Panasonic Launches IEC 62955-Compliant Relays for Single-Phase EV Charging Systems

Panasonic Industry has announced the HE-S SC 2a and HE-S SC 2a1b printed circuit board relay series developed for single-phase electric vehicle charging systems. This compact switching component provides high current-carrying capacity and enables direct integration into residential and commercial wallboxes.

European Short-Circuit Standard Compliance
The development of the new relays addresses the European short-circuit testing requirements specified in the IEC 62955 standard, which becomes mandatory in the fourth quarter of 2028. By achieving a short-circuit capability of 1.85 kiloamperes peak current and a thermal energy tolerance of 4.5 kiloampere-squared seconds, the relays allow electric vehicle charging infrastructure to meet regulatory demands in advance of the implementation deadline.

High-Current Switching and Thermal Management
Designed as the primary switching element in single-phase wallboxes, the relays serve regions where this architecture is prevalent, including the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain. Each of the two normally open contacts switches electrical loads up to 40 amperes at ambient temperatures reaching 70 degrees Celsius. This operational stability relies on a thermal management design that maintains a coil holding power of 400 milliwatts, lowering overall power consumption within the power management ecosystem while sustaining robust relay activation.

Diagnostic Monitoring and Printed Circuit Board Integration
To support functional safety protocols, the 2a1b configuration integrates a normally closed mirror contact compliant with the IEC 60947-4-1 standard. This feedback contact facilitates status monitoring by switching low-level loads down to 10 milliamperes at 5 volts direct current, enabling system controllers to execute diagnostic checks. The physical dimensions permit direct integration onto the printed circuit board, negating the requirement for external switching assemblies and reducing the spatial footprint of the charging station hardware. Markus Bichler, Head of Product Management Industrial Relays at Panasonic Industry Europe, indicates that optimizing system size and energy efficiency supports the development of highly competitive single-phase charging solutions for wallbox manufacturers.

Additional Context:
This section details technical specifications and competitive benchmarking not included in the original product announcement

Within the printed circuit board relay market for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, the 40-ampere capacity and IEC 62955 compliance place the Panasonic series in direct competition with components such as the IVY Metering IM-NE801A and the Hongfa HF198F series. Both competing relays offer 40-ampere continuous current switching and meet the same European short-circuit testing standards. The Hongfa two-pole variant specifies a short-circuit capability of 10 kiloamperes, while the IVY Metering component provides an overcurrent withstand rating of 1000 amperes for one millisecond. By comparison, the Panasonic device specifies a short-circuit capability of 1.85 kiloamperes peak current. The 400-milliwatt coil holding power of the Panasonic component also competes with similar low-power holding configurations across the industry, optimizing thermal management on the printed circuit board without requiring external alternating current contactors.

Edited by Natania Lyngdoh, Induportals editor, assisted by AI.

www.industry.panasonic.com