One of the key presentations was delivered by Volodymyr Muzyka, Product Manager of the “Protection and Switching of Electrical Networks” direction at the Ukrainian engineering company Vector VS. He presented a ready-made solution for backup power automation—automatic transfer switches under the Vikets trademark.
Why are manual changeover switches a risk for an enterprise?
Today, many enterprises still use manual changeover switches to switch to backup power. Volodymyr Muzyka highlighted four main risks of this approach:
- The human factor and reaction speed: To perform the switching, a person must be present at the facility 24/7, which is problematic at night or during severe weather.
- Risk of counter-voltage (backfeeding): Personnel error during manual switching can lead to an accident and the failure of expensive equipment.
- Lack of network quality control: Manual devices do not monitor power flows, harmonic distortions, or power factor (at most, they offer basic voltage and current monitoring).
- Maintenance complexity: Activating backup power requires the constant availability of qualified personnel.
To solve these problems, Vector VS offers a line of 4-pole Vikets automatic transfer switches with ratings from 63 A to 1600 A (with an announced expansion from 40 A to 3200 A). The switches support various operation scenarios: “Grid – Generator,” “Grid – Grid,” and “Grid – Inverter.”
The “out-of-the-box” package includes the switch itself, a handle for manual control, phase barriers, voltage harnesses, and current transformers. This allows for the fastest possible deployment of the system at the facility.
Technical Advantages: More than just a switch
Vikets equipment is an intelligent system with a built-in controller that combines the functions of a switch, a digital multimeter, and a protection relay:
- Four-pole switching: The system breaks the neutral, which is an important safety standard.
- Full parameter monitoring: The controller measures voltage, current, frequency, active/reactive power, and power factor for each input.
- Comprehensive protection: Capability to program protection against overvoltage, undervoltage, phase sequence violation or phase loss, imbalance, etc.
- Specialized functionality for fire safety: The device has dry contacts for fire alarms. When triggered, the switch moves to the zero position and sends a command to the backup diesel generator to activate fire suppression systems.
- Universal power supply: The controller is powered by the power inputs (230 V) but supports additional power from the generator battery (24 V).
- Phase connection flexibility: Phases can be connected in any order (A-B-C or otherwise); the main requirement is to synchronize the order of power cables and voltage harnesses.
- Remote control and dispatching: Built-in RS-485 port for SCADA integration; Wi-Fi module available as an option.
- Two-level password: Separate access rights for the user (viewing and basic settings only) and the administrator/installer (changing critical parameters).
Practical Implementation
The reliability and installation speed of Vikets switches have already been proven at real facilities:
- “Sofia Kyivska” Residential Complex: Under conditions of severe time shortage, the equipment was installed in just 4 hours, allowing the complex’s lighting to be promptly powered.
- Heating point of a high-rise building in Cherkasy: Automatic switching between the external grid and an inverter was successfully implemented.
Vector VS provides full service support for its solutions: all documentation (manuals, datasheets) is translated into Ukrainian, and a local team of engineers is always ready to provide technical assistance to clients. The equipment is mostly available from a warehouse in Kyiv (with an area of over 2,000 sq. m), minimizing waiting times.