Standard Duty

Spring-Loaded Butt Contacts Provide for Thousands of Consistent and Reliable Connections

MELTRIC Standard Duty plugs and receptacles use spring-loaded, butt-style contacts similar to those used on contactors and switchgear. Their end-to-end mating provides a stable connection, the spring-loading delivers optimal contact pressure, and the integrity of the electrical connection is maintained over thousands of operations.

• Spring-loaded butt contacts automatically compensate for manufacturing variations, eliminating contact mating and connection quality problems caused by the dimensional variations of other contact designs.
• End-to-end mating eliminates the effects of wear inherent with sliding contacts.
• Consistent spring pressure eliminates overheating caused by poor contact force.

The performance and design advantages of spring-loaded butt contacts make them a superior choice for providing consistently safe and reliable connections.

Dead Front Eliminates Hazards Posed by Exposure to Live Parts or Arcing

Most standard plugs and receptacles are not intended to be disconnected under load and drawing an arc during plug removal is an inherent hazard when traditional pin and sleeve and twist-type devices are accidently disconnected under load. While most MELTRIC DR Series Standard Duty devices are also not intended to be disconnected under load, the making and breaking of the contacts is isolated in an enclosed arc chamber, so if they are inadvertently disconnected under load, the plug contacts are deenergized and separated from live parts before the plug can be physically removed.

When the DR receptacle’s release button is pushed, its spring-loaded operating mechanism instantly opens the contacts to break the circuit and ejects the plug to rest position. The quick (15 milliseconds) breaking of the contacts minimizes the arcing that will result if the device is accidently disconnected under load. Any arcing that does occur is safely contained within the internal and enclosed arc chamber.

In the rest position, the plug contacts are dead and separated from live parts by a safe distance. Isolated and inaccessible to users, all contacts are still fully contained within an enclosure formed by the plug’s skirted casing and the receptacle’s casing.

The rotation of the plug required prior to its removal from the receptacle automatically closes and locks the safety shutter on the receptacle. This ensures that potential arc paths and access to live parts are blocked before the plug can be removed. There is no possibility of drawing an arc.  

Lockout or Lock Together

All DR Series devices include standard provisions on the plug that allow users to perform lockout/tagout by simply inserting a lock (or hasp) through an existing hole on the device. The user only needs to provide the lock–no additional mechanisms are required.

Simple lockout provisions for the receptacle are also provided as an option on both the DR and PN Series. An available locking pin fits snugly in a circular opening through the pawl and prevents the pawl from operating. Various size locks and lockout hasps can be used with the locking pin to complete the lockout.

The receptacle lockout provision is primarily used to lock the lid in the closed position so that a plug may not be inserted. On the DR Series, this feature can also be used to lock the plug and receptacle together to prevent unauthorized or accidental disconnections.

MELTRIC provides a wide variety of mounting angles, handles and wall boxes, allowing its devices to be used in wall box receptacle, in-line, direct motor mounted, panel mounted, cord drop, flexible conduit, and other applications. This makes it easy to locate a plug and play connection anywhere it is helpful. 

We also offer standard and custom-made adapter plates to simplify retrofits by allowing MELTRIC receptacles to be mounted on existing wall boxes.

MELTRIC plugs and receptacles are durable and withstand harsh environments, so repairs may never be necessary, but if they are, replacement parts are reasonably priced and readily available. The design allows the changeout of casings, individual contacts, full interiors, or other specific parts, avoiding the need and cost of replacing the entire device.

It should be noted that only devices returned to the factory for rebuild will maintain their UL/CSA certification; devices that are field repaired by users do not.