Modular DIN-rail switchgear โ AC contactors, transfer switches, isolators, and timer relays in 17.5mm or 35mm modular widths โ is the workhorse of every modern distribution board. Unlike the larger LC1D-form-factor contactors used for motor starting (covered in our LC1D AC contactor guide), these compact modular devices live inside the consumer unit or distribution panel and switch lighting circuits, HVAC contactor loads, water heater circuits, and provide manual transfer for backup-power applications.
The market for modular DIN-rail switchgear is enormous and consistently growing โ driven by new commercial construction, residential electrical upgrades, hotel and apartment-building HVAC system installation, solar power transfer-switch retrofits, and ongoing replacement of aging panels in mature markets. Asinele's HCH8 modular contactor family and BSF transfer-switch range are positioned squarely in this market, cross-referenced to the major European and Asian brand families (Schneider iCT, ABB ESB, Hager ESC, Siemens Sirius modular).
Product range โ actual catalogue images
The product images below are hosted on the manufacturer's official website (asinele.com) and link directly to the manufacturer's catalogue. Click any image to view the full specification page in a new tab.
HCH8-25 4P modular AC contactor โ 25A 4-pole DIN-rail mount for lighting/HVAC switching.
View on supplier site โ
HCH8-63 2P modular AC contactor โ 63A 2-pole, single-phase load switching.
View on supplier site โ
HCH8-63 4P modular AC contactor โ 63A 4-pole, three-phase load switching.
View on supplier site โ
HCH8-100 4P modular AC contactor โ 100A 4-pole, heavy lighting and motor circuits.
View on supplier site โ
BSF-163 manual change-over switch โ 1-0-2 transfer for backup power circuits, 63A.
View on supplier site โProduct family โ modular DIN-rail switchgear
| Product family | Function | Module width | Capacity range | Typical FOB China unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modular AC contactor (HCH8 series) | Switch lighting / HVAC / heater loads via 230V coil | 1-3 modules (17.5-52.5mm) | 16-100A, 1P/2P/3P/4P | USD 3.50-12.50 |
| Modular impulse relay | Latching relay for staircase / corridor lighting | 1 module | 16-32A, 1P/2P | USD 4.50-9.00 |
| Modular timer relay | Time-delay switching, 0.1s to 100h ranges | 1-2 modules | 16-32A multi-function | USD 6.50-18.00 |
| Modular changeover switch (BSF) | Manual 1-0-2 transfer between two power sources | 1-3 modules | 16-160A, 1P-4P | USD 5.50-32.00 |
| Modular isolator switch | On/Off isolation for circuit maintenance | 1-2 modules | 16-125A, 1P-4P | USD 3.00-14.00 |
| Modular phase-failure relay | 3-phase voltage and sequence monitor | 1 module | 3-phase 380-415V | USD 8.50-22.00 |
| Modular over-/under-voltage relay | Voltage-out-of-range protection | 1 module | 1-phase 230V | USD 6.00-15.00 |
HCH8 modular contactor โ model decoding
Asinele's HCH8 series follows the standard modular contactor naming convention used across the industry:
| Code position | Meaning | Example values |
|---|---|---|
| HCH8 | Series identifier (modular AC contactor) | HCH8 = base series; HCH8N = with manual override; HCH8L = with indicator |
| -XX (rated current) | Maximum continuous current | 16, 20, 25, 32, 40, 63, 80, 100A |
| -XP (pole count) | Number of switching poles | 1P, 2P, 3P, 4P |
| Pole configuration | NO/NC contact mix | 4NO (all normally-open), 2NO+2NC, 3NO+1NC, etc. |
| Coil voltage | Control coil voltage | 24V AC, 110V AC, 220V AC, 230V AC, 240V AC, 380V AC |
Standard pole configurations and their applications:
| Configuration | Typical use case | Wiring |
|---|---|---|
| 2P, 2NO | Single-phase resistive load (water heater, electric heater, single-phase motor) | L-N switching, both poles open in OFF state |
| 2P, 1NO+1NC | Single-phase with auxiliary signal contact | Main load + status feedback to controller |
| 3P, 3NO | Three-phase motor without star-delta | L1, L2, L3 switching |
| 4P, 4NO | Three-phase with neutral switching (TT or IT earthing systems) | L1, L2, L3, N switching |
| 4P, 2NO+2NC | Reversing duty (cooling/heating mode switching) | Two changeover circuits |
Cross-reference to Schneider, ABB, Hager equivalents
| Asinele HCH8 model | Schneider iCT equivalent | ABB ESB equivalent | Hager ESC equivalent | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCH8-25/2P 2NO | iCT25A 2NO (A9C20832) | ESB25-20 | ESC227 | 16-25A single-phase load |
| HCH8-25/4P 4NO | iCT25A 4NO (A9C20834) | ESB25-40 | ESC447 | 16-25A three-phase + neutral |
| HCH8-40/4P 4NO | iCT40A 4NO (A9C20844) | ESB40-40 | ESC440 | 40A three-phase load |
| HCH8-63/2P 2NO | iCT63A 2NO (A9C20862) | ESB63-20 | ESC263S | 40-63A single-phase heavy load |
| HCH8-63/4P 4NO | iCT63A 4NO (A9C20864) | ESB63-40 | ESC463S | 40-63A three-phase + neutral |
| HCH8-100/4P 4NO | iCT100A 4NO (A9C20874) | ESB100-40 | ESC480 | 80-100A three-phase heavy load |
BSF transfer switches โ manual changeover for backup power
The BSF series provides a modular DIN-rail mounting solution for manual transfer between two power sources โ typically utility (mains) and backup (generator or solar). The 1-0-2 lever positions correspond to:
- Position 1 (mains) โ load powered from utility supply
- Position 0 (off) โ load disconnected from both sources
- Position 2 (backup) โ load powered from generator or solar inverter
Mechanical interlock prevents both sources from connecting simultaneously โ this is a safety requirement to prevent backfeeding to the utility grid (which would energize utility lines downstream and create lethal hazard for line workers).
| BSF Model | Capacity | Pole config | Typical application | FOB China |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSF-125 | 25A | 1P or 2P | Single-room solar backup; small generator transfer | USD 5.50-9.50 |
| BSF-140 | 40A | 2P or 4P | Apartment-level solar transfer; small home generator | USD 8.50-14.00 |
| BSF-163 | 63A | 2P or 4P | Mid-size home generator (5-15 kVA); standard home solar | USD 12.00-22.00 |
| BSF-1100 | 100A | 2P or 4P | Large home / small commercial backup | USD 18.00-32.00 |
| BSF-1160 | 160A | 4P | Light commercial / small industrial backup | USD 26.00-42.00 |
Manual transfer vs automatic transfer (ATS)
BSF series is a manual transfer switch โ operator physically moves the lever to switch sources. This is the simplest, most reliable, and least expensive approach. Automatic transfer switches (ATS) sense utility loss and switch automatically โ these are USD 80-450 for the same capacity range, plus require power for the control circuit.
For most residential and small commercial applications, manual transfer is sufficient and preferred โ it eliminates ATS controller failures, doesn't require continuous control power, and forces a deliberate operator action that confirms backup power is available before transferring. For applications where automatic switching is critical (data centers, hospitals, telecommunications), use a true ATS, not a BSF series manual switch.
Coil voltage selection โ common configurations
Modular contactor coil voltage must match the control supply available in the panel. Common configurations:
| Coil voltage | Typical use case | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| 230V AC | Standard for European, Middle East, Africa, Asia | Most common; energizes from same supply as load |
| 110-120V AC | North America, parts of Asia (Philippines, Japan) | Verify exact destination market voltage |
| 24V AC or 24V DC | Building automation, industrial control panels | Lower coil power; better for densely-packed panels with heat concerns |
| 380-415V AC | Three-phase coil, no neutral required | Less common; used in industrial settings without neutral reference |
Pricing brackets โ what you should pay
| Quality tier | Build quality | Service life | FOB China per unit (HCH8-63 4P) | Premium brand equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium aftermarket-fit | Silver-tin contacts, full-housing flame retardant V-0, IEC 61095 compliant | 1,000,000+ operations electrical, 30,000,000+ mechanical | USD 8.50-12.50 | Schneider iCT63A: USD 65-120 |
| Standard wholesale | Silver-cadmium contacts, V-1 flame retardant housing | 500,000-800,000 operations electrical | USD 5.50-8.50 | โ |
| Budget | Brass contacts, basic plastic housing | 100,000-300,000 operations electrical | USD 2.50-5.50 | โ |
Required certifications by destination market
| Market | Required certification | Test standard |
|---|---|---|
| European Union | CE marking, RoHS | IEC 61095, EN 61095, EN 60947-4-1 |
| UK | UKCA marking (post-Brexit) | BS EN 61095 |
| Russia / EAEU | EAC certificate | GOST IEC 61095 |
| USA | UL listing for residential/commercial use | UL 508 / UL 60947-4-1 |
| Saudi Arabia | SASO certificate | SASO 1825 / IEC 61095 |
| South Africa | NRCS letter of authority | SANS / IEC 61095 |
| Brazil | INMETRO seal | NBR IEC 60947-4-1 |
| Mexico | NOM certification | NOM-003-SCFI / IEC 61095 |
Container loading โ distribution wholesale economics
| Order tier | MOQ (mixed SKUs) | Discount | Container utilization | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sample / dealer trial | 20-50 pcs each SKU | List price; air courier | DHL / FedEx | 3-7 days |
| Small distributor | 2000-5000 pcs total | 10-18% off | 20' container LCL | 15-25 days |
| Mid distributor | 10000-25000 pcs total | 18-30% off | 20' or 40' container | 25-40 days |
| Large distributor / private label | 50000+ pcs total | 30-42% off | 40HQ container x N | 40-60 days |
A 40HQ container holds approximately 30,000-50,000 modular contactors and switches โ these are small and lightweight (typical packaged unit: 200-400g for a 4P contactor). For a new electrical wholesaler, a typical first container mixes 50-150 SKUs covering the highest-velocity ratings (16A, 25A, 40A, 63A in 2P and 4P) plus a basic transfer switch range.
Order workflow โ distributor procurement
- Local market analysis โ establish dominant electrical infrastructure (220-240V single-phase or 380-415V three-phase, TT/TN/IT earthing systems, common installation practices)
- SKU list inquiry โ provide cross-reference list of competitor part numbers (Schneider iCT, ABB ESB, Hager ESC); supplier returns FOB pricing, MOQ, lead time, certification options
- Sample order โ 20-50 pcs each of top 30-50 SKUs by air courier; functional test on bench (continuity, coil pickup voltage, mechanical operation cycling)
- Certification verification โ verify CE, RoHS, or destination-market certification (SASO / NOM / INMETRO / etc.) is current and valid for the SKUs ordered
- First container order โ 5000-15000 pcs total mixed across 50-150 SKUs based on local electrical practice and typical building installation patterns
- Series replenishment โ establish quarterly replenishment cycles; fast movers shift to monthly air freight on top-up basis