Munich, 30 September 2011: Schaltbau GmbH is sponsoring Bochum University with C163 series bistable contactors. The contactor is a vital component in the SolarWorldGT electric car. The devices are being used to switch the power supply to both the wheel hub motors and the solar array of this innovative vehicle. They save two watts per unit and ensure extremely high efficiency at the same time. The students’ aim was to build an extremely lightweight solar-powered car in order to make best use of the sun’s energy and reach as high a speed as possible.

As a double NC contact switch, the S850 snap-action switch forms a redundant The contactor is robustly built to handle voltages of over 100 volts and currents of up to 100 amperes. The C163 series is equipped with a double-break contact. As the contactor is bistable, the change between the two stable switching conditions “main contact open” and “main contact closed” takes place by means of a short switching impulse of only 100 ms, i.e. without power consumption from the coil in the final positions. The contactors have a mechanical working life of over three million operating cycles and an electrical working life of over 100,000.

The Company:

“Connect – Contact – Control” is the motto under which Schaltbau GmbH develops and manufactures electromechanical components for transportation technology, material handling, renewables and automation. Founded in 1929, the company has nine locations of its own and more than 60 sales partners worldwide. The Schaltbau range of products includes connectors, snap-action switches and contactors as well as control and indicating devices. The Schaltbau GmbH quality management system is certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001 and its ecological management system in accordance with DIN EN ISO 14001. The company has been certified as a Q1 supplier to Deutsche Bahn (German Rail) since 2008. The Velden and Aldersbach plants have been quality-certified in accordance with IRIS (International Railway Industry Standard) since October 2008.