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Softstart

INRUSH CURRENT LIMITER FOR LED LUMINAIRES

Device Description

Softstart is a next-generation device designed to effectively limit the inrush current of LED luminaires. It eliminates problems associated with the high inrush currents generated by modern LED drivers during switch-on, ensuring safe, reliable, and trouble-free operation of lighting installations.

Replacing conventional luminaires with LED lighting often results in significantly higher inrush currents, making it difficult to correctly select both main and branch circuit protection devices. Excessive inrush current may also cause unwanted tripping of circuit breakers and reduce the service life of switching equipment.

Softstart effectively limits inrush current, allowing protection devices to be selected according to the actual operating current of the installation without the need to oversize protective equipment.

Effective Inrush Current Limitation

The device utilizes a thermistor-based current limiting circuit that effectively suppresses the high current peaks occurring during LED luminaire startup.

Using Softstart provides several important benefits:

  • Reduction of inrush current peaks.
  • Prevention of nuisance tripping of overcurrent protection devices.
  • Improved reliability of lighting installations.
  • Extended service life of switching equipment and protection devices.

By reducing startup current peaks, Softstart enables optimal selection of both main and branch circuit protection while maintaining reliable system operation.

System Benefits

Softstart allows a greater number of LED luminaires to be connected to a single electrical circuit without requiring oversized protection devices.

The device also simplifies the modernization of existing lighting installations by replacing conventional luminaires with LED technology while maintaining reliable electrical protection.

In addition, the Softstart product family can help optimize contracted electrical power requirements while preserving high system efficiency and operational reliability.

Key Features

  • Effective limitation of LED luminaire inrush current.
  • Suppression of startup current peaks.
  • Reduction of nuisance tripping of overcurrent protection devices.
  • Simplified selection of main and branch circuit protection.
  • Improved reliability of lighting installations.
  • Extended lifetime of switching equipment and protective devices.
  • Integrated thermal protection.
  • Output voltage presence indicator.
  • Compact DIN rail enclosure.

Technical Specifications

Power Supply

  • Supply voltage: 230 V AC (+5% / −10%), 50 Hz

Current Rating

Available versions:

  • 10 A
  • 16 A
  • 20 A

Mechanical Characteristics

  • Device width: 2 DIN modules
  • Dimensions: 36 × 58 × 90 mm
  • Terminal capacity: IEC terminals, up to 10 mm²

Environmental Conditions

  • Operating temperature: −30°C to +65°C
  • Protection rating: IP20

Installation

  • 35 mm DIN rail mounting

Additional Features

  • Integrated thermal protection
  • Output voltage indication
  • Electrical endurance: minimum 70,000 switching cycles at maximum operating temperature

Wiring Diagram

 

 

 

Documentation