High-capacity DC relay provides greater power density for ESS and bidirectional EV charging

Omron Electronic Components Europe has released a new high-capacity DC relay for high-capacity household ESS, bidirectional EV chargers, and UPS systems.

The G9KB-E builds upon the functionality of the G9KB family. It provides a maximum voltage of 800VDC and a maximum current of 100A, making it well-equipped to satisfy an increasing market demand for higher voltages and currents in battery applications, particularly within the 15kW to 40kW range.

The relay has the same size and weight as the standard G9KB series, yet achieves a 33% higher maximum switching voltage, and 50% higher current. As such, the relay opens up new possibilities for application designers to lower the number of relays per system, while also using greater power capacity within a smaller footprint. Using fewer relays within a system can improve its sustainability, lowering heat emissions and reducing the environmental impact of end-of-life disposal.

The relay features bidirectional DC switching capability, allowing a single device to replace two unidirectional relays. The relay harnesses arc cut-off technology to safely and securely cut off high-capacity DC. 3D arc simulation technology has been used to visualise the arc phenomenon and optimise the arc cut-off process, resulting in a more compact design with improved safety compared to competing technologies.

The device achieves a low-rated contact resistance of 5 milliohms, resulting in less heat generated for more efficient performance. This, in turn, improves the reliability and longevity of the relay itself and of neighbouring components within the same system. The relay mounts to a PCB and weighs less than conventional relay or contactor designs. Unlike conventional sealed relay designs, it features no hydrogen gas for improved safety. The device is tested to achieve more than one million operations throughout its mechanical life and is certified to UL(UL60947-4-1), TUV(EN 61810-10), and CQC(GB/T 21711.1) standards.