Component

Selection guide
Parallel operation of capacitor
Switching and and inrush current limiting
protection devices
capacitors in APFC panels
At capacitor switching while one or
Power supply Power supply more capacitors are connected to the
system, the switching capacitor will see
a high inrush current. This is due to the
Conventional Conventional
current flow from the already connected
Switching Inrush Switching capacitor(s) (which will act as a source)
Contactor Contactor
through the least impedance path set
by the switched capacitor along with the
Capacitors Capacitor
current from the main source. This means
that when the number of capacitors in
Before Switching After Switching
parallel increases, the amount of inrush
Conventional single stage capacitor switching current also increases. Inrush current
will damage the capacitor as well as the
switching device.
Power supply Power supply
In order to prevent inrush current, it is
required to use current limiting devices
such as Capacitor Duty Contactors or
Conventional Conventional
Switching Switching Inductor Coil. Pictorial illustration of the
Contactor Contactor
conventional switching and switching using
Inrush
a special capacitor duty contactor is shown
Capacitors
Capacitors to
be switched switched on in the left.
Capacitors already on on Capacitors already on

Before Switching After Switching

Conventional multi stage capacitor switching with normal power contactor

Power supply Power supply

Capacitor Capacitor
Switching Switching
Contactor Contactor

Limited Inrush
Capacitors to
Capacitor
be switched
switched on
Capacitors already on on Capacitors already on

Before Switching After Switching Stage 1

Multi Stage Capacitor Switching with Capacitor Duty Contactor

Stage 1 - Capacitor is switched through a inrush current limiter

Power supply Power supply

Capacitor Capacitor
Switching Switching
Contactor Contactor

Limited Inrush Normal Current

Capacitors Capacitors
switched on switched on
Capacitors already on Capacitors already on

After Switching Stage 2 After Switching Stage 3

Stage 2 - Capacitor is switched through Contactor and inrush current limiter

Stage 3 - inrush current limiter is removed from the circuit and Capacitor is
completely switched on

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