Panasonic Industry announced its new compact HE-S SC 2a and HE-S SC 2a1b PCB relay series, specifically developed for single-phase EV charging systems and wallbox applications. The new relay series is already fully compliant with the upcoming European short-circuit test in the standard IEC 62955, which becomes mandatory in Q4 2028.

The HE-S SC relay family offers a future-ready switching solution that combines high current-carrying capability, compact PCB integration and compliance with the latest safety standards. The relays provide a short-circuit capability of Ip = 1.85kA and
I²t = 4.5kA²s, enabling designers to address upcoming European regulatory requirements well ahead of the implementation deadline.

The HE-S SC 2a and 2a1b relays are designed to serve as the main switching element in single-phase charging systems (especially for markets such as the United Kingdom and selected regions of Italy and Spain). Each of the two normally open (NO) contacts can switch up to 40A at ambient temperatures as high as +70°C, delivering reliable performance under demanding operating conditions.

This performance is achieved through a sophisticated thermal design and a uniquely low coil holding power of just 400mW, helping designers reduce power consumption while maintaining robust switching capability.

For applications requiring contact monitoring, the HE-S SC 2a1b version incorporates an additional normally closed (NC) mirror contact compliant with IEC 60947-4-1. The feedback contact supports low-level switching loads down to 10mA at 5VDC, enabling reliable status monitoring and helping system designers satisfy functional safety and diagnostic requirements.

The relay's compact footprint allows the complete switching function to be integrated directly onto the PCB, eliminating the need for larger external switching assemblies. This approach significantly reduces system size, simplifies assembly, and means lower overall material costs for wallbox manufacturers.

“As the EV charging market continues to scale rapidly across Europe, reliability, safety and cost-efficient integration are becoming increasingly critical for wallbox manufacturers,” explains Markus Bichler, Head of Product Management Industrial Relays at Panasonic Industry Europe. “With our new HE-S SC relay, we are enabling designers to meet upcoming short-circuit test standard updates well ahead of time, while optimizing system size, energy efficiency and overall performance. This combination supports the development of next-generation single-phase charging solutions that are both future-proof and highly competitive.”

For more information about Panasonic’s new HE-S SC relay family please visit: HE relay series