Protected technology for stand alone safety switches with safety category 3
=> ACOTOM®3 process
- Coded process with dual system of operation and control.
- Coding on one or more levels.
- Integrated system for independent control and monitoring of system operation (no safety module required).
- Safety levels from 1 to 4.
- Possibility of use in all directions (+/- 7mm).
- High distance detection (10mm or more on request).
- Constant small hysteresis: <2mm.
- Unlimited number of switches in parallel connection.
- LED diode and auxiliary additional line accurately show the state of the coded system.
Protected technology for non-autonomous safety switches tied in series
=> ACOTOM®2 process
- Coded process with dual channel operation and control.
- The ideal solution for an environment with vibrations.
- Safety level from 1 to 4.
- Possibility of use in all directions (+/- 7mm).
- High distance detection (10mm or more on request).
- Constant small hysteresis: <2mm.
- Connection of up to 30 switches in parallel series.
- LED diode and auxiliary additional line accurately show the state of the coded system.
- An additional AWAX safety module is required.
Why did BTI develop the Actom process?
At the beginning of the development of switches with ACOTOM process, there were two types of safety switches on the market.
Mechanical switches are probably the cheapest solution to achieve safety class 1 according to EN954-1, but without a safety module. But the disadvantages:
- installation costs must be aded
- very precise adjustment is required due to tolerances
- short operating time expectancy
- large dimensions
- easy ways to bypass security features
- not suitable for operating in food industry (due to the possibility of bacteria entering the intermediate spacec) nor for industries where powder is produced
- if we want to reach a higher level than 1, the switch must be controlled by a safety module (which increases costs)
Reed switches have been developed in order to eliminate the main problems of mechanical switches. Their advantages over mechanical switches are:
- bigger installation tolerances
- waterproof and insensitive to high pressures
- there are no intermediate spaces, they are useful in the food industry
But:
- they are not stand alone (the switch must always be controlled by a safety module from the same manufacturer), max. 6 switches in series for max. safety level 3
- it is easy to bypass proper operation with a horseshoe-shaped magnet or two small magnets
- high hysteresisi (distance between on and off contacts), while the European directive of 14 mm is set as maximum
- LED indication shows the status of the contacts, not the entire switch
As there were no products that could fully meet the application, the company BTI developed a new ACOTOM process using electronic components based on a coding system with different magnetic poles.
The main advantages of BTI products:
- reliability – based on the coding system, it is impossible to bypass proper operation
- easy installation (switches are available with 3, 6 or 12 m cable)
- tolerance in all shafts
- adjusted for the food, comsmetics and pharmaceutical industries (waterproof, no small intermediate spaces, some products are available in 316L stainless steel version)
- small size and attractive design
- long operating life
- stable hysteresis – 2mm
- usable for 24 V
- insensitive for magnetic fields and vibrations
- ekonomical
DLC® system
DLC is an electronic current limiting system through a switch and module. This system provides more safety, more reliability and less maintenance.
- no fuse is required in the switch, which means an increase in reliability
- more reliability due to non-use of mechanical contacts
- avoiding switch damage
- more reliability in case of short circuits, because the interruption with the DLC system is performed in 2µs (with ordinary fuses, which are more often used in safety moduls on the marker, the shut down time is up to 1 min)
The lack of reliable short-circuit detection limits the safety of modules to category 3, especially in environments where more frequent short-circuits are possible.
With the safety modules AWAX26XXL and AWAX27XXL and the system DLC we provide category 4 without applicaton restrictions.