Relays having internal connections on both sides of their switches may be used in conjunction with a connector that integrates both the normal relay switch control lines with the sensing conductors of a control module for a battery module of an energy storage device. In this manner, sensing conductors may be routed along with the switch control lines for the relay instead of separately as described above. This integration reduces the complexity and cost associated with the energy storage device, because it reduces the number of separately routed lines and also eliminates the external connections for at least some of the sensing conductors.

A hybrid relay (1) comprises an electromechanical part (10) with a movable contact (103), a solid state relay (11) and a control unit (2) for applying a drive signal (S′,S″) to the drivable coil (101) of the electromechanical part. A method for operating the hybrid relay comprises steps of determining a first minimum voltage (V.sub.1) for the drive signal above which the movable contact (103) starts to move away from an open position (P.sub.o) and a second minimum voltage (V.sub.2) for the drive signal above which the movable contact (103) reaches the closed position (P.sub.c), and a step of shaping a waveform (W) for the drive signal comprising a portion (W1) consisting of a vertical segment jumping from zero to the first minimum voltage value, a portion (W2) wherein the voltage gradually increases from the first minimum value to the second minimum voltage value, and a portion (W3) consisting of another vertical segment jumping from the second minimum voltage value to an upper voltage boundary (V.sub.sup).

A power-saving circuit for a contactor includes a coil drive circuit, and further includes a rectification and filtering circuit, a PFC circuit, an auxiliary power supply circuit, and a square wave generation circuit. The square wave generation circuit outputs a first square wave signal to the PFC circuit via a first output end according to a set timing sequence, and outputs a second square wave signal and a third square wave signal to the coil drive circuit via a second output end, so as to respectively control duty cycles of a first switch tube in the PFC circuit and a second switch tube in the coil drive circuit. The auxiliary power supply circuit supplies electric energy to the square wave generation circuit during a holding stage of the contactor. The rectification and filtering circuit is used for rectifying an input AC into a pulsating DC, and filtering an input narrow-pulse current into a smooth current to be outputted to the PFC circuit after eliminating higher harmonic components other than a fundamental frequency component of 50 Hz. The PFC circuit receives rectified and filtered electric energy, enables an effective value of the input current to change along with an input voltage, and outputs the input current to the coil drive circuit and the auxiliary power supply circuit. The coil drive circuit is used for controlling the current of a contactor coil. Wherein during a pull-in stage of the contactor, the PFC circuit does not work and the power-saving circuit provides a large current to the contactor coil to pull in; during a transition stage, the PFC circuit starts to work and the power-saving circuit controls the current of the contactor coil to decrease gradually; and during a holding stage of the contactor, the PFC circuit keeps working and the power-saving circuit controls the current of the contactor coil to be kept as a small current required for holding.

A hybrid relay (1) comprises an electromechanical part (10) with a movable contact (103), a solid state relay (11) and a control unit (2) for applying a drive signal (S′,S″) to the drivable coil (101) of the electromechanical part. A method for operating the hybrid relay comprises steps of determining a first minimum voltage (V.sub.1) for the drive signal above which the movable contact (103) starts to move away from an open position (P.sub.o) and a second minimum voltage (V.sub.2) for the drive signal above which the movable contact (103) reaches the closed position (P.sub.c), and a step of shaping a waveform (W) for the drive signal comprising a portion (W1) consisting of a vertical segment jumping from zero to the first minimum voltage value, a portion (W2) wherein the voltage gradually increases from the first minimum value to the second minimum voltage value, and a portion (W3) consisting of another vertical segment jumping from the second minimum voltage value to an upper voltage boundary (V.sub.sup).

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide method, controller and system for regulating a current of a coil. The method comprises: obtaining a first sample value of the current of the coil at a first moment, the first sample value being associated with a duty cycle of a PWM signal applied to a control end of a switch and the switch being coupled in series with the coil; obtaining a second sample value of the current of the coil at a second moment; determining a difference value between the first and the second sample values; and updating the duty cycle of the PWM signal based on the difference value to regulate the current of the coil. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the inrush current of the coil generated at the moment of closing the contactor can be limited to a target current value, so as to increase the service life of the contactor.

Provided are embodiments for operating an autonomous mode change circuit for solenoid drivers. The embodiments include initiating an operation of a solenoid, and receiving a command to control the operation of the solenoid. The embodiments also include controlling, by a drive circuit, a switch coupled to the solenoid based at least in part on the command, and detecting at least one of a current or voltage of the solenoid, and subsequently controlling the operation of the solenoid based at least in part on the detection.

The present disclosure provides controllers for power distribution network circuit interrupting devices and provides electronic control circuits for inclusion in such controllers. The electronic control circuit has a boost circuit, a capacitor storage unit and a pulse width modulator control circuit. The boost circuit boosts an input voltage to a value to supply sufficient energy to a protective relay solenoid to energize the solenoid. The capacitor storage unit stores the boosted voltage from the boost circuit. The pulse width modulator control circuit is responsive to a control and enable circuit to selectively enable energy from the capacitor to energize the one or more protective relays in power distribution system circuit interrupting device.

A method includes detecting a failure in a contactor economizer that is configured to provide a first current to a coil of a contactor to close the contactor, and to provide a second current lower than the first current to the coil after the contactor is closed to hold the contactor closed. The method includes at least one of: driving contactor actuation based on economizer failure status; and/or signaling failure of the economizer through built in test (BIT) indication.

A system includes a contactor operatively connected to a coil for actuating the contactor to open and close a circuit. A pass element includes a source, a drain, and a gate, wherein the drain is electrically connected to the coil, and wherein the coil is in series between the pass element and ground. A voltage source is connected to the source of the pass element to pass current into the coil when the pass element is in a pass state. A current source control circuit with economizer is operatively connected to the gate of the pass element. A delay circuit is operatively connected to the current source control circuit with economizer and to a command line to command a lower current for holding the contactor closed after a delay has expired for the contactor to transition.

Relays having internal connections on both sides of their switches may be used in conjunction with a connector that integrates both the normal relay switch control lines with the sensing conductors of a control module for a battery module of an energy storage device. In this manner, sensing conductors may be routed along with the switch control lines for the relay instead of separately as described above. This integration reduces the complexity and cost associated with the energy storage device, because it reduces the number of separately routed lines and also eliminates the external connections for at least some of the sensing conductors.