High Ampacity

Padlockable Screw-Locking Pawl

DR400s have a screw-locking pawl that can be used to lock the plug and receptacle together to prevent accidental disconnections that could be made without proper thought and following of proper deenergization procedures. A lockout hole is also provided for the added security of padlocking the plug and receptacle together or locking the lid in the closed position for lockout-tagout.

Pilot Contacts

DR400s are equipped with two pilot contacts that can be used to control the power circuit. In the event of unintended disconnection under load, this at least ensures that the circuit is deenergized as the plug is ejected to the rest position.  The circuit will be off before the user can remove the plug. 

Safety Shutter

While the power circuit and receptacle should be deenergized anytime the plug is not connected, things can go wrong.  To provide additional safety in those circumstances, the DR400 has a safety shutter that blocks access to the receptacle contacts. The shutter opens during the connection of the plug and automatically closes before it can be removed.

Drawbars for Easy Connection

Standard drawbar mechanism makes connecting a DR400 easy, even in inline applications with large cables. The drawbar easily pulls the plug into the receptacle and securely latches it in place. 

Push Button Release

Once the circuit is deenergized, the drawbars are disengaged, and the pawl is unlocked, the DR400 can be removed from the receptacle simply by depressing the pawl. This releases the spring-loaded ejection system and automatically ejects the plug to the rest position. It can then be removed by rotating it 30° counterclockwise and withdrawing it.

Easy connection, easy disconnection. The struggling required with 400A pin and sleeve devices is eliminated.

Automatic Watertightness

DR400 plugs and receptacles achieve their standard IP54/IP55, or optional IP66/IP67, environmental protection simply by connecting the plug and receptacle. There is no need to thread on or turn special rings as is required to engage ingress protection as on some other devices. 

Mechanically Interlocked Pilot Contacts

Like all high amperage plugs and receptacles, 300-600A PF and PFQ devices are not intended to be connected or disconnected under load. To help prevent that possibility, the devices are equipped with pilot contacts to control the power circuit and a mechanical interlock that ensures that the pilot circuit is not completed until after the plug and receptacle are properly connected. 

Rotation of the locking cam secures the plug to the receptacle and completes the pilot circuit allowing power to flow. The rotation of the plug required for disconnection is blocked by the locking cam.  

The process is reversed for disconnection. The locking cam must first be rotated back to the open/unlocked position. This breaks the pilot circuit and shuts down the power circuit (if it has not already been deenergized). The plug can now safely be disconnected from the receptacle by rotating it 30° counterclockwise and withdrawing it.

Safety Shutter

While the power circuit and receptacle should be deenergized anytime the plug is not connected, things can go wrong. To provide additional safety in those circumstances, PF/PFQ devices have a safety shutter that blocks access to the receptacle contacts. The shutter opens during the connection of the plug and receptacle contacts and automatically closes before the plug can be removed. 

Rotational Operation

The plug inserts easily into the receptacle in a rest position in which the contacts are not yet engaged. Mating of the plug and receptacle contacts is accomplished by rotating the plug approximately 30° clockwise. The design of the handle provides significant leverage for rotating the plug and the shape of the contacts provides a ramp effect to facilitate engagement. This makes the connection far easier than a large pin and sleeve device.

Automatic Watertightness

PF/PFQ plugs and receptacles achieve their IP66/IP67 environmental protection simply by connecting the plug and receptacle. Proper connection/watertightness is verified by the user’s actuation of the locking cam. 

Spring-Loaded Silver Contacts

PF and PFQ devices have solid silver contact surfaces for maximum conductivity. Silver is an excellent conductor and, unlike brass or copper, its performance doesn’t significantly degrade with oxidation or in high humidity environments. The contacts meet tip-to-tip and the pressure applied by the spring-loading ensures optimal contact force and compensates for wear from repetitive usage. 

Mechanically Interlocked Pilot Contacts

SP devices are equipped with an interlock system that requires the plug to be inserted and latched in place before the twist ring can be rotated to the ON position to complete the pilot circuit controlling the power. While the device is in the ON position, the latch release is disabled so the plug remains locked into the receptacle and cannot be removed.

In order for the plug to be removed, the twist ring must first be rotated back to the OFF position, breaking the pilot circuit and thus deenergizing the power circuit. The plug can then safely be removed by depressing the latch release button and withdrawing it from the receptacle.

Finger Safe Receptacle Contacts

If the device’s pilot contacts are properly wired to control the power circuit, the receptacle should be de-nergized anytime the plug is not securely latched in place. To provide additional safety in case of abnormal circumstance, the receptacle is also designed to be finger safe. The contact is recessed in the receptacle and the openings are too small for fingers to access.

Mechanical Keying and Color Coding

The phase 1, phase 2, phase 3, ground and neutral devices are all mechanically keyed in a different manner to prevent improper connection between phases or other contacts. The devices are also color coded to make identification of the phases easy.

Drawbars for Easy Connection

Standard drawbar mechanism makes connecting an SP simple, even with large cables. The drawbar easily pulls the plug into the receptacle and securely latches it in place. 

Silver Contact Material

SP devices have solid silver butt style contacts to provide connections that maintain their high conductivity/low resistance over the life of the device. Their design eliminates problems due to the wear and increasing resistance that are inherent with the brass sliding contacts used in many other single pole devices. The SP’s silver contacts provide better power quality and less power loss due to high resistance/heat generation.

Locking Pin to Prevent Unintended Disconnection Under Load

CS1000 devices are equipped with a locking pin that automatically engages when the plug and receptacle are connected. It blocks the rotation of the device necessary to disconnect the plug, and thus helps to ensure against improper disconnection. 

A special tool is provided to retract the pin, making absent-minded disconnection under load unlikely. For added security, an optional padlocking accessory is available and can be used for locking the plug and receptacle in the connected position by preventing the pin from being retracted.

Finger Safe Receptacle Contacts

The power to the receptacle should be off during connection and disconnection and anytime the plug and receptacle are disconnected. For additional safety, CS1000 receptacles are provided with a fingerguard to block unintended access to the receptacle contact.