Symbolic representation of an arc flash and a data stream

Low-voltage switching and protection

Semiconductor technology

Always ahead of the peak with fully electronic and ultra-fast switching: The innovative combination of semiconductor technology, microcontroller, and intelligent algorithms enables optimal selective protection, enhanced operational reliability, and increased plant and system availability.

Explore products Contact us

Ultra-fast switching before current peaks occur

Whether short circuit or high inrush current: our new fully electronic switches respond reliably in less than a microsecond. With their innovative combination of semiconductor components, sensors, microcontroller, and intelligent algorithms, they open up new perspectives in low-voltage switching and protection:

Ultra-fast reaction to current peaks: up to 1,000 times faster than traditional electromechanical protection devices
Up to 99.5% reduction of short circuit energy
Efficient handling of high inrush currents caused by capacitive loads and high-efficiency motors.
Better protection of equipment from wear and damage
Increased system availability, enhanced operational reliability

Download white paper

Fully electronic switching and protection solutions based on semiconductor technology increases plant and system availability as well as operational reliability.

Increase availability

Reduce downtime, restart immediately after fault clearance, say goodbye to false tripping due to high inrush currents with fully electronic switching and protection solutions that increase availability and reliability.

Fully electronic switching and protection solutions based on semiconductor technology simplifies the planning and dimensioning of electrical systems and provides planning certainty.

Simplify planning

Reduce short-circuit and selectivity planning effort with fully electronic switching and protection solutions that provide planning certainty while making planning and dimensioning easier.

Fully electronic switching and protection solutions based on semiconductor technology contributes to cost and material savings in electrical systems.

Save cost and material

Reduce short-circuit damages to equipment, inventory requirements, and the number of service interventions with fully electronic switching and protection solutions that have a longer lifespan thanks to wear-free switching.

New perspectives in switching and protection technology

Ultra-fast switching through semiconductor components, microcontrollers, and intelligent algorithms reduces short-circuit-related downtime and enables cost and material savings.

Reduce downtime due to short circuits

Short circuits lead to increased wear or even damage to equipment, require increased planning effort and the dimensioning of the system for high short-circuit energies as well as the stocking of spare parts.

Ultra-fast switching ensures improved protection, optimized operation, and increased availability. It reduces short-circuit-related downtime, in this way extending the lifespan of equipment while simplifying short-circuit and selectivity planning and lowering both costs and material requirements.

Handle inrush currents more efficiently

With conventional switching and protection technology, high inrush currents often cause false trips and increased wear. Preventive over-sizing of protection devices and electrical installations results in higher energy in the event of a short circuit.

Ultra-fast switching reduces false trips and wear, and it increases plant and system availability as well as the lifespan of components. This helps reduce costs, material, and planning efforts.

Protection and switching devices based on semiconductor components, microcontrollers, and intelligent algorithms efficiently handle inrush current peaks with their ultra-fast switching algorithm.

Our semiconductor circuit breaker could represent a paradigm shift, much like the change from the electromechanical telephone to today's smartphone.

Marvin Tannhäuser, Principal Key Expert for Power Electronics, Siemens Smart Infrastructure, Nuremberg, Germany

Technological advantage for your applications

From a disruptive idea to a market-ready solution: What began as the bold vision of a team of exceptionally inventive minds just a few years ago is now commercially available and ready for real-world applications.

Both the SENTRON ECPD and the SIMATIC ET 200SP e‑Starter combine semiconductor components, microcontrollers, and intelligent algorithms have to enable fully electronic, ultra-fast switching and open up entirely new possibilities in low-voltage switching and protection.

Learn more about the inventive minds behind the products

Thanks to semiconductor technology, the circuit protection device SENTRON ECPD opens up a world of new possibilities in numerous applications of electrical power distribution.

SENTRON ECPD circuit protection devices

The SENTRON ECPD (electronic circuit protection device) secures feeders and meets protection goals in low-voltage distribution while combining multiple switching and protection functions in a single unit.

SIMATIC ET 200SP e-Starter

The SIMATIC ET 200SP e-Starter is ideal for switching and protecting three-phase motors and resistive loads, is fully integrated into TIA Portal, and supports safety-related applications up to SIL 3 / PL e.

SENTRON 3QD2 semiconductor cirucit breaker (SCCB)

SENTRON 3QD2 semiconductor circuit breaker

Ultra-fast. Reliable. Parameterizable. This multifunctional, space-saving circuit breaker reliably protects DC components against overvoltage and short circuits in the DC network by tripping without arcing within microseconds.

Explore our related resources

Video

Innovative switching and protection technology

In this panel discussion, get firsthand insights from our experts on how SENTRON ECPD and SIMATIC ET 200SP e‑Starter use semiconductor components and intelligent algorithms for ultra-fast switching.

Electrical circuit breakers and switches arranged in rows on a blue background.

White paper