Eaton’s Mobility Group announced at the ACT Expo in Las Vegas this week that it is expanding its Breaktor high-voltage circuit protection lineup, introducing a new single-pole version and enhanced safety features for electric vehicle systems.
The expansion includes 24-volt control options and a 35-kiloamp short-circuit interruption capacity for the company's dual-pole products. Eaton representatives said the new technologies are designed to give engineers more flexibility in tailoring safety and packaging for next-generation electric vehicles.
The single-pole Breaktor allows for the separation of battery poles and can be integrated with existing components like latching relays. Its low-resistance design is intended to reduce power loss and support faster charging speeds.
“Vehicle electrification is driving rapid changes in high-voltage system architecture, and OEMs need protection technologies that evolve just as quickly,” said Ben Karrer, director of power distribution and protection for Eaton’s Mobility Group.
Traditional EV architectures often rely on a mix of contactors, thermal fuses, and pyrotechnic disconnects. Eaton’s Breaktor combines these switching and protection functions into a single unit. Because the device is resettable, it can handle overloads or short circuits without requiring component replacement, which the company says improves vehicle uptime and reduces maintenance costs.
The company also announced that the Breaktor has achieved an ASIL-D classification, the highest functional safety rating in the automotive industry.
“As batteries become more powerful to enable faster charging and longer range, short-circuit current increases,” Karrer said. He noted that the device's ability to interrupt up to 35kA allows engineers to design higher-performance systems without increasing mechanical complexity.
To address the needs of the commercial trucking sector, Eaton introduced a 24-volt control interface. The addition allows the Breaktor to integrate seamlessly with heavy-duty trucks that utilize 24-volt auxiliary systems.
