The requirements for safety devices in power-operated door systems have changed significantly with the revision of EN 12453. The focus is on reliable monitoring of safety-related components and the early detection of faults within the safety circuit.
As a result, slack rope switches and wicket door switches with short-circuit or cross-fault monitoring are increasingly being used today. The GIGAcontrol A from SOMMER supports both traditional safety switches with N.C. contacts and modern safety switches with 8.2 kΩ monitoring.
Why Is Cross-Fault Monitoring Required?
Many existing door systems are equipped with slack rope switches or wicket door switches featuring simple normally closed (N.C.) contacts. These can still be connected to and monitored by the GIGAcontrol A.
However, modern safety requirements go a step further. Particularly for safety devices connected via moving cables, additional fault detection is required. This typically applies to the coiled cable located between the door and the control unit.
A cross-fault refers to an unintended electrical connection between two conductors. Such faults can occur due to mechanical stress, wear, or cable damage. If these faults are not detected, the functionality of the safety circuit may be compromised.
Safety switches with cross-fault monitoring enable enhanced supervision of the safety circuit and allow additional fault conditions to be detected at an early stage. This increases the operational safety of industrial door systems.
Support for 8.2 kΩ Safety Switches
For applications requiring cross-fault monitoring, the GIGAcontrol A supports safety switches with an 8.2 kΩ resistor.
This makes the control unit suitable both for modernizing existing installations and for new door systems where current safety requirements must be taken into account.
Supported safety devices on the GIGAcontrol A
- Slack rope switches with N.C. contacts
- Wicket door switches with N.C. contacts
- Slack rope switches with 8.2 kΩ resistor
- Wicket door switches with 8.2 kΩ resistor
Easy Integration into Existing Systems
A dedicated wiring diagram is available for connecting slack rope and wicket door switches with an 8.2 kΩ resistor. This allows modern safety switches to be easily integrated into the safety concept of the door system.
The combination of broad compatibility and support for current safety standards makes the GIGAcontrol A a flexible solution for operators, planners, and installers of industrial door systems.
Outlook: GIGAcontrol A S2 Expands the Possibilities
With the market launch of the GIGAcontrol A S2 in autumn 2026, the integration of safety devices will become even more flexible.
The new control unit supports resistance values from 1 kΩ to 30 kΩ, enabling it to evaluate a wide range of commonly available safety switches. This opens up additional possibilities for planning new installations and modernizing existing door solutions.
Conclusion
By supporting slack rope and wicket door switches with 8.2 kΩ cross-fault monitoring, the GIGAcontrol A meets the requirements of modern industrial door systems. At the same time, compatibility with existing safety switches using N.C. contacts is maintained. This provides investment security and enables a gradual transition to current safety standards.