Regards of all the preliminary protective measures you take, arc faults may still occur in electrical energy distribution systems. You therefore need to implement suitable measures to prevent the occurrence of these extremely serious events and the damage they may cause, for example by opting for ARCON®, Eaton's arc-fault protection system.

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Overview Specifications

Rated short-time withstand current

Icw up to 150 kA/200 ms

arc mitigation time

≤ 2 ms

system integration compliant with

IEC/TR 61641:2014 Ed.3

Core features

ARCON® is suitable for low-voltage switchgear assemblies up to 690 V AC/50 Hz
System arc mitigation time ≤ 2 ms
At the lowest threshold setting, ARCON® protects against arcs at a pick-up level of Ipc arc = 7.5 kA (Ipc arc max. = 100 kA)
Rated short-time withstand current Icw of the quenching device (at operating voltage of 415 VAC):
- 85 kA / 1 s
- 105 kA / 500 ms
- 150 kA / 200 ms

Integrated self-monitoring of the entire system to prevent unplanned downtime
Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assembly xEnergy with integrated ARCON® meets criteria 1-7 of IEC/TR 61641:2014 Ed.3 for personnel and assembly protection
Full personnel protection even if the doors are open, e.g. during maintenance
The arc quenching device (ARC-AT) has been tested and verified acc. to IEC 60947-9-1:2019 (latest standard for Active arc-fault mitigation systems - Arc quenching devices)

Work Safe - safe solutions far beyond IEC standards

Available with Eaton's low-voltage distribution systems up to 7100 A for commercial and industrial buildings - protecting personnel and equipment.

ARCON® is still the fastest arc-fault mitigation system available on the market.

Eaton, Power management company

Electrical safety

Understanding the risk of arc-flash events in your switchgear assemblies is the first step towards protecting your people and your business. Find out how you can protect your staff, business and reputation from the risk of an arc flash.

Learn more about electrical safety

Enhanced personnel protection

The ARCON® arc-fault protection system is used wherever enhanced personal protection is required that goes above and beyond the requirements of the relevant standards.

ARCON® also protects your system

The effects of an arc fault will put a low-voltage switchboard systems out of operation for several weeks. If a redundant power supply is not available, this will also result in unplanned downtime. The only solution is effective system protection to minimise the effects of an arc fault and get your system back up and running. ARCON® restricts the effects of the arc fault to its foot points, and after the cause of the fault has been rectified and the quenching device has been replaced, the system can be back up and running in the shortest possible time in order to ensure the required level of availability.

The effects of arc faults are extremely serious

The effects of arc faults are extremely serious and range from personal injuries to massive damage to the switchgear, which may cause the system to come to a complete standstill for weeks at a time and may even necessitate the complete replacement of the switchgear. Our research indicates that ARCON® significantly reduces the risk of personal injuries.

The most common causes of an arc fault are:

Human error when working on switchgear
Bridging between conductors caused by rodents or conductive objects such as tools or metal parts
Dirt or condensation
Overvoltages
Incorrectly dimensioned switching devices

Specifications

Four steps to safely control an arc fault:

ARCON Arc Fault Protection Systems - 4 Steps to Control Arc Faults Safely

1. Detection
An arc fault can be detected by means of two separate tripping criteria. An arc fault produces an overcurrent that can be detected by means of measuring current transformers. The second detection criterion is the extremely bright light emitted by an arc fault, which can be detected using fiberoptic sensors. Some of the intense light emitted by the arc enters the core of the fiberoptic loop in a radial manner, which acts as a signal that can then be evaluated at the receiver end of the sensor. Nuisance tripping due to flashes or welding arcs can be prevented by evaluating both signals together.

3. Quenching
The quenching device ensures extremely fast mitigation times. In less than 1 ms, it generates a three-phase short circuit in order to remove energy from the arc fault. A pyrotechnically initiated actuator, of the type used in airbag systems, then accelerates a copper bolt that punctures an insulating plate and thereby establishes an electrical contact.

2. Evaluation
In so-called detection modules, the analogue sensor signals are converted to digital ones before being passed on to the central evaluation unit (master). For this purpose, an internal communication bus has been developed, with the principal task of transferring any triggering information at ultra-high speed. The detection modules also receive their power via this line. Each module has its own address through the interlink assigned to a specific busbar section, the so-called protection zone. To monitor two or more busbar sections, it is also possible to build up a complex arc-protection system via a “masterlink.”

4. Disconnection
The incoming circuit breaker has the task of disconnecting the affected busbar section from the mains supply. This is initiated by means of the short-circuit release. As a back-up measure, an additional disconnection command is sent to the shunt release by each incoming circuit breaker in the affected busbar section. Busbar sections that are not affected remain operational.

ARCON® arc-fault protection system

Regardless of all the preliminary protective measures you take, arc faults may still occur in electrical energy distribution systems. You therefore need to implement suitable measures to prevent the occurrence of these extremely serious events and the damage they may cause, for example by opting for ARCON®.

Get to know the new features of ARCON® 3G - the third generation

Delivering performance

Two different system approaches enable tailor-made solutions for every customer.
- Easy set-up to provide the lowest level of arc-fault protection/monitoring in low-voltage switchgear (ARC-LITE-3G)
- Advanced arc protection to offer the highest level of personnel and equipment protection (ARC-MAIN-3G)
Both devices come with three high-speed tripping outputs with less than 1 ms contact switching time

Keeping our promises

With our proven quenching devices, the total arc mitigation time is less than 2 ms
The separate tripping module enables a high degree of flexibility for positioning the master/the graphical display independently of the main incomer section
High-quality industrial housings made of stainless steel provide for ideal EMC conditions
Internal communication lines of up to 100 m enable a high degree of flexibility during system set-up without the need for an additional power supply

Next generation

Simplified installation compared to panel-mounted devices thanks to DIN rail assembly
The low installation depth and a separate user interface ensure improved installation conditions inside the switchgear assembly
A separate software tool (APPT) for configuration and read-out of the system status increases ease of use
In addition to arc fault protection, the devices also offer voltage and current measurement for power calculations

Safety and risk in low-voltage electrical installations

Safety and risk in low-voltage electrical installations.

Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to improving the quality of life and protecting the environment for people everywhere. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy and helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges.

Arc fault protection system ARCON®