Question 1

What is the GV series and what is it designed for?

Accepted Answer

The GIGAVAC GV series is a hermetic DC contactor family delivering economical high performance. It preserves the quality standard of the flagship GX/MX/HX families in a more affordable package. Both ceramic and epoxy construction options enable application-specific cost/performance optimisation. It is designed for EV pre-charge, automotive power distribution, marine electrical systems, off-road vehicles, energy storage (ESS), forklift/AGV and hazardous-area industrial applications, covering 100 Vdc up to 1000 Vdc switching.

Question 2

How does the GV series differ from other GIGAVAC families?

Accepted Answer

The GV is built specifically for applications that need an economical solution.

• GX/MX/HX: flagship premium families — top features at premium cost.
• GV: economical yet high-performance — same hermetic quality, lower cost, broader application flexibility.

GV also offers both CERAMIC and EPOXY constructions for cost/performance tuning, and covers 100 V to 1000 V from a single family — a real sourcing advantage.

Question 3

Which GV models exist and what current/voltage do they cover?

Accepted Answer

GV spans 100 Vdc to 1000 Vdc switching with continuous current from 150 A to 500 A.

LOW VOLTAGE (100 V) — automotive and general power switching:
• GV12 — 200 A, EPOXY, NO
• GV14 — 400 A, EPOXY, NO + optional PWM
• GVL14 — 400 A, EPOXY, latching

MID-HIGH VOLTAGE (800 V) — EV pre-charge and industrial:
• GV22 — 200 A, EPOXY, NO
• GV200 — 500 A, CERAMIC, NO (EPIC® hermetic seal)
• GV24 — 400 A, CERAMIC, NO + PWM

HIGH VOLTAGE (900-1000 V) — ESS and HV distribution:
• GV21 — 150 A, 900 Vdc, CERAMIC, NO
• GV35 — 500 A, 1000 Vdc, EPOXY, external-PWM coil
• GVB35 — 500 A, 1000 Vdc, EPOXY, standard coil NO

Question 4

What is the difference between CERAMIC and EPOXY construction?

Accepted Answer

GV uses two insulation constructions:

• CERAMIC: GIGAVAC's patented EPIC® ceramic insulation. Preferred for high voltage and aggressive environments. GV200, GV21 and GV24 are ceramic.

• EPOXY: a more economical hermetic seal that delivers consistent industrial-grade performance. GV12, GV14, GVL14, GV22, GV35 and GVB35 are epoxy.

Both constructions retain hermetic sealing and the same protection class — only the structural insulation material differs.

Question 5

Can the GV series be used in hazardous locations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A key GV advantage is hazardous-location certification. It is approved to UL1604 Class I, II Division 2 and Class III. That makes it suitable for oil & gas operations, chemical plants, marine (SAE J1171 ignition protection, ISO8846 flammable-gas protection), explosive dust environments (flour, grain, coal) and aerospace sub-systems. Specific variants — notably GV200MB — are tailored for these applications.

Question 6

Which certifications does the GV series carry?

Accepted Answer

GV carries a broad certification set:

• UL508 — Industrial Control Equipment
• UL1604 — Hazardous Locations (Class I/II Division 2, Class III)
• MIL-STD-810G — salt-fog standard
• SAE J1171 — marine ignition protection
• ISO8846 — marine flammable-gas protection
• IATF-16949 — automotive quality management
• RoHS and CE Mark of Conformity

IATF-16949 makes GV the preferred choice in automotive OEM supply chains; UL1604 makes it the go-to family in hazardous-location industrial applications.

Question 7

What are the latching and PWM variants in the GV series?

Accepted Answer

Beyond the standard NO models GV includes smart variants:

• GVL14 — latching. A momentary coil pulse changes state; the contactor then holds position with no coil energy. Ideal for passive battery isolation, emergency disconnect and coil-power-critical duty.

• GV14, GV24, GV35 — PWM coil options. Full power on pick-up, reduced power on hold. Cuts annual energy consumption in always-on contactor applications. GV14 and GV24 use internal PWM; GV35 needs an external PWM driver.

Question 8

Which mounting types does the GV series offer?

Accepted Answer

GV offers four mounting options:

• 1 = Upright — standard underside panel mounting
• 2 = Side — side mounting, saves space in narrow panels
• 4 = PCB, M8 — direct PCB mounting
• 5 = PCB, M8 with barrier — PCB mounting with added barrier protection

The GV is position-independent — all models can be mounted in any orientation, giving designers panel-architecture freedom. The PCB options are especially valuable for manufacturers integrating contactors directly onto electronic boards.

Question 9

What is the difference between GV200 and GV200MB?

Accepted Answer

GV200 and GV200MB share the same body but target different segments:

• GV200 (GV200CB-1, GV200FAB-1, GV200MAB-1): standard 500 A, 800 Vdc EPIC® ceramic-insulated contactor for general industrial and EV use.

• GV200MB: the marine / hazardous-location version of GV200. Meets UL1604 Class I & II Division 2 and Class III, IP67 with at least 30 minutes of temporary submersion, SAE J1171 ignition protection and ISO8846 flammable-gas protection. Designed for boats, offshore platforms and chemical facilities.

Both models offer 500 A, 800 Vdc and 12/24 Vdc coil options.

Question 10

What is the GV35 External PWM and how is it used?

Accepted Answer

GV35 is a 500 A, 1000 Vdc EPOXY contactor that requires an external PWM driver — there is no internal PWM coil, so the system must implement the PWM drive circuit. This gives flexible coil-drive design (application-specific tuning), full control to the system engineer and a cost advantage (no internal PWM). A dedicated application note ("Driving the GV350 with External PWM") covers PWM circuit design. If you prefer internal PWM, evaluate the 800 V GV24; GVB35 is the standard-coil (non-PWM) version.

Question 11

How is the GV series used in EV pre-charge circuits?

Accepted Answer

GV is an ideal choice for EV pre-charge circuits. A typical pre-charge architecture uses:

• Main contactor: GV200 or GV24 (800 V class)
• Pre-charge contactor: GV12 or GV22 (low-current, for capacitor charging)
• Earth-isolation contactor: GVL14 (latching, for passive isolation)

System capacitance, battery voltage, target pre-charge time and inrush current are critical design parameters. IMB Electric blog posts cover the calculation methodology in detail. For system-level engineering support, contact our technical team.

Question 12

How is the GV series mounted and in which orientations?

Accepted Answer

GV is position-independent — it can be mounted in any orientation. Depending on the model, four mounting types are available: Upright (1), Side (2), PCB M8 (4) and PCB with barrier (5). Stainless-steel hardware and inserts give years of corrosion-free service in humid, salt-laden, vibrating and heavy-duty industrial environments. PCB versions are especially compact for board-level integration.

Question 13

What is the electrical life of the GV series?

Accepted Answer

Electrical life depends on load type, current, switching frequency and ambient temperature. Typical references: resistive load with up to 27 µH inductance — 100,000+ cycles; EV pre-charge (low current, high frequency) — 300,000+ cycles; industrial motor switching — 50,000-100,000 cycles. Always cross-check the datasheet curves against the actual application. Use a pre-charge circuit for capacitive loads, and keep current flow unidirectional (A1 → A2). For bidirectional duty, request a Sensata application review.

Question 14

What are the lead time and pricing for the GV series?

Accepted Answer

GV is one of GIGAVAC's most-stocked families. Standard variants (GV12, GV14, GV200, GV22) are usually available immediately; specialised variants (PWM coils, latching) may have a lead time. As GIGAVAC's authorised distributor in Türkiye, IMB Electric provides stock checks, pricing and technical support. Project-based volume orders qualify for special pricing and engineering assistance.

About the GV Series series

01What is the GV series and what is it designed for?

02How does the GV series differ from other GIGAVAC families?

03Which GV models exist and what current/voltage do they cover?

04What is the difference between CERAMIC and EPOXY construction?

05Can the GV series be used in hazardous locations?

06Which certifications does the GV series carry?

07What are the latching and PWM variants in the GV series?

08Which mounting types does the GV series offer?

09What is the difference between GV200 and GV200MB?

10What is the GV35 External PWM and how is it used?

11How is the GV series used in EV pre-charge circuits?

12How is the GV series mounted and in which orientations?

13What is the electrical life of the GV series?

14What are the lead time and pricing for the GV series?