ALSTOM VAJX11BP5243BA – High‑speed Auxiliary/Trip Relay for Protection Panels

The ALSTOM VAJ series has long been a go-to for robust tripping and auxiliary functions in protection schemes. The model VAJX11BP5243BA fits that lineage: a fast, heavy-duty relay typically used to drive circuit breaker trip coils, seal-in logic, and interlock signals in substations and industrial switchgear. From my experience, it drops right into legacy ALSTOM/AREVA panels and tends to play nicely with modern retrofit cabinets too, which keeps project risk low.

Company’s Order Placement Process and Guarantees

• Warranty: 365 days
• Lead time: 1 week if in stock; no more than 1 month at the latest
• Payment: 50% advance payment, full payment prior to delivery
• Express delivery: FedEx, UPS, DHL

Key Features

• High-speed trip duty – Designed for protection schemes where milliseconds matter; typically used to operate breaker trip coils or seal-in circuits.
• Heavy make/break capability – Handles inductive loads reliably, which you’ll notice reduces nuisance contact wear in many cases.
• Dry contact outputs – Clean changeover contacts suitable for low-level signalling and higher duty trip circuits.
• Proven VAJ platform – A long-standing ALSTOM design still favored for retrofit projects where compatibility and predictable performance are key.
• Panel/draw-out mounting – Typically supplied in a flush-mount/draw-out case with screw terminals for straightforward panel integration and service.
• Coil options for DC control – Commonly 110 V DC in utility panels; other coils exist across the VAJ family, so we confirm against the relay label before shipping.

Technical Specifications

Application Fields

You’ll typically see the VAJ series in transmission and distribution substations, power plant switchboards, industrial MCCs, and OEM protection panels. Common tasks include trip coil actuation from protective relays, breaker fail and seal-in logic, interlocking, DC control signal duplication, and alarm fan-out. One thing I appreciate is how consistently it behaves with inductive loads in breaker trip circuits—saves time during FAT/SAT.

Advantages & Value

• Reliability in protection duty – Built for frequent operations and high inrush, which seems to reduce post-commissioning tweaks.
• Compatibility – Good drop-in fit for ALSTOM/AREVA legacy panels; simplifies retrofit timelines.
• Lifecycle cost – Durable contacts and straightforward spare parts mean fewer outages and lower maintenance in many cases.
• Support – We verify coil voltage and contact configuration against the tag before shipment to avoid site mismatches.

Installation & Maintenance

• Mounting – Install in a clean, ventilated control cabinet; allow adequate depth for the draw-out case and front wiring access.
• Wiring – Use appropriately rated DC control wiring (commonly 1.5–2.5 mm²). Observe coil voltage/polarity for DC. Add a diode or RC snubber across the coil to reduce contact arcing.
• Safety – Isolate the DC control supply before service. Verify trip circuits are de-energized and tagged out.
• Routine checks – Test pickup/dropout annually, inspect terminals for tightness, clean dust from the case/contacts, and measure contact resistance if switching critical trip duty.
• Spares – Keep at least one identical relay on hand per panel section. From customer feedback, a spare reduces outage restoration by 30–60 minutes during fault investigations.

Quality & Certifications

• Manufactured under ISO 9001 quality systems (typical for ALSTOM grid products).
• CE conformity typically applicable for panel components; RoHS conformity where required by region.
• One-year warranty provided by us (365 days).

Quick note from a recent retrofit: a utility client replacing mixed auxiliary relays reported the VAJ unit latched and reset consistently during trip circuit supervision tests—no bounce or nuisance alarms—so the commissioning team finished early. That kind of predictable behavior is why this model remains a safe choice for protection panels.