Discover the Different Types of Clipsal Sockets and Plugs
It doesn’t take much to recognize why industrial control gear and switchgear are built as ruggedly as they are. Factories, mills, mines, and more use them under some of the harshest and most demanding conditions imaginable, and they have to perform instantly and flawlessly every time.
These heavy-duty indoor and outdoor switches are responsible for connecting, disconnecting, protecting, and isolating high current, and highly sensitive machines from their energy sources. Not being absolutely certain of whether a power source has been positively switched on or not can have catastrophic consequences, and industrial switchgear ensure that when these systems are engaged, they reliably stay that way until they’re disengaged by an operator.
The construction of control gear plugs and sockets in Australia is regulated by Australian Standards AS/NZ3123, 3947.6, and 3133; so it’s no surprise that Clipsal, Australia’s own manufacturer of high voltage switchgear, has consistently exceeded regulatory standards and user expectations for quality and adaptability. They’ve specialized in switching appliances for over 100 years, and they’ve pioneered one product line that stands above all the others in a balance of price and performance.
Safe, Reliable Clipsal Switchgear
Although the types of power-regulating duties that switchgear need to perform are all very similar, the precautions that need to be taken and the environments they need to be performed in can vary dramatically. That’s why robust, multi-pinned appliances like Clipsal switch socket outlet and surface switches are overwhelmingly favored for industrial applications where tough, modular construction is as necessary as precision engineering. Clipsal’s 56 Series switchgear embody all of these characteristics, making them not only essential facility components, but the only components in many cases that can be deployed outdoors and still scaled to meet every need.
Clipsal’s renowned 56 Series enclosures are IP56 rated against dust ingress or compromise due to high pressure water jets from any direction, making them some of the highest rated outdoor switchgear enclosures available. That’s only the beginning though, as they’re manufactured from UV-stabilized PVC resin with a temperature resistant range between -25°C and 75°C, and in a range of color-coded compositions that include:
· Chemical resistant orange (RO). Suitable for indoor or outdoor protection against weak acids, alkalis, and alcohols.
· Chemical Resistant White (RW). Similarly suitable for indoor or outdoor protection as RO.
· Electric Orange (EO). Suitable for indoor and limited outdoor protection against weak acids, alkalis, and alcohols.
· Standard Grey. Similarly suitable for indoor and limited outdoor protection as EO.
· Chemical resistant Grey (CG). Suitable for indoor use against aggressive alkalis.
The mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of these enclosures make them ideal for any application ranging from chemical factories to poolside receptacles. The 56 Series’s reputation though, is built entirely around the safe, reliable controlgears and switchgears they house, and it only takes one look at their specifications to see why they’re preferred.
56 Series Combination Switch Sockets and Outlets
Clipsal’s Australian-market 56 Series combination switch socket outlets are manufactured in 1- and 2-gang enclosure configurations for extra low voltage and 3 Phase duty ratings from 32V / 10A to 500V / 50A. These heavy duty switches are internally wired by the factory for 1, 2, and 3 pole switching operation, can be optionally equipped with LED indicators and mechanical interlocks, and outfitted with sockets that can accommodate 3 – 7 pin pinouts, as well as unique key configurations.
Standard Clipsal switch socket safety features, however, are just as impressive as their technical qualities, including:
· Covered, and corrosion resistant stainless steel screw caps;
· A contoured switch profile with IP66 protection rated retention rings;
· Raised lettering and designations for positive switch positioning;
· Transparent socket covers for immediate pin/configuration identification; and,
· Provisioning for switch and socket padlocking security facilities.
These combination Clipsal sockets and outlets are the cornerstone of the 56 Series’s versatility. But when operators need extra versatility, there’s a full assortment of Clipsal surface switches to choose from to meet any demand.
56 Series Surface Switches
For 2-gang 56 Series enclosures, Clipsal manufactures a complete range of 1, 2, and 3 pole surface switches that can be integrated with any Clipsal outlet, a few of which are:
· Standard rotary OFF / ON surface switches with 250V / 10A to 500V / 63A ratings;
· High visibility safety surface switches with double padlocking and 250V / 10A to 500V / 63A ratings; and,
· Single and twin 2-way surface sliding switches in 250V / 10A and 15A ratings.
And when it comes to the heaviest duty surface switches, Clipsal also makes an extra deep lid 1-gang 690V appliance rated for 25A – 80A. These 3 or 4 pole switches feature triple padlocking facilities that go above and beyond to ensure authorized operators have maximum control over their power regulating.
With the modularity of 56 Series surface switches, users are able to configure control and switchgear appliances to meet their unique needs, whatever they are. 56 Series flexibility doesn’t stop here, though. It also includes plugs; and 56 Series plugs are in a class all their own.
56 Series Plugs
Industry’s need for quicker, more secure connection terminals is the force behind Clipsal’s innovative, 56 Series Quick Connect plugs. Unlike ordinary screw-in plugs, these Clipsal plugs use spring tension that allows them to be connected 50% quicker, and more reliably than ever. Operators don’t need to apply potentially damaging pressure to the body of these plugs to tighten them, there’s no unnecessary cable twisting, and they can be disengaged just as easily as they’re engaged.
56 Series plugs also feature:
· Transparent straight or angled styled housings to perform an adequate visual check of the cables;
· An IP66 protection rating against dust and limited immersion in water;
· A pad-lockable, all-in-one cord clamp and cable sealing system;
· Single and 3 Phase suitability for 250V / 32A to 500V / 50A connections; and,
· 3 – 7 pin, Size 1 and 2 push-slot cable housings for simplified terminations.
Suffice it to say, Clipsal’s 56 Series plugs put a conclusive end to worries about power ever being unintentionally disconnected from the source.
The Final Word
Although no two industries can possibly have the same power requirements, they all have the same need for safe, reliable control gear and switchgear functionality. There is no room for compromising with these systems, because even a momentary power disruption can have wide-reaching effect. With Clipsal switch socket outlet and surface switches however, the chances of experiencing any type of disruption or mishap as a result of switchgear failure are eliminated almost entirely. Work processes, equipment, and especially personal health and safety are too valuable to risk on substandard switchgear. That’s why when it’s time to repair or upgrade electrical systems, most businesses turn to Clipsal.