New Industry Products

LEM Introduces DH Split-Core Transducers For Bipolar Measurement Of High DC Currents

December 02, 2007 by Jeff Shepard

LEM International announced its DH family of dc current transducers. Complementing LEM’s range of products for advanced battery management applications, the new DH transducers offer precise measurement of bipolar currents up to 2000A. Measuring only 174 x 86 x 54.1 mm, these compact split-core transducers combine Hall-effect technology and signal conditioning in a single housing with a large rectangular sensing aperture for non-contact measurement (supporting up to 104 x 40 mm busbars or � 40 mm cables).

The DH series is designed to measure dc currents and their polarity. It offers a choice of primary current measurement ranges from 500 to 2000A and provides an absolute accuracy better than 1% of the nominal current value. The new transducers output the bipolar measurement value through an industry standard 4-20mA output. They feature a loop-powered circuit (adapted to 20-30Vdc power supplies) that is said to reduce installation costs by minimizing the wiring and connections required. The DH family is said to be well-suited for industrial system designers, integrators and resellers who require accurate and cost-effective dc current transducers.

Applications include management of UPS systems and standby batteries, dc power generation and distribution, and monitoring dc motors and process control systems. The company claims that the performance and reliability of the DH transducers have been validated in a number of beta installations where the transducers monitor charge and load currents of standby batteries in large UPS systems as well as in telecommunication base band antennas.