OREANDA-NEWS. October 1, 2012. GE’s Industrial Solutions business (NYSE: GE) today announced its EvolutionTM Series Switchboard—the next generation in GE’s advanced line of switchboard solutions for critical power applications such as high rise hotels and casinos, hospitals, airports and universities. The announcement was made at the 2012 NECA Convention and Trade Show being held Sept. 29-Oct. 2 in Las Vegas, Nev.

Featuring innovative instantaneous zone-selective interlocking (I-ZSI) and waveform recognition (WFR) technologies, the Evolution Series Switchboard provides users with an unparalleled, industry-first combination of full selective coordination and simultaneous arc flash protection. For example, if an electrical fault occurs in a Las Vegas hotel room, the building manager would need to ensure that the guests traveling in a nearby elevator are not affected. Similarly, if that electrical fault occurs in the main elevator control room, the building manager needs to safeguard the entire building from losing power. In either circumstance, the goal is provide the best possible protection for the personnel working on the equipment. GE’s new Evolution Series Switchboard no longer requires building managers to sacrifice arc flash protection for selectivity.

“Our innovative Evolution Series Switchboard breathes life into a concept previously regarded as unobtainable,” said Adam Mease, senior product manager for Industrial Solutions. “Its simultaneous selectivity and arc flash protection provide facilities and users game-changing technology.”

The Evolution Series Switchboard builds on previous switchboard technology, combining two crucial features into one revolutionary new product. It provides facility managers with the fastest zone selective interlocking protection in the industry. In addition, its I-ZSI and WFR technologies enable multiple layers of circuit breakers to operate as one unified system. When responding to a fault, the Evolution Series Switchboard has the intelligence to tell circuit breakers to respond either immediately or as a backup, depending on the situation. Other industry switchboards only offer reduced energy let-through (RELT) technology, also known as maintenance or arc flash switch, which requires the user to manually trade off selectivity for arc flash protection.

“Before designing the Evolution Series Switchboard, we sat down with contractors to gain a better understanding of what their vision was for the ideal switchboard,” added Mease. “Their insights can be seen throughout the design and functionality of this new switchboard. As an industry-leading company in power systems and electrical infrastructure, our livelihood depends on our ability to look ahead and anticipate the needs of our customers.”

The Evolution Series offers users a space-saving switchboard unit, providing the clearance needed to accommodate additional breakers in a more-efficient footprint. Allowing for front access to the neutrals and ground, while featuring factory-installed splicing, the Evolution Series Switchboard can streamline installations and simplify the upgrade process. In addition to the size, selectivity and arc flash benefits, it features a stationary 4,000 A, 100 percent-rated main circuit breaker and remote racking devices. It also offers expanded ratings up to 6,000 A, with bus densities as low as 667A/in2.

Industrial Solutions, a GE heritage business, is leading the future of electrification with advanced technologies that protect and control the distribution of electricity throughout a facility's infrastructure. The business provides customers, across various industries, with end-to-end product and service solutions that ensure the reliability and protection of the electrical infrastructure. Industrial Solutions’ product and service solutions add to GE’s broader portfolio of leading technology solutions for the delivery, management conversion and optimization of electrical power for customers across multiple energy-intensive industries.