®®

March ‘98

The ECONOMY Test Equipment –programme pointing the way in priceand technology

HCK®-News

Page 8 – 11

Export Newsby J.P. Kritter

Page 2 – 5

Now new:

The ECONOMY Test Equipment – Programme

Selected test equipment articles to especially favorable prices

New CataloguesandExhibition Dates

last page

High CurrentClamp Connectorat CERN

Page 5

Information for customers, associates, employees and friends of MC® and HCK®

Applicatio

ns

Applicatio

n examples

of multilam

technology

Multi-Contact

®®

2

Prices

Technology

Quality

We could holdthe quality andthe technology...

What do You need more: Proven MC®-Quality and technology to more favorable prices

Demand our new Economy catalogue Lab-E and the new price list

Dear reader

Many years ago, when MC® firstintroduced safety laboratoryleads, we were pioneers and hadto fight hard to gain market ac-ceptance for these products.

The safety programme has nowbecome standard, and we arecontinually encountering newcompetitors who offer similarproducts.These products, oftenlow-priced ones made incheap-labour countries, are gen-erally of inferior quality and avail-able only in a limited number oftypes.Potential customers neverthe-less compare us with thesecompetitors although their qual-ity and range of products in noway correspond to our own.We have therefore carriedout a value analysis on aselection of productsfrom our product range,with the aim of loweringprice levels without cut-ting back on quality.

We have therefore carried out avalue analysis on a selection ofproducts from our productrange, with the aim of loweringprice levels without cutting backon quality.

We have succeeded in doing sothrough measures such as re-ducing production costs, usingnickel instead of gold plating,and minimising the number ofaccessory components (wash-ers, nuts etc.) without abandon-ing the accustomed MC® quality.

You will find these articles in ournew catalog Lab-E (see below).

E stands for economy and is in-tended to show our customerswhere and with what productsthey can save costs.

We are convinced that this willbe of great benefit to our cus-tomers. They can now choose

between an “economy” productor the somewhat more expen-sive article with gold-plated sur-faces and more accessories.Yours sincerely

Dr. Peter DussManaging Director

Editorialby Dr. Peter Duss

The ECONOMY Test Equipment – Programmepointing the way in price and technology

®®

3

Multi-Contact USA announces anew sales office located inScotts Valley, California. ScottsValley is a small town (population5000) with fast growing soft-ware and electronics compa-nies, strategically located westof San Jose (Silicon Valley) onthe way to the coastal city ofSanta Cruz.The Scotts Valley office will beresponsible for sales and sup-port for California, Oregon,Washington, Idaho and Nevada(see map), and will be headed byJoe Bendrick, who brings withhim years of experience andknowledge in the connector in-dustry.Mr.Bendrick received a degreein Electrical Engineering fromPennsylvania State Universityand has been employed withsuch companies as Amphenol,Pan international Industrial, Al-pha Wire, Anderson Power Prod-

ucts and AMP, Inc.. He alsoholds two U.S. patents and wasawarded District Sales Managerof the year.

Address:

5521 / 265 Scotts Valley DriveScotts Valley, CA 95066

Tel. (408) 430-9272Fax (408) 430-9278e-mail: josefb@surfnetusa.com

MC®-USA

Ask us, we will be pleased to ad-vise you. Attentive readers ofour catalogue will come acrossthese words now and then.

Are they no more than a mean-ingless phrase?Certainly not!In fact we can say thatMulti-Contact owes much of itspresent success to this shortsentence. Many a successfulsolution to an unusual contact re-quirement has originated from acustomer inquiry.

Instead of an “unusual contactrequirement” one could also say“contact problem”, but we do

not like this kind of terminology.For our customers do not havecontact problems:

They seek solutions that ideallymeet their exacting contact re-quirements.

But simple customer inquiriescan turn out to present challeng-ing tasks that can often involve agreat deal of time-consumingand cost-intensive work.

For instance, three loose-leaffiles are filled by the documentsfor the CERN application on page5 of this News, which beganwith a simple inquiry.

With our 36 years of experiencewith contacts, and above all withMultilam™ technology in everyconceivable form and dimen-sion, we can confidently go onsaying “Ask us, we will bepleased to advise you".

Hanspeter JudPublic Relation

Please ask us

Changes in Finland

Following the merger of MC®

and HCK®, there has been achange in the representative or-ganization in Finland.

ORBIS OY has taken over theagency for our test leads andtest accessories.

EL FRESTA continues to repre-sent us in the fields of high-cur-

rent and multi-pole connectorsand for customer-specific plugconnectors.

ORBIS OY, which is based inHelsinki, was founded by Mr.Leo Lina Aro in 1949.

It has two branch offices inVantaa and Oulu, and subsidiar-ies in Sweden and Estonia.

ORBIS OY is one of the Finland’sleading distributors in the profes-sional electronics field, dealing ina range of products that includeselectronic components, pre-as-sembled connecting leads, testinstruments and test systemstogether with various productsfor industry and radio and tele-communications equipment.

ORBIS OY also operates a ser-vice workshop which special-ises, among other things, in thecalibration of test instruments.

ORBIS OY has a staff of approxi-mately 120.The product manager forMC®/HCK® products is:

Mrs. Kirsi Eulenberger-Karvetti.(second from left, seated)shown among the happy peopleof the ORBIS OY componentsdepartment, all of whom collabo-rate in some way withMC®/HCK®.

OR

WA

ID

NV

CAScotts Valley USA

MC /HCK® ® — alwaysa plug-length ahead!!

Export – Newsby J.P. Kritter, MC-Marketing- and Exportmanager

ORBIS OYP.O. Box 15FIN – 00421 Helsinki, FinlandTel. +358-9-478 830Fax +358-9-507 14 87, 531

®®

4

Description of the principle ofwelding with electrodewheels:

The cantilever-mounted elec-trode-wheel welding machine isincorporated in the productionline for the processing and fabri-cation of sheet steel with a thick-ness of 1mm to 3mm (0,04inch –0,12inch).

The steel strip (max. width 1,3m(4feet, 3inches) is continuouslyprocessed and stored on rollersat the end of the line.

Welding is effected electrother-mally by means of two copper

wheels on floating mounts whichrun on both sides of the twosheets which are to be joined to-gether.During welding, the wheelstransfer a current of 30kA for amaximum of 15 seconds.Due to the substantial heating ofthe electrode wheels, they haveto be reconditioned after 200

welding operations.Until now, this hasmeant taking the ma-chine and therefore theproduction line out ofservice for 25 to 30 min-utes.Solution with MC® ro-tary contact. The aimwas to reduce machinedown time to less than5 minutes. To achievethis, it was necessary to

modify the electrode.

The electrode wheels are drivenby a gear wheel which is part ofthe axle and is actuated by a pal-let motor.

Each of the wheels is held on itsshaft by a hydraulic nut; whichenables it to be more quickly andeasily removed.Furthermore, the modular con-struction allows the whole weld-ing head to be quickly changed(attaching with only 6 bolts).The 80mm (3,15inch) version iswater-cooled in order to reducethe high temperatures gener-

ated in the electrode wheels.

It was also possible to solve anumber of tricky problems in theapplication, such as correctingthe uneven pressure distributionon the contacts by means of ballbearings, or greasing the con-tacts during the cleaning pro-cess.

Rotary contact for an electrode-wheel welding machine

Electrical specifications:

❍ Rated voltage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1250 V❍ Rated current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1000 A❍ Peak current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000 A❍ Short-circuit current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 kA/1s❍ Rated frequency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6000 Hz❍ Max. frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8000 Hz❍ Polution degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2❍ Overvoltage category. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I❍ Test voltage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5 kV, 50 Hz/1 min

Mechanical and thermal requirements

❍ Revolutions betw. overhauls with MultilamTM replacem. . . max. 200,000❍ Rotary movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20°/s❍ Direction of rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Both❍ Angle of rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360°❍ Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Air❍ Lubricating grease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Metalon HT-1,5❍ Operating hours between lubrications. . . . . . . . 10,000Rev./168h❍ Pressure contact forces (lateral through connections) . . . . . negligible❍ Max. temperature (continuous operation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100°C

Data:

❍ Max. welding current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30kA❍ Max. welding time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15s❍ Total cycle time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315s❍ Ambient temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50°C❍ Linear speed of welding carriage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20m/min❍ Max. speed of electrode wheels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24rpm❍ Diameter of electrode wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265mm

MC® rotary contact

❍ Diameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60mm and 80mm❍ Multilams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 rows LA-CU❍ Rated current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,6kA❍ Overload current 15s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44kA❍ Peak current 10ms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 645kA❍ Total resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,64µ❍ Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50kg❍ Temperature rise at 30kA/s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7K

A company in Italy, specializingin the development and produc-tion of induction heating sys-tems for use in smelters, mold-ing presses, welding installa-tions etc.In rotary welding systemsequipped with mercury rotarycontacts, the existing powerfeed system is to be replaced bya new contact technology in or-der on the one hand to reducethe high maintenance costs andon the other to conform to theever more stringent environ-mental protection requirements.

2-pole rotary contact for induction heating system

The 2-pole MC® rotary contact maintains continuous andreliable electrical contact between the static frequencyconverter and the movable turntable (heating furnace)

In this machine, in which aluminum bottoms are attached tostainless steel saucepans, the 2-pole MC® rotary contact isused in the induction heating system

®®

5

At the CERN (European NuclearResearch Center) in Geneva, thesuperconducting dipoles andquadrupoles of the future pro-ton-proton accelerator, theLarge Hadron Collider (LHC), willoperate at an ultimate current of13kA.The current must be measuredand set with a precision of

1p.p.m. in order to control andadjust the parameters of the pro-ton beams.Compared to the requirementsof previous accelerators atCERN, such as the LEP, this is aten-fold improvement in accu-racy at more than twice the cur-rent. Precision current measure-ments of such accuracy are pro-

vided by so-called zero d.c. cur-rent transducers (DCCTs).It was necessary to build a labo-ratory at CERN, where it waspossible to calibrate these trans-ducers to the required accuracy.In view of the significant numberof heavy transducer coils to bemeasured, an automatic testbed was designed and manufac-

tured. This facility will allow cali-bration up to 20kA.Some of the key components ofthe test bed were supplied byMulti-Contact. It concerns theautomatic, louver-based clamps,which transfer the high currentsbetween the various bus bar sys-tems of the installation.These switches are based on theLA-CU MultilamTM and operatedpneumatically.This system allows the insertionand removal of the heavy coils byone operator, without the needto bolt and unbolt a single busbar.

MC®-Pneumatical Clamp Connection

Test and measuring system for MC®

clamp connectorThe following measurements weremade:The temperature rise of the connectingclamp at the junction with the lead, therise in temperature of the Multilams,the inflow and outflow temperatures ofthe water cooling the connecting pins,and the voltage drop and contactresistance across the Multilams.

This installation, theonly one of its kind inEurope, allows the in-terior of materials tobe precisely studiedand can be used for awide range of experi-ments.The supermicroscopeis also used in biology,chemistry and phys-ics.Where are theMC®-MultilamsTM?Our MultilamsTM, in this case theLA-D (fig. 5) are installed in vac-uum chambers (fig. 2) on a wa-ter-cooled copper rod (fig. 4).

The purpose of the copper rod isto vary the frequency inside the

resonance space (fig. 3).

With the MultilamTM system it ispossible to eliminate the cur-rents created by radio frequen-cies that could impair the perfectvacuum.

Fig. 1

Seeing inside materials with ultra-violet and X-rays.This can be done in Trieste, Italy, with the synchrotron of the “Laboratorio Elettra” where there is an importantfacility for international research and industrial development

Fig. 2 Fig 3

Fig. 4Fig. 5

®®

6

Railway engineering is well over100 years old, and its history is areflection of the development oftechnology.New technologies have alwayseither been a part of railway engi-neering or have been quicklybeen incorporated into it. Fromthe steam engine to the mag-netic levitation train, it has al-ways involved a great deal ofknow-how. We at Multi-Contactare able to play a part in manynew developments.The MultilamTM system is partic-ularly suited for railway applica-tions and factors such as safety,reliability and durability play a bigpart in modern transport sys-tems.Here are a few examples:

The MC®-Grounding mo-dule is used in railwayrolling stock.

Its generously calculated electri-cal design and configuration en-able a number of earth lines fromdifferent systems and assem-blies to be connected to singlemodule.The MC®-Grounding module isreliable, safe, and straightfor-ward to install.

Grounding points can be retrofit-ted without the sometimes ex-pensive consequences thathave hitherto occurred, such asdamage to rolling stock and itsstructural components by theheat of welding.The grounding module can alsobe fitted on the outside underthe floor. MC®-Grounding mod-ules are suitable for use in all cli-matic zones.A sealed contact moduleguarantees reliable con-tact between the ground-ing module and the alumi-num-section busbar -even after decades later.

Railways need good connections

Multi-Contact manufacturestraction motor plug connectorsfor the latest generation of elec-tric locomotives.Up till now, cable lugs have beenused for the motor power sup-ply.The advantages of plug connec-

tions are self-evident:In the locomotive repair shop themotor can be quickly separatedfrom the other parts of the loco-motive for testing and replaced ifnecessary.

The MC®-Plug connector SEM,until now used mainly as a bat-tery connector in electric cars,has found a new application:As a plug connector in railwayrolling stock.

In repair shops for an outsidepower input into the carriage or

locomotive’s own system. Andfor the power supply while thetrain is running.The SEM is equipped with pilotcontacts which enable the con-nection status to be checkedelectronically.Conforming to protection class

IP65, the SEM is unaffected bysplashed water and can be in-stalled outside the protective en-velope of the carriage body.These four examples from rail-way engineering are an illustra-

tion of the potential savings andsimplifications that can beachieved with MC®-MultilamTM

technology, and that’s why wetell railway engineers:

Railways need good con-nections

Plug connector for traction motors

Plug connector for traction motors

MC® Plug connector SEM

®®

7

The MC®-Flat bar clamp FSA...

Swivelling connecting parts allow aflexible arrangement

You can order this case fromMulti-Contact, with a choice of contentsto suit your needs

The clamp is screwed in place using thetool FZ-FSA20 with integrated torquewrench

A large handling part guarantees safeworking

The MC®-Flat bar clamp can beused wherever contact has to bemade with busbars — in powerdistribution systems, for in-stance, or mobile transformers,power generating plants, emer-gency power groups, etc.The FSA... is simply clamped ontothe busbar. The tool WZ-FSA20with integrated torque wrench en-sures that the MC®-MultllamTM

contact is held against the busbarwith optimum pressure. The abil-ity of the MC®-MultilamTM to pene-trate surface coatings guaranteessure contact with minimal transferresistance even with soiledbusbars.

Application example:

Use of FSA in association withmobile emergency power unitsfor no-break operation inlow-voltage networks.Operating time per year up to860 hours generator runningtime.

MC®-FSA are available with direct lead connection, with various plug connectors (also with co-ding) or with crimp connector for assembly by the customer

Another good example of howthe intelligent use of contactscan enhance productivity is theuse of the double fork connectorGSRD for a high-vacuum vapourdeposition installation for plasticparts.

The double fork connector isused to establish contact be-tween the busbars of a vaporizerwagon and the high-currentleadthrough of the vacuum cylin-

der. The GSRD 10-100 is de-signed for 3000A and the GSRD10-25 for 600A.

Planned number of connectingcycles before replacement:approx. 20’000.

Loading downtimes can be con-siderably reduced, thus enablingthe throughput of parts to be in-creased by up to 40%.

Double fork plug GSRD

Double fork plugs GSRD for busbar thicknesses of 5mm, 6mmand 10mm are available in the standard widths 15mm, 25mm,50mm and 75mm.Other widths and thicknesses are available on request.

®®

8

...HCK®-Messzubehr GmbH,Essen (HCK®) was incorporatedinto Multi-Contact HoldingGmbH (MC®).Since that time considerable ef-forts have been made to trans-form HCK® both “organization-ally” and “physically” into amodern company and adapt it tothe needs of a wider market.Not only has its plant and equip-ment been modernized and ex-panded, but in many areas amore modern and pleasantworking environment has been

created by such measures as re-modeling and refurbishing anumber of offices.The aim of these measures is toensure that our staff feel athome in the new “HCK®” andcontinue giving their committedsupport to the rapid realization ofour customers’ wishes.The future policy of closeness tothe customer is exemplified by

the new media room.Equipped with the latest mediaaids such as PC, projector, cam-eras, etc., it not only provides fa-cilities for training and instruct-ing customers and staff but alsoallows direct communicationwith the customer via videoconferencing.Particularly when dealing withdistant partners, this allows im-portant questions of detail to bediscussed in a “visual atmo-sphere” with the appropriatepersons. In the case of extensive

new developments or urgent ex-changes of information, this pro-vides a good opportunity for sav-ing time and costs.The most important recent orga-nizational measure has been theexpansion of the “logistics” de-partment.Purchasing, planning, warehous-ing and shipping have beengrouped in this new department

It’s now 3 years since...

New Multi-Media Room

Semi-finished products storeage — a important part in logistik

New CAD – Workstations

headed by a by a new member ofthe staff, Dipl.-Ing. BjörnSteinbach.With the creation of this newfunctional sector it is intendedprimarily to shorten internalpathways, improve communica-tion and thus enable orders to beprocessed faster.As a result of increased order re-ceipts and the meeting of awider range of needs, in the lastfew years it has been possible tocreate more than 20 new jobs in

various fields so that HCK® inEssen now employs a staff of145.

Also very important for HCK® isits outwardly visible integrationinto the MC® group.

This is apparent not only in the

uniform “stand outfit” adoptedat trade fairs or in the merging ofdistribution channels in Ger-many and abroad, but also in the

companies’ joint catalogues.

A lot has changed at HCK® — andwe feel at home with Multi-Con-tact!!

Jürgen Klemm,HCK®-General Manager.

The main changes were the following:

❞ Semi-finished products storeage - remodeled

❞ Equipment with new PC’s

❞ Changeover to CAD workstations

❞ Creation of a training and media room

❞ Additions to machinery

❞ Enlargement of the test and measuring systems laboratory

®®

9

The handling of voltages from above 6kV up to approximately 160kV (AC and DC) requires a solid foundation ofknowledge. The following clearly shows the fields of electrical engineering with relevance to testing in the event of ahigh-voltage flashover, particularly if there is burning in which arcing occurs:

News from the HCK®-Test instrument department in Essen

Special devices Besides the manufacture of standardequipment, at HCK® an importantplace is occupied by the production oftest equipment according to custom-ers individual specifications.

Power supplyengineering

Mains supply, effect on mains, partialdischarge measurements

High-frequencytechnology

Interference spectra extending intothe gigahertz range

Chemistry/physics Insulating materials, dielectric prop-erties of various materials

At HCK® this know-how goes side by side with many years of experience in solving problems related to high-voltage tests

This system for testing electriclocomotives and carriages con-sists of a control unit and apower unit. HCK® always dividesequipment for high power andvoltage classes into two suchparts in order to permit an ade-quate safety distance between

the person carrying out the testand the object being tested.

The control unit HV-300 from theMulti-2000 series, which hasbeen specially adapted for thisapplication, allows manual andautomatic testing.

The maximum voltage gener-ated by the power unit is75KvAC at a rated output of7,5kVA. At these voltages whichare accompanied by an exten-sive electric field, it is not a sim-ple matter to feed the high volt-age to the test object and tomake contact with it. Theadopted solution was to fit an ex-tension tube with insulatedtensioning cords.

A stainless steel cable with aself-reeling mechanism and au-tomatic tensioning together witha large crocodile clip are used tomake contact with the panto-graph of the electric locomotive.

In this system special attentionwas paid to the suppression of

interference on the mains supplyside, since in the absence of spe-cial filtering these very high-en-ergy impulses can cause the de-struction of other connectedequipment.

In the design of the interfer-ence-suppression equipment,valuable services were performedby HCK®’s new in-house electricalmeasuring systems laboratory.

J.KirchheimHCK®-Product manager test in-struments

Additions to theMulti-2000 family ofinstruments

At this year’s Hanover Fair HCK®

is presenting two new test in-struments based on the conceptof the Multi 2000 series with in-teractive user menu.

SL-1 - High-current earthconductor test instrument

In the standard version the de-vice produces sine-wave testcurrents of 10 to 50 amperes.Versions for higher currents oninquiry.

Maximum current, slope andlimiting values are programma-ble. All measurements are madeby the four-pole method.

M-1 - A test instrumentspecially developed for thelighting fixtures industry

In individual and produc-tion-quantity testing of lamps,the following tests can bequickly and precisely carried out:

❞ High-voltage test

❞ Ground lead test

❞ Insulation test

❞ Measurement of leakagecurrent

❞ Function test

❞ Power measurement

Application example: Testing of electric locomotives

Power unit with an extensiontube – the tensioning cords

are insulated

Control unit HV-300 with 75kV power unit

®®

10

In 1991, HCK® broke new tech-nological ground with the pro-duction of the first Isoprobe®

probe. This product develop-ment by HCK® was aimed pri-marily at oscilloscopes with un-earthed BNC connections de-signed for test voltages up to1000VAC, CAT II.HCK® Isoprobe® probes are stillthe only product of their kind inthe world that providetouch-proof protection allowingmeasurements to be safely car-

ried out with unearthed oscillo-scopes at these voltage levels.The HCK® Isoprobe® probe, forinstance, enabled the Flukecompany to bring onto marketthe FLUKE SCOPEMETER®, theworld’s first portable oscillo-scope capable of working atthese voltages.Other well-known firms also useHCK® Isoprobe® probes, such asthe Japanese manufacturersYokogawa who equip a part oftheir oscilloscope range with

these probes.

This shows that 7 years agoHCK® successfully developed apath-breaking product and that ithas maintained its position inthis segment of the world mar-ket. As a result of higher require-ments in the test instrument in-dustry, it has become necessaryto think about a new generationof Isoprobe® probes.

After extensive studies and dis-cussions, a new version hasbeen produced with propertiesthat far surpass those of the firstseries.

For instance, it has been possi-ble to eliminate the compensa-tion box which is a particular in-convenience when using porta-ble equipment.

HCK® has not only succeeded inplacing the compensation equal-izer in the handling part, but hasalso arranged the internal struc-

ture and layout of the dividercomponents in such a way as tosubstantially improve the elec-tronic characteristics whilemaintaining the same high elec-tric strength.

The development of the newprobe did not focus solely uponthe improvement of its technicalcharacteristics.

Importance was also attached toa good functional design com-patible with all accessories ofthe previous version.

Our customers will also bepleased to know that as a resultof using new materials and tech-nologies we are also able to sup-ply this new Isoprobe® genera-tion at a lower price than its pre-decessor.

The probes will be available fromthe summer of 1998.

Please ask us for further details.

New generation of high-frequency probes

In the test gear and plant andequipment industry the wordhas got around that HCK® manu-factures high-quality PVC, sili-cone- and Teflon®-FEP-insulatedwires.

Users are particularly impressedby the highly flexible PVC and sil-icone types.

From time to time the questionof a “replacement for PVCwires” is raised, particularly afterspectacular events like fires.

In principle the solution of choiceis our silicone wire, which ishalogen-free and gives off nocorrosive breakdown productseven when burned.

However, many users hesitateto use the more environ-ment-friendly silicone wire be-cause of its higher cost.

In intensive tests on its new ex-truder plant, HCK® has suc-ceeded in extruding a high-qual-ity TPE (thermoplastic elasto-

mer) as an economical alterna-tive to PVC insulation.In combination with our ex-tremely fine-stranded copperconductors, this gives a new,highly flexible wire that comesvery close to the properties of sil-icone-insulated wire but offers asubstantial price advantage.We are of the firm opinion thatwith this wire we have devel-oped a fully equivalent substi-tute for PVC which is suitable formost applications and is also en-vironment-friendly and recycla-ble.

The name of this new Multi-Con-tact product:

“Flexiplast®”

Interested?

We will be pleased to send you asample.Further technical data on the“Flexiplast®” wire types can befound in our catalogueHo14/Lilei.

News from the PVC-insulated wire market

The special advantages of the new TPE insulation are:

� Excellent electrical characteristics

� High elasticity and tensile strength

� Brilliant, permanent colours

� Good resistance to weather and ageing

� High abrasion resistance

� Resistance to most acids and alkalis

� Resistance to oil

� Freedom from halogens

� High temperature-stability

� Temp. range -30°C to +110°C, for brief periods up to +130°C(can be steam-sterilized) Environment-friendly due to recyclability

Comparison of technical data:

� Isoprobe®-I Isoprobe®-II

� Frequency range: 0 ... 250MHz 0 ... 450MHz

� Rise time: < 1ns < 0,9ns

� Input capacity: < 15pF < 13pF

®®

11

The safety test clip “SKSP4" hadbeen in the MC® product rangefor some years without modifi-cation and was in need of a valueanalysis.

Such analyses are also carriedout from time to time on other

standard or special articles. Ex-amination showed that the arti-cle was in need of improvementin a number of major respects.

In particular it was necessary toimprove the contact between

the wire contact spring and theØ 4mm safety socket.

In the same way as in manysafety test clips made by ourcompetitors, this spring simplymade an undefined touch con-tact with the flexible metalshank.

Here it was necessary to find atechnically better but still eco-nomically priced alternative. Theproblem was solved by means ofthe tried and testedMC®-MultilamTM system.

As you can see in the drawing, inthe ”sliding contact area" a spe-cial MultilamTM contact has beenused which ensures a depend-able transfer of voltage and cur-rent. It is now possible to reliablytap currents of up to 4A, the cur-rent now being limited by thesteel wire spring clip.

The operating voltage range hasalso been improved.The new SKPS4 can be used atup to 1000V, CAT III.

The use of silicone insulation onthe shaft has enabled the flexibil-ity of the shaft to be improved,as is already the case in theGRIP-B and MINIGRIP-XB ver-sions.The silicone insulation also pro-tects the shaft if it comes intocontact with a hot object such asa soldering iron.

Tom ClerkxHCK®-Marketing Manager

MC®/HCK® take a close look at one of their products...

SKPS4 — now with a special MultilamTM contact fora safer transfer of voltage and current

The new SKPS4 — improved in technology and price

We have thus achieved substantial technical improvements and at the same time — the main

effect for you — we have reduced costs by roughly 40%

The effort has been worthwhile!

� Safe and reliable voltageand current transferthrough use of the triedand testedMC®-MultilamTM

� Low transfer resistance al-lowing problem-free usewith loads up to 4A

� Flexible, silicone-insu-lated shank gives moredurable insulation thatwithstands brief contactwith a soldering iron

� Higher operating voltage1000V, CATIII

� The complete SKPS4 cannow be supplied in a rangeof colors and not, as previ-ously, only in black with ared push button

� A crosspiece has beenadded between the end ofthe safety socket and thehandle section which pre-vents tapping connectorsfrom becoming caught upon test leads.The crosspiece can also beused to hang up theSKPS4

� Reduced weight due touse of new materials.This results in easier han-dling and places lessstrain on the componentsto which the safety testclip is connected duringtest operations.

Summary of the improvements:

A reliable voltage and current transfer as well as alow contact resistance with the use of the

proven MC®-MultilamTM in the SKPS4

®®

12

Multi-Contact AG BaselStockbrunnenrain 8PostfachCH – 4123 Allschwil

Tel. 061/306 55 55Fax 061/306 55 56

Multi-Contact Deutschland GmbHHegeheimer Strasse 19Postfach 1606D – 79551 Weil am Rhein

Tel. 07621/667 – 0Fax 07621/667 – 100

HCK®-Messzubehör GmbHHövelstrasse 214Postfach 120 164D – 45311 Essen

Tel. 0201/8 31 05 – 0Fax 0201/8 31 05 – 99

E-Mail: mailbox@multi-contact.com Internet: www.multi-contact.com

ISO

900

1

ISO

9001

DIN EN ISO 9001:1994

QM-Zertifikat

® ®

New MC®-Catalogues

� Lab 4-S (G-E-F)Edition 1/97, 71 pagesSafety test accessories, touchprotected, according to IEC1010-2-031

� Ho 7b (G-E-F)Edition 4/97, 28 pagesPrimary circuit connectors forelectric welding transformers630 VAC

� Ho 19 (G-E-F)Edition 6/97, 8 pagesMC®-Connector system forphotovoltaic

� PV-Reference list (G-E-F)Edition 97, 4 pagesPhotovoltaic installations

� Lab 4 (G-E-F)Edition 7/97, 106 pagesLaboratory connectors Ø 4mmand accessories, not touchprotected

� Flyer (G-E-F)Spring-loaded contactEdition 10/97, 4 pagesDBP2/0,5-1,5/DSP/0,5-1,5Thermocouple contacts

� Ho 3 (G-E-F)Edition 11/97, 44 pagesRound connectors Ø 10mm, Ø14mm, Ø 22mm, single-pole,insulated, up to 1000V, up to600A

� Ho 4 (G-E-F)Edition 11/97, 52 pagesRound connectors, sin-gle-pole, insulated, withbayonett locking Ø 12mm,Ø 16mm, Ø 22mm, Ø 30mm

New MC®/HCK®-Catalogues

� Lab P (G, E, F)Edition 2/97, 12 pagesModel review product grouplaboratory, test accessories

� Ger-Prog (G, E, F)Edition 10/97, 4 pagesTest equipment programme

�Mezu (G)Edition 11/97, 22 pagesHCK®-Test accessories, nottouch protected

� Ho14/Lilei (G-E)Edition 11/97, 24 pagesMultistrand wires with insula-tions e.g. of Silicon, PVC, Tef-lon®-FEP, TPE

� Lab Si (G)Edition 3/97, 148 pagesSafety test accessories

� Lab 2-S (G)Edition 8/97, 8 pages2mm Safety test accessories

� Lab 2-S (E)Edition 12/97, 8 pages2mm Safety test accessories

� Lab E (G-E-F)Edition 4/98, 13 pagesECONOMY ClassA selection of test accessorieswith a very special price/per-formance relation

� NewEdition 4/97, 2 pagesNew stackable safety plugconnector

� Lab HF (G)Edition 12/97, 16 pagesHigh frequency safety test ac-cessories

� Lab HF (E)Edition 10/97, 16 pagesHigh frequency safety test ac-cessories

� Lab MiEdition 9/97, 2 pagesMicro-Clip for fine contacts

� Lab KeEdition 9/97, 4 pagesKelvin-Test leads for high preci-sion measurements of thesmallest resistors

�Multi 2000Edition 10/97, 6 pagesThe newest test equipmentgeneration

� Ger ZEdition 7/97, 24 pagesTest equipment accessories

� HV-1... (G)Edition 9/97, 10 pagesHigh voltage test equipment

� HV-1... (E)Edition 10/97, 10 pagesHigh voltage test equipment

�WT-50 (G)Edition 6/97, 2 pagesAlternating high voltage testequipment

�WGT-50 A (G)Edition 6/97, 2 pagesAlternating- and direct voltagetest equipment

� BM-1 (G)Edition 6/97, 2 pagesBürden test equipment for themeasurement of load circuit ofvoltage- and current trans-formers� SLM-10 (G)

Edition 6/97, 2 pagesTest equipment for protectiveconductor

�WP-501 (G)Edition 4/97, 2 pagesTest equipment for alternatingvoltage

� Lab Si3. Edition (G) and first edition (E)estimated 3/98

Exhibitions EUROPE

� Hannover MesseHannover 20.04. – 25.04.98

� ContactFrankfurt 13.05. – 15.05.98

� IndustriaBudapest 19.05. – 23.05.98

� 2nd Wold Conference andExhibition on Photovoltaic So-lar Energy ConversionWien 6.07. – 10.07.98

� ElektrotechnikDortmund 02.09.– 05.09.98

� EurelecBrüssel 23.09. – 26.09.98

� efaLeipzig 30.09. – 02.10.98

� Het InstrumentUtrecht 05.10. – 09.10.98

� Inno TransBerlin 28.10. – 30.10.98

� electronicaMünchen 10.11. – 13.11.98

� ETBasel 08.12. – 10.12.98

Exhibitions USA

� National Design EngineeringChicago IllinoisMarch 16. – 19.1998

� Orange County ElectronicsOrange County, CaliforniaMarch 25. – 26.1998

� Soltech ‘98Orlando, FloridaApril 25. – 30.1998

� Electricity ‘98Toronto, CanadaApril 26. – 29.1998

� Ideas In Science & IndustryAlbuquerque, New MexicoMay 5. – 6.1998

� Del Mar ElectronicsDel Mar, CaliforniaMay 6. – 7.1998

� Electronic DistributionLas Vegas, NevadaMay 12. – 14.1998

� Rocky Mountain ElectronicsDenver, ColoradoMay 20. – 21.1998

� WesconAnaheim, CaliforniaSeptember 15. – 17.1998

� Utility PV ExperienceAlbuquerque, New MexicoSeptember 28. – Oct.1.1998

� Power Systems World (PCIM)Santa Clara, CaliforniaNovember 10. – 12.1998

New MC® and HCK® Catalogues