Schneider Electric South Africa is pleased to unveil its latest PrismaSeT range of new-generation power distribution switchboards which offers unrivalled modularity and minimum assembly time, even for the most demanding configurations.

Kovilan Chinnathambi, Power Products Offer Manager Anglophone Africa at Schneider Electric, says the PrismaSet range includes the PrismaSet G and PrismaSet P models. The PrismaSet G model is designed as a wall-mounted or floor-standing unit, rated up to 630amps and 25kA, while the PrismaSet P model is the bigger floor-standing unit, rated up to 4 000amps and 100kA.

“PrismaSeT is a fully type-tested switchboard system which guarantees safety and reliability. It replaces the older range of Prisma boards, featuring a new design that boasts the new Schneider Electric panel look,” says Chinnathambi.

“In the past, our different switch gear ranges – from medium voltage to low voltage – all looked very different. Now there is a common colour and a common label strip to easily identify it as a Schneider Electric switchboard.”

Chinnathambi notes that the new range also features more robust frames that increase the mechanical strength of the board itself and the doors have been reinforced to make the sheet metal more rigid.

Built-in cloud connectivity

“The new PrismaSet range switchboard is the market forerunner with built-in cloud connectivity, allowing instant access to the smart alarm system, energy usage analysis, trends, and preventative maintenance plans. Built-in cloud connectivity allows users to be notified of around-the-clock electrical distribution, as well as voltage loss if any occurs,” he says.

“This maximises efficiency and power availability while creating the basis for future innovations. The PrismaSeT P switchboard also allows for easy wireless integration of sensors.”

PrismaSeT panels can be fitted with Schneider Electric’s HeatTag fire prevention solution, which uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms to analyse the gasses within the switchboard.

“When cables overheat, the insulation changes the chemical properties within the panel. So, while traditional fire prevention methods use temperature measurements, the HeatTag analyses the air and monitors the temperature as well. So, before the cables get to a point where they are going to fail, HeatTag can detect a change in the gasses and will alert facility operators to a potential problem,” says Chinnathambi.

While it is suited to both residential and commercial applications, the PrismaSet switchboard range is particularly popular in the data centre space which requires high levels of power availability and reliability, as well as strict safety standards.

Efficient assembly 

The PrismaSet switchboards are designed around Schneider Electric’s switchgear range and have predefined mounting plates and front plates for each type of circuit breaker, meaning there is no need to drill, punch or cut. This makes the assembly of the board more efficient and on average 20% quicker compared to the market average.

“Being a modular board brings several benefits to the end user, as it allows them to build a panel that is fully customised for the requirements of any particular project. However, during the lifespan of the board, the end user’s requirements might change, and these changes can be easily incorporated into the design as needed,” says Chinnathambi.

“This means that the end user is not tied to something that they have bought and that cannot be used going forward. They can modify the board as their requirements on-site changes.”