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Digital earth leakage current detector

Nisshinbo Micro Devices has released the NA2201, a digital earth leakage current detector IC which has been designed to enhance the safety and reliability of electrical systems by integrating advanced overvoltage and DC current detection capabilities.

Credit: Nisshinbo Micro Devices

The NA2201 is a CMOS-based digital detector IC specifically developed for use in earth leakage current breakers. It features a built-in high-precision 14-bit ADC that converts analogue signals from a Zero-phase-sequence Current Transformer (ZCT) into digital data. This data is then processed to determine if an earth leakage condition exists, subsequently activating an external thyristor when necessary.

The NA2201 provides selectable earth leakage detection, supporting both Type A and Type AC conditions. It offers a five-time trip-level immediate response feature, which can be toggled on or off as needed, enhancing its adaptability to different safety requirements. Additionally, the IC includes an overvoltage detection function that also caters to neutral conductor open-phase protection, making it a comprehensive solution for preventing electrical faults. A variety of options for operation and safety features is set by three selection pins.  

The detector IC is also equipped with individual time delay settings for earth leakage and overvoltage detection, which can be adjusted using external capacitors. This flexibility allows for precise tuning of the delay settings to match specific application needs. Furthermore, the IC can detect DC current, providing an additional layer of protection, which is especially suitable in applications like mode 3 electric vehicle chargers.