GIGAVAC 12VDC Cell Contactor
Terms and Conditions
Orders Dispatched Within 24 hours - Excluding Weekends and Bank Holidays.
A GIGAVAC GV351 hermetically sealed contactor: 500 A continuous, rated to 1000 V DC, with a 12 V coil. Main traction contactor duty from a manufacturer whose parts are the reference for this job.
Breaking DC at pack voltage is what this part is for. Alternating current crosses zero a hundred times a second and any arc drawn on opening extinguishes itself. Direct current never does, so an arc struck at 1000 V keeps burning across separating contacts until something puts it out. An ordinary relay in this position welds, and a welded main contactor means a pack that can no longer isolate itself, which is the worst failure a high voltage system can have.
Hermetically sealed means the contacts live in a controlled atmosphere that quenches the arc as they part and that nothing ever gets into. That is what lets a device this size interrupt this much current, and why its performance does not drift across a million operations.
Contact resistance of 0.15 milliohms is the number that matters in normal running. At 500 A that is under 40 watts of heat in the contactor itself. A cheaper contactor with several times the resistance turns your main switch into a heater and a voltage drop.
The coil expects external PWM drive. It pulls in at full voltage and is then held closed on a reduced duty cycle, which is what keeps coil power and coil heat down for the hours it stays energised. Driving it with a plain 12 V feed is not the intended use and will run it hot.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer part | GIGAVAC GV351RPBX, by Sensata |
|---|---|
| Type | Hermetically sealed DC contactor, SPST normally open |
| Continuous current | 500 A |
| Rated voltage | Up to 1000 V DC |
| Coil voltage | 12 V DC, external PWM |
| Contact resistance | 0.15 milliohms typical |
| Ingress protection | IP67 and IP69K |
| Mechanical life | Over 1,000,000 operations |
| Weight | 0.4 kg |
Features
- 500 A continuous at up to 1000 V DC, which is full traction contactor duty
- Hermetically sealed with arc suppression, so it interrupts DC rather than welding
- 0.15 milliohm contacts, so it does not become a heater at full current
- IP67 and IP69K, for mounting anywhere in the vehicle
- Over a million mechanical operations
- GIGAVAC by Sensata, a part that can be specified on a vehicle needing approval
Compatibility
For EV traction packs, battery energy storage, industrial equipment and renewable installations up to 1000 V DC.
Drive the coil with PWM. Pull in at full voltage, then hold on a reduced duty cycle. Most contactor controllers do this; a bare 12 V feed does not.
Do not close it onto an empty DC link. A main contactor closed directly onto an inverter's capacitance draws an inrush that will damage even a contactor this good. Use a precharge resistor and a contactor controller.
In the box
- 1 x GIGAVAC GV351RPBX contactor
Downloads
The GIGAVAC GV350 series datasheet is in the Documents tab, with the full electrical ratings, the coil drive requirements and the derating curves.
Worldwide Shipping
Fellten offers worldwide shipping through trusted carriers including UPS, DHL, and pallet freight services. Whether you're a professional installer or a classic car enthusiast, we ensure your order is packed securely and delivered efficiently.
We are fully certified to ship dangerous goods, including lithium-ion batteries, in compliance with all international regulations.
For UK orders, most in-stock items are eligible for next working day delivery if placed before 12:00 PM. Orders placed after this time will be shipped on the next working day. Please note that all delivery estimates are stock-dependent, and you will be notified if any delays are expected.
Shipping costs are calculated at checkout based on your location and order details, so you’ll always have clear and accurate pricing before completing your purchase.
Payments are securely processed using Stripe. We accept all major credit and debit cards.
