Benefits of Standard Plugs and Receptacles
Safe, Economical, and Reliable Standard Duty Devices
MELTRIC Standard Duty plugs and receptacles provide a more economical alternative for applications where the added benefits of Switch-Rated devices are not required. Because they are based on the same technology used in our Switch-Rated products, users are ensured of safe and reliable operation over thousands of operations.
Please consult the High Ampacity product section for applications above 250A.
User Safety
Like all MELTRIC devices, our Standard Duty devices are designed with the first priority of keeping users safe, even in abnormal conditions.
• 30A-400A DR Series receptacles have safety shutters that automatically close before the plug can be removed and block unintended access to live contacts. The 20A PN receptacles have recessed, finger safe contacts.
• Superior contact technology provides consistent high-quality connections and eliminates high resistance, overheated connections that lead to failure in other devices.
• The DR Series devices also have push button disconnection, a quick break mechanism and dead-front construction that minimizes and isolates arcing if the plug is disconnected under load. It is not possible to draw an arc during disconnection.
• Automatic watertightness achieved simply by connecting the plug and receptacle prevents failures and flashover due to ingress common on competitive devices if their additionally-required IP rings are not engaged.
• DR Series devices have short circuit close and withstand ratings of 10kA to 100kA, depending upon the size of the device, when used in conjunction with RK1 current limiting fuses. This helps protect users should the device be operated during fault conditions.
Ease of Operation
Integral and optional features make connection and disconnection easier than with competitive devices, even in cord drop and in-line applications. Larger 150A-250A devices are provided with integral drawbar mechanisms that easily pull the plug into the receptacle and securely latch it in place. Optional finger draw plates are available for 30A-100A devices to provide a comfortable grip and extra leverage to make in-line and cord drop connections smooth and easy.
DR devices have a push button release feature that makes disconnection almost effortless. Once the circuit has been deenergized, pressing the release button automatically disengages the contacts and ejects the plug to the rest position. It can then be removed from the receptacle simply by rotating and withdrawing it.
The automatic watertightness feature also simplifies operation by eliminating the need to thread on/off or otherwise engage/disengage the auxiliary watertightness rings that are required on many competitive devices.
Improved Reliability
Spring-loaded silver-nickel butt contacts maintain high conductivity for thousands of operations, even in harsh conditions.
The design and performance capabilities of MELTRIC PN and DR Series plugs and receptacles eliminate problems common with other standard plugs and receptacles and provide long operating lives that improve reliability and help reduce unplanned maintenance downtime.
• Spring-loaded butt contacts provide consistent and optimal contact force for thousands of operations. This eliminates the inherent problems with pin and sleeve contacts that wear with use resulting in poor, high resistance connections over time.
• Solid silver-nickel contact material provides excellent conductivity that does not degrade significantly with oxidation or in harsh environments. It also resists welding due to arcing and provides good wear resistance. By contrast, the brass material used in most other plugs and receptacles is not arc resistant and wears, oxidizes and tarnishes easily, so its electrical performance can degrade significantly in normal use.
• Spring-assisted terminals compensate for the effects of strand settlement, temperature cycling, and vibration that can cause terminal screws on other devices to loosen and create high resistance connections and potential damage from overheating.
• Rated watertightness is achieved simply by connecting the plug to the receptacle. This automatic watertightness eliminates failures due to water ingress seen on pin and sleeve devices when the additionally-required watertightness ring is not threaded on or turned into position.
• Available wire mesh cord grips provide maximum protection against cable pull-out.
Life Cycle Cost Reduction
Reduce equipment, installation, maintenance and operational costs.
The benefits and advantages of MELTRIC DR and PN Series plugs and receptacles help users reduce costs in a number of key areas.
Purchase and Installation Cost Reduction:
• MELTRIC Standard Duty devices provide a higher amp rating per dollar than our Switch-Rated devices, so they are a more economical choice.
• Available auxiliary contacts can reduce or eliminate the need for separate connectors for control and monitoring circuits.
• Flexible mounting configurations allow installation in a convenient location and helps simplify the design and wiring of the circuit.
• Available adapter plates allow the mounting of MELTRIC devices on existing wall boxes, eliminating the cost of a new box and associated rewiring.
Maintenance Cost Reduction:
• Superior contact and terminal design, along with automatic watertightness provides a longer operating life and eliminates failures and repairs due to failed or welded contacts, overheated terminals,and water ingress that are common with other devices.
• Integral and available lockout-tagout provisions make following proper procedures simple.
• Available and reasonably priced replacement parts make field repairs possible and practical should they ever be needed.
Downtime Cost Reduction:
• Longer operating lives and less failures keeps processes running and eliminates costly downtime.