Vigirex Ground Fault Relays

Improved protection and reduced downtime for process machines

Schneider Electric estimates more than 85% of short circuits are initially manifested as ground faults (also called earth leakage or residual current). Detecting ground faults before they reach hazardous levels helps to avoid damage to critical process equipment. This allows preventive maintenance to be scheduled before costly damage occurs, minimizing costly downtime. A complete range of equipment ground fault protection for OEMs To help protect equipment and the electrical distribution system from ground faults, we are introducing a new line of Square D UL Listed Vigirex Ground Fault Relays. These compact, electronic devices are easy to install and can be used with most industrial voltages and currents. A wide range of models is available to meet the needs of specific applications. Selecting the proper model of ground fault relay is primarily a function of the level it needs to detect (a range of 30 mA to 30A) and the reaction speed (instantaneous to 4.5 seconds of time delay). Also, the sensor must be selected for the line current of the circuit and the physical size of the conductors. There is a wide range of Vigirex models, mounting options and sensors to best suit your application. I Panel or DIN-mount installation I Variety of sensors for a wide range of amperages I Models for most common power supply voltages I Outputs that may be used for protection via shunt trip of a circuit breaker or switch, or for alarming via lights or annunciator

Vigirex ground fault system includes panel and DIN-mount relays and various sized sensors

Benefits for OEMs

I Provides a better machine for your customers a competitive advantage I Limits warranty expense by preventing damage to equipment during warranty period I Enables selection of appropriate sensitivity and time delay I Qualifies equipment for international sales (where ground fault protection is frequently mandatory)

Benefits to the equipment user

I Protects equipment and reduces downtime from damage due to ground faults I Provides warning that preventive maintenance should be done to the equipment I Indirectly protects personnel from fires, malfunctioning equipment, etc.

How Vigirex Ground Fault Relays operate

These products compare outgoing currents with returning currents to determine if there is leakage of current to ground. If there is a ground fault, the Vigirex Ground Fault Relay will operate its contacts, providing protection by opening the associated disconnect, such as a circuit breaker with shunt trip or UVR (under-voltage release) contacts. The contacts can also activate an alarm, such as a warning lamp or input to a monitoring system. Unlike the residential GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter), ground fault relays are not designed to protect people (UL943 Class A calls for protection above 6 mA). The Vigirex Ground Fault Relay operates at higher current levels to protect equipment. They are designed to meet the UL1053 standard for equipment protection. Although they are not designed for people protection, indirectly they do make a safer environment by minimizing other hazards associated with ground faults including fires, malfunctioning equipment and more. Also, unlike the GFCI, ground fault relays do not provide overcurrent, short circuit, ground fault protection and disconnect of the circuit all in one unit.

Panel-mount RH99P Vigirex Ground Fault Relay

Components of a Vigirex ground fault system

I Vigirex Ground Fault Relay has control power inputs, inputs from the sensor, outputs to the disconnect device, and electronic circuitry that determines if the ground-fault exceeds the trip level I Current sensor is a current transformer through which the monitored line passes (all phases plus neutral, if present, but not ground wire); its secondary goes to the relay input I Disconnect device is controlled by the output of the Vigirex Ground Fault Relay (Examples include a switch or circuit breaker with a shunt trip device)

DIN-mount RH99M Vigirex Ground Fault Relay

Sensor (CT)

Circuit Breaker or Switch Alarm or Vigirex Relay Control Power

A B C Main power line to equipment

Reducing unnecessary machine downtime Just as important as tripping due to hazardous ground faults is the ability to avoid nuisance tripping due to electrical noise or other conditions in a manufacturing environment. The Vigirex system includes several provisions designed to minimize nuisance tripping. I Tripping tolerance sensitivity and time delay can be selected to ignore minor transients I Frequency filtering filters out harmonics and other noise caused by switching supplies, etc. I Inverse time versus current tripping curve a higher ground-fault current causes faster tripping, a low level current must persist a longer time before tripping I RMS measurements smoothes the signal to more accurately trip at the setting level

Installation flexibility
The Vigirex ground fault system is typically installed in the control panel of the machine tool when it is manufactured. But, it can also be installed by the end-user, either in a machines control panel or in the branch circuit supplying the machine.

Testing locally or remotely, with or without tripping

A front-panel test button enables testing of the Vigirex Ground Fault Relay, with or without tripping the disconnect device. This procedure can also be done remotely through inputs to the relay.

Coordination with the power distribution system

When installing a ground fault relay in a machine, consideration should be given to coordination with the plant distribution system. Doing this will localize a fault condition and restrict power outages to the equipment affected. As indicated below, each level up from the protected machine should have a higher ground-fault trip setting and a longer time delay. The wide range of Vigirex, and other Square D products, ensures a model for every level of the plant distribution system.
Source 30 A 1 sec.

Main

30 mA 250 mSec. Feeder Branch or Machine

300 mA 250 mSec.

30 mA 60 mSec.

30 mA 60 mSec. Load Machine with ground fault protection

Vigirex Ground fault Relays (UL 1053) Model Delay Reset Control/Voltage DIN-rail Mounted
12-24 Vac/12-48 Vdc

Sensitivity

Catalog Number
56300 56302 56305 56306 56307 56320 56322 56325 56326 56327 56330 56332 56335 56336 56337 56360 56362 56363 56370 56372 56373 56390 56392 56393 56400 56402 56405 56406 56407 56420 56422 56425 56426 56427 56430 56432 56435 56436 56437 56460 56462 56463 56470 56472 56473 56490 56492 56493

RH10M

Instantaneous

Manual

110-130 Vac

220-240 Vac

30 mA 100 mA 300 mA 500 mA 1A 30 mA 100 mA 300 mA 500 mA 1A 30 mA 100 mA 300 mA 500 mA 1A 30 mA or 300 mA (2 settings) 9 user-selectable thresholds, 30 mA to 30A: 30 mA, 100 mA, 300 mA, 500 mA, 1A, 3A, 5A,10A, 30A

RH21M

Instantaneous or 60 mSec (2 settings)

Manual

RH99M

9 user-selectable time delays: 0 sec Manual (instantaneous), 60 ms, 150 ms, 250 ms, 310 ms, 500 ms, Automatic 800 ms, 1 s, 4.5 s

12-24 Vac/12-48 Vdc 110-130 Vac 220-240 Vac 12-24 Vac/12-48 Vdc 110-130 Vac 220-240 Vac 12-24 Vac/12-48 Vdc 110-130 Vac 220-240 Vac

Panel Mounted
12-24 Vac/12-48 Vdc 30 mA 100 mA 300 mA 500 mA 1A 30 mA 100 mA 300 mA 500 mA 1A 30 mA 100 mA 300 mA 500 mA 1A 30 mA or 300 mA (2 settings) 9 user-selectable thresholds, 30 mA to 30A: 30 mA, 100 mA, 300 mA, 500 mA, 1A, 3A, 5A,10A, 30A

RH10P

Instantaneous

Manual

110-130 Vac

220-240 Vac

RH21P

Instantaneous or 60 mSec (2 settings)

Manual

RH99P

9 user-selectable time delays: 0 sec Manual (instantaneous), 60 ms, 150 ms, 250 ms, 310 ms, 500 ms, Automatic 800 ms, 1 s, 4.5 s

12-24 Vac/12-48 Vdc 110-130 Vac 220-240 Vac 12-24 Vac/12-48 Vdc 110-130 Vac 220-240 Vac 12-24 Vac/12-48 Vdc 110-130 Vac 220-240 Vac

Sensors for Vigirex Ground-fault Relays Sensors Type Current Rating

TA30 PA50 IA80 MA120 SA200 GA300 POA* GOA* 280 x 115 470 x 160 * Not UL recognized 65 A 85 A 160 A 250 A 400 A 630 A 85 A 250 A 1600 A 3200 A

Inside Diameter in. mm

1.18 1.97 3.15 4.72 7.87 11.81 1.81 4.33 11.02 x 4.53 18.50 x 6.30 30 50 80 120 200 300 46 110 280 x 115 470 x 160

Catalog No.
50437 50438 50439 50440 50441 50442 50485 50486 56053 56054

Split toroids, type OA Rectangular sensors

Schneider Electric - North American Operating Division

1415 S. Roselle Road Palatine, IL 60067 Tel: 847-397-2600 Fax: 847-925-7500 Order Number 0972BR0301R4/04 4-04

2004 Schneider Electric All rights reserved

Closed toroids, type A