Electronics housings including PCB connection technology
System solution with a solar connection
Manufacturers of electronic devices depend on the right housing for their electronics. MeierNT GmbH, a manufacturer of innovative measurement technology for the environmental and
solar industries, is using Phoenix Contact electronics housings for their new series of devices
for the photovoltaic market. The housings from the BC product range provide the necessary
flexibility with their various housing widths, convenient PCB connection technology, and
numerous additional features (Figure 1, lead image).
Figure 1, Lead Image - The data logger – Meier-NT uses a Phoenix Contact housing system for its modern technology.
Meier-NT GmbH, situated in the old German mining city of Zwönitz in Saxony’s Erzgebirge
mountain range, has been developing and producing devices and systems for recording,
visualizing, and transmitting data since 1990. The devices are used in several fields,
including meteorology, climatology, and photovoltaics. All of the system components have to
work together, without errors, in all areas of application. What are most important here is
reliability, environmental sustainability, and ease of maintenance.
A customised system solution
Meier-NT’s customers use ADL, the new analysis and monitoring system, to supervise and
monitor solar power systems. ADL consists of a data logger, a
string monitor, and an own consumption controller. ADL
constantly checks the PV system in order to precisely regulate
performance. The collected information is then used for early
detection of errors and to avoid failures that reduce profitability.
“Our new system is more compact in comparison to the previous
system, and above all it’s more cost effective,” says Heiko Meier
(Figure 2), General Manager of Meier-NT. “To achieve this, we
had to arrange several functions in a space-saving, compact
Figure 2 - Heiko Meier, founder and General
Manager of Meier-NT GmbH, decided to go with
housing solutions by Phoenix Contact.
way.”
A housing solution as scalable platform
Meier-NT found the right housing system with the BC electronics housing from Phoenix
Contact, which enables the various device components to work together in a precise way.
The data logger’s task is to record, analyse, and save measurement readings from up to 100
individual devices, including single-string inverters and central inverters. Individual loads,
such as heat pumps, can be turned off or on in connection with the own consumption
controller.
The voltage supply module provides the data logger with the necessary power supply. The
string monitor records the solar module’s actual DC power and converts the analogue signal
into a digital RS485 signal.
“The advantage of our system solution is based on a modern, scalable platform,” explains
Meier. “For that, we need an electronics housing that offers the necessary flexibility. This is
why we chose the BC electronics housing from Phoenix Contact.”
A range of housing widths – from 17.8 mm to 161.6 mm – enable the easy construction of
various assemblies in the same housing design. The generously designed PCB mounting
surface streamlines project planning in the layout and development process. Interior PCB
guides in all three spatial directions facilitate a functional installation of the electronics. The
PCBs can be mounted in different positions, parallel or at a right angle to the mounting rail.
BC housings also offer advantages from a production
perspective. “All of the devices are soldered by machines,”
says Meier, “and because the housing parts are put together
without any tools whatsoever, we save a lot of time in device
assembly.” (Figure 3)
Figure 3 - In production – the universal housing concept enables
easy device installation without tools.
Cross-connection establishes itself
Meier-NT uses a mounting rail bus connection for communication between the assemblies.
Meier says, “The cross-connector was important for us because we can use it to easily
connect the expansion assembly to the data logger and keep wiring to a minimum.” The 16pin connector is suitable for the transmission of bus and control signals as well as grounding
and power supply (see the box).
“All of these assemblies can be removed from the system independently of each other and
put back in, without impacting the basic functioning of the entire system,” explains Meier. The
automatic and secure cross-connection of the assemblies is done through snapping them
together on the mounting rail, without additional wiring. Meier says, “This saves time and
avoids errors in wiring as well as cable breaks.”
Choice of connection technology
Various PCB connection technologies can be integrated into the BC housings. “The open
installation space for the connection technology was important to us,” emphasizes Meier. “It
was the only way for us to easily implement a broad variety of interfaces.” For example, the
data logger assembly integrates three RS485 interfaces for capturing measurement readings
as well as a USB interface for data backup and memory expansion. Meier says, “We were
even able to custom-fit an Ethernet interface.”
Spring cage connection technology enables Meier-NT to perform simple connections without
special tools and without wire preparation. The tension spring is opened with a screwdriver in
the slot and the wire is pushed into the spring cage through a separate conductor shaft.
When the screwdriver is removed from the slot, the spring pulls the wire against the bus-bar.
Meier-NT uses dual-stack models to increase contact density.
Customised housing configuration
“We have enjoyed taking advantage of the opportunity to order PCB connection technology
in different colours,” says Meier. “This makes it easy to visually identify the different terminal
allocations or connection sequences between the assemblies.”
To make device designs practical, the BC housings come with different cover designs; there
is a transparent cover and a housing colour for each housing width. The transparent cover
can be tilted and is suitable for devices with display or control elements. The cover in the
housing colour snaps inseparably into place with the upper part of the housing. Meier-NT
uses both types of covers. “For the data logger, we need a GLCD display and capacitive
keys for the configuration and display of current measurement readings. The tiltable,
transparent cover is ideal for this,” says Meier.
From the Ems River to the desert
In a joint project with German energy providers, Meier-NT
equipped PV systems throughout Germany (Figure 4) –
whether on the Ems River or in Oranienburg. The
company also delivered a system for a PV array in the
Egyptian desert. The task of the PV plant there is to
safely balance current peaks from the connected power
generators. In this case, the data logger takes care of
both data capture and controlling actual values.
Figure 4 - Comprehensive modular system solution – Meier-NT’s analysis
and monitoring systems are assembled in Zwönitz and then sent all over the
world.
Meier-NT has continued to develop its ADL product range into a new and cost-effective
device concept with the BC housing system, creating a previously unknown level of
functionality and flexibility. The new housing system is already successful on the market, and
its main advantages over conventional solutions are significant cost advantages, reduced
wiring effort, and lower space requirements.
BC electronics housings
The BC housing system from Phoenix
Contact offers equipment
manufacturers several advantages:
Figure 5 - A mounting rail bus connector creates self-constructing
contacts from device to device – no additional wiring is required.
Design width variance that conforms
to the German Institute for
Standardisation
Further information:
www.phoenixcontact.co.uk
Cross-connectors with 16 pins for
automatic device-to-device contacting
without additional wiring (Figure 5)
If you are interested in publishing this article, please contact
Becky Smith: marketing@phoenixcontact.co.uk or telephone
Replacement of electronics without
0845 881 2222.
interrupting the contact chain
Free selection of PCB connector
technology for data, signalling, and
electricity
Flexibility for designing devices thanks
to PCB guides in all three spatial
directions
Various covers in transparent and
opaque versions for applicationspecific equipment design
Tool-free assembly for easy assembly
construction
Standard mounting rails for timesaving installation