March 7, 2010 6:02:40 PM

Subject: RE: Solid State Contactors --  SuperSwitch?



    	  Quote: 	
		  



  	  Quote: 	
		  If you areplanning on using one of these devices in your airplane, make sure youpurchase the ones for a DC load.  Some of the ones for AC load,require a zero crossing to switch and will not work forDC. 	
	


   The device being discussed is offered by an aviation

   equipment specialty house as a replacement for contactors

   (where bi-directional current flow is needed) and another

   version (relay) where uni-directional current flow will

   suffice. They are expected to function in a DC power system.



   Bob . . .    [quote]

[b]

nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
Guest

Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 9:28 am Post subject: Solid State Contactors -- SuperSwitch?

At 09:41 AM 3/8/2010, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  good morning Bob

I was hoping you would offer some comment on these devises.  Pros / cons / etc


	


   I've not seen detailed engineering data on any such

   products to date. Certainly, the technology exists

   to fabricate solid stage contactors. I think the

   race car hobby/industry has been flirting with them

   for some years.



   My personal knowledge as to the performance of

   products currently offered for sale is zero. I

   would be interested seeing the detail data sheets

   and/or doing lab tests on a device to look at

   things like on-resistance, off leakage, transient

   immunities, conducted noise, performance at temperature

   extremes.



   We KNOW that hard-metal contactors have VERY good

   OFF and ON switching characteristics. Further, they're

   simple, rugged and offer good value (service life and

   performance vs. acquisition costs).



   So the short answer is that pending further enlightenment

   on my part, I'm not able to offer any insight.



   Bob . . .

mrspudandcompany(at)veriz
Guest

Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 4:03 pm Post subject: Solid State Contactors -- SuperSwitch?

If you are

		planning on using one of these devices in your airplane,

make sure you

		purchase the ones for a DC load.  Some of the ones for AC

load,

		require a zero crossing to switch and will not work for

		DC.



		  The device being discussed is offered by an aviation

		  equipment specialty house as a replacement for contactors

		  (where bi-directional current flow is needed) and another

		  version (relay) where uni-directional current flow will

		  suffice. They are expected to function in a DC power

system.

		

		  Bob . . . 



				One of the devices referenced previously on

this website  http://www.futurlec.com/RelSS.shtml  pictured an AC device

JGX-1505FB.  I seem to recall way back in a previous life that some of these

similar devices required that the output go to zero before it would shut

off.  I may be wrong, since it has been many moons since I have worked with

this device.  This is why I mentioned above to be careful when selecting

your solid state relay.



				Roger

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thorn(at)starflight.aero
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 7:50 pm Post subject: Solid State Contactors -- SuperSwitch?

Thank you everyone for the feedback.  

   

Bob, I talked with Lamar Technologies’ Jim Errington, their Sales & Marketing Manager.  I let him know that you are interested in examining and testing their solid state contactor relays.  He’s also very interested in providing you some of their contactors for testing and to get familiar with them.  I gave him the phone number on the AeroElectric home page (620-886-3403) for you so you may have already heard from him.  If you have not, Jim’s contact info is jime(at)lamartech.com (jime(at)lamartech.com), phone: 360-651-6666.    

   

Their technical support guy, Alan Saldecki, provided a couple pdf files with a bit more information on their SuperSwitches – I’ve attached only one of them to keep this file size small.  One thing that’s different in their spec file vs. the Aircraft Spruce page is that it’s rated for 80 A continuous rather than 100A and that various with ambient temperature.  

   

They have a bunch of the SuperSwitches flying in a Cessna Corvalis for certification testing, or something like that.  They also report they have a number of experimentals flying with them without problems.  

   

If you are still interested in looking into them, I’ll wait to see what you think when you open one up and test it before deciding to use them in our power system.  Note that with my 28V, high current demand system (electric A/C, live in Houston) I’m already stuck with contactor relays in their price range – so, cost isn’t a factor so much as reliability and weight.  

   

Thanks,  

   

Valin Thorn  

Lancair Legacy project  

Houston, TX USA  

   

       

From: Valin & Allyson Thorn [mailto:thorn(at)starflight.aero] 

 Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2010 3:05 PM

 To: 'aeroelectric-list(at)matronics.com'

 Subject: Solid State Contactors -- SuperSwitch?  

  

  

   

Hello,  

   

Has anyone had experience with the solid state contactors from Lamar Technologies they call a SuperSwitch?  See this Aircraft Spruce link for info:  

   

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/superSwitch.php  

   

I know they’re expensive – but, we’re already in that category of contactor with the need for 28V high continuous current contactors (100 A alternator, all electric A/C).  We already have very nice Blue Sea high capacity contactors that are hermetically sealed (~$150 each).  They weigh about a pound each, though, and the significant weight savings with these solid state contactors looks good.  

   

I’d appreciate comments and advice.  

   

Thanks,  

   

Valin Thorn  

Legacy  

Houston, TX USA  

   

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