Omron Electronic Components Europe has launched a new high-power PCB relay for use in Level 2 EV charging stations. The G9KC relay “provides the lowest contact resistance available on the market and produces significantly less load terminal heat rise when in operation compared to equivalent devices,” according to the company.

Higher charging speeds can be achieved by using higher currents. However, this requires the use of higher-rated electronic components, resulting in the generation of more heat inside the wallbox enclosure, which can affect charging performance and cause components to wear prematurely. Balancing increased amounts of heat with the desire to reduce a charger’s footprint is a major challenge for EV charger designers.

Omron’s G9KC relay features a mechanically coupled double-break contact design that’s developed to enable an improvement in energy efficiency while reducing heat dissipation. As Omron explains, the relay’s 4-pole structure means that a single device can replace larger multi-pole contactors and combinations of 1- and 2- pole, reducing the footprint required. It has a guaranteed initial contact resistance of less than 6 mΩ. Unlike contactors, the G9KC can be mounted on a printed circuit board, which can help to facilitate smaller and lighter designs.

The G9KC has earned certification from UL/C-UL, TUV and CQC, and has been designed to meet the requirements of IEC 62955—Residual direct current detecting device (short circuit capability), and IEC 61851-1—Electric vehicle conductive charging systems, along with other applicable standards.