PCB-Mounted Relay Technology for EV Charging and Automation
Panasonic Industry details electromechanical control solutions for electric vehicle infrastructure and energy management networks.
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Electric vehicle charging infrastructure, building automation, and energy storage systems require robust electromechanical switching components to safely manage high electrical loads. Panasonic Industry addresses these power distribution requirements through its integrated portfolio of relay systems, which will be exhibited at smarter E Europe 2026 in Munich, Germany, from June 23 to June 25, 2026.
High-Current Switching for Charging Infrastructure
A core focus of the technical deployment includes the HE Power Relay series, which functions as the primary switching element within alternating current (AC) wallboxes and direct current (DC) charging matrices. These components utilize a printed circuit board (PCB)-mounted architecture. This design approach routes high currents directly on the board, replacing external contactors and heavy wiring harnesses. Integrating high-capacity relays onto the PCB reduces overall system dimensions, lowers material consumption, and minimizes energy dissipation across internal connections. These switching mechanisms are engineered to meet the thermal and electrical demands of electric vehicle charging units and photovoltaic inverters.
Optical Isolation in Energy Storage Systems
In stationary energy storage applications, battery management systems require precise voltage monitoring and galvanic isolation to maintain operational safety. The implementation of PhotoMOS MOSFET relays facilitates these functions by providing optical coupling between input and output circuits. These solid-state components monitor high voltages across individual battery cells while protecting sensitive logic circuits from transient voltage spikes, ensuring electrical stability under fluctuating loads.
Electromechanical Control in Building Automation
Building automation networks rely on distributed control systems to manage environmental and electrical loads. The relay portfolio covers applications ranging from underfloor heating modules and lighting control to smart plugs and centralized power distribution. These relays execute the physical switching of actuators within residential and commercial environments. Technical operations are supported by the Electromechanical Control Business Division, which maintains specialized in-house testing and failure analysis laboratories in Ottobrunn, Germany, to validate component endurance and compliance with industrial standards.
Operational Requirements and Reliability
Markus Bichler, Head of Product Management for Industrial Relays at Panasonic Industry Europe, emphasizes the operational mandate for these components: “Our goal is to meet technical specifications and ensure continuous functionality without failure.”
Additional Context: This section details technical specifications and competitive benchmarking not included in the original product announcement.
High-power PCB relays designed for EV charging and photovoltaic inverters typically compete within a specialized market segment alongside solutions from manufacturers such as Omron and TE Connectivity. Benchmarking in this sector focuses heavily on contact gap size and thermal management. European standards, including IEC 62955 and IEC 61851-1, mandate specific clearance and creepage distances to handle short-circuit currents safely. Modern high-capacity PCB relays must achieve a contact gap of at least 3.0 mm to comply with these isolation standards while maintaining a compact footprint. Furthermore, minimizing coil holding power is a primary design objective across the industry, as lower power consumption directly reduces thermal stress on the printed circuit board within tightly enclosed wallbox and inverter chassis.
Edited by an industrial journalist, Lekshman Ramdas, with AI assistance.
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