The Switch for Reliable Power Distribution

Retrofits for Car Owners The Switch for Reliable Power Distribution

2026-10-20 From Weidmüller | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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In the server room of a substation, switches handle communication. They ensure fast and reliable data transmission between the control system and the actuators. A motorist enlisted the help of Elatec for the modernization project. With technical support from Weidmüller’s product experts, an efficient and high-performance retrofit was successfully completed.

Caption: The Substation Line managed switches can accommodate up to three HSR/PRP modules.(Image: Weidmüller) — Caption: The Substation Line managed switches can accommodate up to three HSR/PRP modules.
(Image: Weidmüller)

All companies rely on a reliable power supply—but only a few have their own voltage-transformation facilities on their premises. Substations form the backbone of regional energy distribution: They transform different voltage levels, thereby ensuring a stable supply to all consumers. For large-scale consumers, having their own transfer stations or substations is often crucial for operating production processes safely and efficiently.

Switches Support Power Distribution

The server room plays a crucial role in ensuring the substation operates reliably. Switches are indispensable there. They are responsible for communication within the server cabinet and thus support power distribution. In this way, they connect the protection and control systems, ensuring fast and reliable data transmission between the control system and the actuators.

Elatec, headquartered in Konz, is an expert in the field of power distribution. The company specializes in the development, manufacture, installation, and commissioning of medium-voltage switchgear. In addition to new installations, the company is also active in the field of retrofits.

Modernize the Existing Medium-Voltage Switchgear

It was precisely for this purpose that a German automaker asked the specialists for assistance. The need: the existing medium-voltage switchgear needed to be modernized.

Above all, the reliability of the switches is of enormous importance to the system. They must quickly route data packets to their destination. This is the only way to ensure the system's security. In addition, they must be manually operable so they can be configured to meet the high security requirements.

Gallery

Elatec Power Distribution GmbH specializes in the field of power distribution.(Source: Elatec Power Distribution GmbH)

HSR modules enable uninterrupted communication by transmitting data packets in both directions along a ring.(Source: Weidmüller)

Selecting the Right Switches

After the experts at Elatec analyzed the motorist's needs, they set about selecting the appropriate switches. Elatec determined that Weidmüller's Substation Line Switches were ideally suited for this application.

The substation line switches are characterized above all by their numerous interfaces. With the ability to integrate three HSR/PRP modules (Redbox) per switch, Weidmüller’s switches stood out from other products available on the market. This feature enabled Elatec to set up three HSR rings per switch. The devices also allow for the implementation of redundant HSR ring topologies.

Uninterrupted Communication

The HSR protocol enables uninterrupted communication by sending each data packet simultaneously in both directions via a ring-shaped communication path. If a section of the ring fails, the packet reaches its destination via the remaining path. Duplicate packets are detected based on the HSR header and discarded. Through this architecture, HSR ensures seamless, fault-tolerant data transmission, thereby contributing to the high availability of protection and control technology in power distribution systems.

Reduced Configuration Effort

The Weidmüller switches offer a significant advantage for automotive manufacturers: Because they allow for the configuration of three HSR rings per switch, fewer switches are needed than before. This saved costs and reduced the effort required for configuration. As a result, the retrofit was carried out quickly and precisely.

Elatec and Weidmüller are pleased with the project. With technical support from Weidmüller’s product experts, Elatec’s experts were able to develop an efficient and high-performance retrofit that exceeded the automaker’s expectations in terms of cost-effectiveness and configuration effort.

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