Eaton unveils circuit protection solution for electric vehicles

US-based Power management company Eaton has unveiled high-voltage circuit protection solutions for electrified vehicles (EVs) with the introduction of ‘Breaktor’. The Breaktor is a new advanced circuit protection solution for EVs that combines the function of fuses, pyro switches and contactors into a single coordinated device.

Eaton claims that with increase in power levels of electric vehicles, Breaktor solves the ever-increasing coordination challenge between fuses and contactors, and offers extremely fast, safe and reliable protection for high-power battery and inverter systems. With less than 5-millisecond actuation up to 1,000 volts and 30,000 amps, Breaktor improves vehicle safety and protects components from any level of overcurrent condition more effectively than traditional circuit protection methods. Breaktor is resettable like a circuit breaker, which enables the reactivation of the device following a functionality check, reducing the cost for both the OEM and consumer, as well as improving customer satisfaction.

Eaton further claims that Breaktor provides additional benefits, including-

- A self-triggering device, able to sense a current spike and interrupt the circuit.

- Current-limiting feature in the event of a short circuit, improving system-level protection.

- Independence from the current direction, which allows for both charging and driving use under full electrical load.

- Multiple configurations, including voltage levels and multi-pole configurations.

Jeff Lowinger, president, eMobility, Eaton said, “In the event of a collision, Eaton’s Breaktor can work in tandem with a vehicle’s safety systems. This allows Breaktor to quickly disconnect the high-voltage battery from the rest of the vehicle for unparalleled protection and safety in the event of any unsafe condition.”