PLASA Show 2022: Artistic Licence launches railSplit uno
- Details
Fittingly, railSplit uno is being entered into the Innovation Awards at this year's PLASA Show. Visitors can see the product in the Awards gallery and at the Artistic Licence stand, D15.
railSplit uno was designed in response to the new European Electrical Installation regulations IEC 60364 (BS 7671). The regulations require Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) to be fitted (including to data lines such as DMX512) for many types of lighting installation.
The existing Artistic Licence product, railSplit extreme, has internal SPDs and so provides a partial solution. However, there are two potential issues:
The new regulations will require installers to cram DMX512 SPDs into ever smaller spaces (e.g.into existing electrical installation boxes).
The SPD needs some way of informing the user if it has been damaged by a protection event. railSplit uno solves both problems. It is a combined DMX512/RDM booster, isolator and SPD presented in a DIN-rail unit just 36mm wide.
Surge protection is achieved using a combination of different electronics. Part self-heals after a protection event. The other part is sacrificial and becomes spent after a number of protection events (usually triggered by nearby lightning strikes). The problem with most SPDs is that you have no idea whether they are spent, or are still doing their job. That’s where railSplit uno shines.
railSplit uno uses a patent-pending technique to detect when the protection is spent. Once detected, it reports it via a front panel indicator and a tally output that can be linked to a Buildings Management System. Additionally, it enters ‘limp home’ mode whereby the DMX output is bridged to avoid further damage. At this point, the product is replaced to ensure continued protection to the installation.
