Sensata Gigavac HX21CAB

Sensata Gigavac HX21CAB is a compact 350A 1500VDC High Voltage DC Contactor designed for solar inverter branches, battery pack protection, combiner boxes, and monitored high voltage DC switching panels. This HX21 series High Voltage DC Contactor uses a 24VDC coil, SPST-NO main contact arrangement, chassis mounting, stud power terminals, wire leads, auxiliary contacts, and hermetically sealed construction. For equipment builders who need a High Voltage DC Contactor that can switch high DC voltage while fitting into a practical enclosure layout, HX21CAB provides a focused option for 24V control systems.

The HX21CAB High Voltage DC Contactor is especially useful where the control cabinet already uses a 24V auxiliary supply and the power path needs reliable isolation in a 1500VDC-class architecture. Instead of positioning this part as a generic replacement contactor, this page focuses on PV inverter strings, DC combiner sections, battery safety loops, and arc-fault disconnect paths. In those applications, a High Voltage DC Contactor must provide both current carrying capability and a feedback signal for the controller.

Product Positioning

HX21CAB is positioned as a compact High Voltage DC Contactor for 350A continuous current systems that need 24VDC coil control and auxiliary contact feedback. The HX21 family is often selected when the design has limited panel space but still requires a sealed High Voltage DC Contactor for DC energy storage, solar generation, or inverter-side switching. Compared with larger 400A or 600A devices, this High Voltage DC Contactor fits well in branch-level power paths where 350A is sufficient and space matters.

For a solar combiner or inverter input cabinet, HX21CAB helps separate the high voltage DC bus from service areas during maintenance or fault response. For a battery rack, this High Voltage DC Contactor can serve as a main positive, main negative, or controlled disconnect device depending on the system architecture. The auxiliary contacts support state monitoring, allowing the controller to verify whether the High Voltage DC Contactor has changed state as commanded.

Key Specifications

• Model: HX21CAB High Voltage DC Contactor.
• Series: Sensata-Gigavac HX21 series High Voltage DC Contactor.
• Main contact form: SPST-NO, 1 Form X High Voltage DC Contactor design.
• Continuous current rating: 350A for high current DC power paths.
• Switching voltage rating: 1500VDC nominal High Voltage DC Contactor class.
• Coil voltage: 24VDC, suitable for standard industrial and energy storage control supplies.
• Coil current: about 90mA, with low continuous coil power for efficient control cabinets.
• Operate and release reference: approximately 20ms operate time and 12ms release time.
• Mounting type: chassis mount High Voltage DC Contactor for panel installation.
• Termination style: stud terminals and wire leads for power and control wiring.
• Features: auxiliary contacts and hermetically sealed construction.
• Operating temperature range: -55°C to +85°C for demanding field environments.

Features and Benefits

The sealed structure is a major benefit of this High Voltage DC Contactor. A hermetically sealed contact chamber helps protect the switching area from moisture, dust, oxidation, and environmental contamination. For outdoor-linked solar and storage equipment, this gives the HX21CAB High Voltage DC Contactor better suitability than an open switching device exposed to changing site conditions.

The 24VDC coil also makes the High Voltage DC Contactor easy to integrate into common automation and energy control systems. Many inverter cabinets, battery management controllers, and safety relay modules already provide 24V control power, so HX21CAB can be specified without adding a dedicated 12V or 48V control rail. The auxiliary contact feature is valuable because a High Voltage DC Contactor in a monitored system should not only receive a command; it should also provide confirmation that the commanded position is reflected in the contact feedback loop.

Another practical benefit is the compact HX21 format. The High Voltage DC Contactor supports 350A operation while remaining appropriate for space-sensitive equipment such as combiner boxes, inverter input bays, and modular battery enclosures. Stud terminals support robust power cabling, while wire leads help separate control wiring from the power path. This makes the High Voltage DC Contactor easier to place in a dense layout.

Applications

• Solar photovoltaic combiner boxes that require a compact High Voltage DC Contactor for 1500VDC strings.
• PV inverter DC input cabinets using a 24VDC control supply.
• Battery energy storage racks needing a 350A High Voltage DC Contactor with feedback.
• DC arc fault interrupter systems where monitored isolation is required.
• Battery pack disconnect circuits for high voltage DC service and protection loops.
• Test benches for solar, inverter, or battery modules that need repeatable High Voltage DC Contactor switching.
• Industrial DC distribution panels where 350A capacity is matched to the branch circuit.

Selection Guide

Select HX21CAB when the design needs a 350A High Voltage DC Contactor, a 1500VDC nominal switching class, a 24VDC coil, and auxiliary contact feedback. If the same equipment requires 400A current capacity, an HX24 series High Voltage DC Contactor may be a closer fit. If the control platform is built around 12V or 48V, confirm the coil suffix before ordering. If the design needs no auxiliary feedback, compare the exact suffix carefully because auxiliary contact configuration changes the monitoring behavior of the High Voltage DC Contactor.

For solar and inverter panels, confirm cable size, stud access, enclosure clearance, and controller input type before final selection. For battery systems, check precharge timing, fault current assumptions, contactor coordination, and BMS feedback requirements. A High Voltage DC Contactor should be selected as part of the full DC protection design, not only by matching current and voltage labels.

FAQ

Is HX21CAB suitable for 24V control cabinets?

Yes. HX21CAB uses a 24VDC coil, making this High Voltage DC Contactor suitable for many inverter, solar, battery, and industrial control cabinets that already use 24V auxiliary power.

What current and voltage class does HX21CAB support?

HX21CAB is listed as a 350A, 1500VDC nominal High Voltage DC Contactor, which makes it suitable for high voltage DC switching paths when applied within the system design limits.

Why are auxiliary contacts important?

Auxiliary contacts help the controller monitor contactor state. In a safety loop, a High Voltage DC Contactor with feedback is often preferred because the controller can compare the command signal with the contact feedback signal.

Where is HX21CAB most useful?

HX21CAB is most useful in PV inverter input circuits, battery rack disconnect circuits, combiner boxes, and compact high voltage DC systems where a 350A High Voltage DC Contactor is enough.

Conclusion

Sensata Gigavac HX21CAB is a compact 350A 1500VDC High Voltage DC Contactor for 24V-controlled solar, inverter, and battery switching systems. With auxiliary contacts, sealed construction, stud terminals, wire leads, and chassis mounting, this High Voltage DC Contactor gives equipment builders a practical balance of current rating, feedback capability, and installation flexibility. For branch-level renewable energy and battery disconnect designs, HX21CAB is a strong High Voltage DC Contactor choice when 350A capacity and 24V control are required.