Schneider Electric has announced the release of a new universal white LED technology for its Harmony XB4 and XB5 control and signalling pushbutton range that will change the way OEMs design lighting functions. 

Previously, the colour of the pilot lights on the illuminated pushbutton series was determined solely by the product head.  Now, with the universal white LED, Schneider Electric is introducing homogeneity among each colour - each head features the same light intensity which mitigates any possible light spots in the middle of the pilot lights.

Schneider Electric has also optimised and improved the colours of the heads; it now displays the purest colours possible which allows for improved distinction of each colour tone (primarily red, orange, and yellow), whether the function is illuminated or not. 

“As a leader in the HMI market, our business has always sought to modernise our Harmony offering. Our new products with universal white LED fall into this category and bring a real simplification of our metal and plastic ranges for all our customers,” says Amina Abdalla, Ecostruxure Signalling & Sensing Offer Manager, Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric. 

The use of a new single white LED block offers many advantages:

Machine and panel builders will no longer need to worry about pairing the heads with the corresponding light blocks, which will facilitate their work on bills of materials and avoid potential assembly errors. 

The simplification of the light structure saves considerable time in the selection and installation of the product. 

Distribution centers will benefit from more efficient stock management and will be able to meet more of their customers' needs while having fewer references to stock, and their supply times will logically be shortened.

Maintenance will benefit range simplification.

Until now, the colour of the light function was provided by the combined action of the colour diode coupled with a head of the same color. The LED light is single block.

With such a reduction in the number of LED blocks (range sometimes divided by 6 for a given voltage), Schneider Electric has reduced the number of references for its LED blocks by 80%, sold alone or in sub-assembly. 

The new universal LEDs and the compatible products them will feature the “UN” marking on the packaging box as well as on the blocks itself.