Questions tagged [contactor]
A contactor, like a relay, is an electrically controlled switch. Contactors generally have higher voltage and current ratings than relays, but the ratings overlap with no specific dividing line. Contactors are intended to control the power supplied to motors, electrical heaters, groups of lights and other loads that require an undefined level of "high power." The word "contactor" is essentially defined by its use in product literature.
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Why is my 3-phase power giving me two 180 V phases and a 40 V phase?
I have 3-phase power hooked up to my building. I also have solar panels feeding the grid. Most of the power in the building is functioning normally. I tested the phases with a multimeter and got 120 - ...
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New contactor makes noise
I have a HVAC control panel that controls 2 split unit and 2 exhaust fan via Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP). FACP sends start-up signal to all the contactors (coil 380V see joined figure) that work ...
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How to control relays via KNX?
I'm trying a cost-effective way of controlling conventional non-KNX relays (impulse, solid state, bistable, contactors) with KNX devices/controllers, and am not having much luck. It seems that while ...
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Can a contactor give an inductive kickback?
I have a ZBMINI (not -L) and use it to toggle my heating (2kW). In between I put a contactor because I trust it to be more safe. The problem is that sometimes it toggles a few times extra. Depending ...
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Coil suppression: Zener + diode: how to minimize the negative voltage?
I have come across these two app notes:
Coil Suppression Can Reduce Relay Life
Application of Coil Suppression with DC Relays
Both of them agree on the fact that a common diode + Zener diode in ...
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Does it matter how HV contactor is connected?
I have these contactors for my DC application. I never cared about which terminal to connect to HV, because I treated them like any mechanical switch (or 12V automotive relay).
But recently I noticed ...
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Solid state relay (contactor) and polarity/direction of current for its output
I'm looking at a Crydom HDC100D160. This picture is really all the detail the datasheet provides as far as usage.
On the output side, does the polarity for my DC equipment or the direction of charge ...
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Which would be better to control a 1 hp, 6 A water pump motor? Time relay or magnetic contactor?
Usually to control our water pump motor, we have to turn the switch on, wait for 15-20 minutes and then turn the switch off. Often times someone forgets to turn the motor off. I want the motor to turn ...
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Non-overlap time in auxiliary contacts on contactors
As long as I have tested, my standard contactors such as Schneider TeSys LC1D32A are equipped with (13-14) NO and (21-22) NC contacts, which never close simultaneously.
For this device, the auxiliary ...
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Can you use a 12V lead acid battery to switch a contactor?
So I'm making a manual precharge circuit for a solar car's motor controllers, and need to use a 12 V source to switch a contactor on/off thus switching between a resistive path and a short circuit ...
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Using High Power Relays to Actuate an AC Motor
I want to remove the need for contactors in a motor application. Currently we are using a 1.5HP (1.1KW) motor and actuating it via a contactor.
I have a PCB I am designing and want to use the ...
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DC Vacuum Contactor Coil - Failed Close
I am using a 350A DC, normally open vacuum contactor that experiences a failure while the contactor is closed (coil energized by 24VDC) for an industrial 1000VDC application. The manifests as the ...
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Problem with using 8 channel 433mhz 12 v relay module to control an overhead crane [closed]
I have recently tried to retrofit an existing overhead crane with a 8 channel 433mhz 12 v relay module with a receiver and a transmitter I bought online. My existing crane already has a button pendant ...
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Is a change-over-switch with a VFD dangerous?
We are using a variable frequency drive (VFD) with a compressor. We added a rotary cam changeover switch (600 V/50 Hz, picture is attached) in between the compressor and the motor. The purpose of ...
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An alternative to CADe SIMU
CADe SIMU is a industrial circuit drawning and simulation software.
I have troubles with the icons size and some bugs, so I am looking for an alternative to CADe SIMU.
I found good softwares to draw ...
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Should I use a contactor of 9 Amps, 12 Amps, or 18 Amps? [closed]
I am developing an hidronic project.
Currently the circuits consists of:
Water pump 60 watts
Digital timer 16 amps
Bipolar Thermal magnetic 6 Amps
The energy comes from the thermal magnetic and ...
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Controlling a kiln with PID and old magnetic contactor
I have retrofitted an old 240V/16A kiln with a controller consisting of an INKBIRD ITC-100VH, a FOTEK SSR-40 and K-type thermocouple in line with VegOilGuy's guide:
https://www.vegoilguy.co.uk/...
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Should battery be disconnected on both terminals?
I am building an EV and I was wondering, should I disconnect only positive or both main HV battery terminals? Which option do car manufacturers use? I don't see any disadvantages with disconnecting ...
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Motor Controller doesn't precharge
I want to include a precharge resistor in parallel with my contactor to charge up the capacitors on my motor controller. This way, there won't be a large in-rush current through the contactor when I ...
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The current that an AC3 contactor can support
I am constructing an ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch) for a diesel generator with a max current of 300 A. Now I already have an AC3 contactors with Ith = 100 A and I don't want to waste the money on ...
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Can an arc happen if only one contact on multiple parallel batteries disconnects?
If there are multiple high voltage batteries in parallel, and one of the contacts is unreliable and disconnects sometimes, does the other contact take away the arcing potential, since it's always on?
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Why do contactors have lower withstanding current for signaling than power circuits?
Suppose this contactor by Schneider LC1D115.
I don't understand why it has a lower withstand current for signaling circuits when it can handle 10X the amount of current for power circuit on the same ...
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Mains safety shutoff
I have a problem. I have a sensor in a piece of equipment that needs to switch off that equipment if it detects a dangerous gas. The equipment must remain off until a manual reset is applied. What ...
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How do I protect a contactor in arc weld circuit from wear?
I have a load banker (a toaster run by a 100 - 800 amp 10 - 40 V DC welder with non contact amp and volt sensors built in). I am trying to make an arc flash prevention unit for it. Relay control with ...
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How do you prevent feedback in a relay or contactor (120V coil, 120V contacts) when coil and contact are both connected to one source?
I have a 2NO 2NC 120V coil, up to 400V contacts contactor. (Electrodepot 934022) I need to power both the coil at 120V and the contacts at 120V from the same source. Manufacturer says this is not ...
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Detect the state On/Off a DC 12V single coil latch relay
A LiFePo4 charging/discharging circuit (12 V, 200 Ah, 100 A max) is protected by a single coil latching relay with manual override. This relay is controlled by an ATMega328 (through a FET with flyback ...
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Problem figuring star delta starter circuit
I know the basic functioning of star delta motor starter configuration but kind of stuck on my current project which uses old L&T starter panel. I can't figure out the terminals like A1, A2 (coil ...
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When does an electrical product get an RU (Underwriters Laboratories) certified mark?
If you take an example of contactor, it can be used in residential, industrial, electric vehicle applications etc.
Let's say the contactor has passed the UL standards corresponding to the industrial ...
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Duration of inrush current for high pressure sodium lamp with electronic balast
I'm trying to find reliable information regarding the duration of inrush current for high pressure sodium lamps with electronic ballasts.
This document states that:
"In reality, due to the ...
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MOSFET instead of a contactor in Battery Management Systems (BMS)
For relatively high current systems (>50 A) with Lithium based batteries, I've seen that usually BMS controls the output with contactors for both main supply and precharge. Why not use a high ...
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Isolated Triac Driving on Low RMS Current Load
I'm trying to drive a triac to control contactors. Here is the circuit I'm using:
I have 3 different contactors which has series resistances like: 200R, 550R, 1.4k
When using contactors with 200R and ...
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Estimating the power usage of a contactor
I'm trying to figure out the energy cost of the Hartland HCC family datasheet of contactors, in an application where they are pretty much active (contacts closed) 24/7.
I understand that in an AC ...
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Contactor rating with capacitive load, how to compute the maximum allowed capacitance?
Considering this:
simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
V1 is a beefy battery - it will happily provide 1000A or more;
RLY1 is a beefy contactor, the LEV200 series, rated ...
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can I rewind a 220 volts coil into 24 volts?
My machine's magnetic contactor needs replacement but it's quite difficult to buy a 24 volt coil magnetic contactor. Can I purchase a 220volt coil magnetic contactor and rewind the 220v coil into 24 ...
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Help with high-current DC switching
I need to remotely switch a 48 V battery that is supplying a 15 A load (which is slightly inductive), as part of a low voltage protection circuit for a PV solar system.
Am familiar with the challenges ...
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Meaning of symbols used in ABB contactor circuit
The picture below is a power circuit for a direct-on-line starter, given in any ABB catalog for contactor. Q1 is a manual motor started with overcurrent protection.
My question is
What is the meaning ...
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How to size The DOL Motor Starter knowing that the motor is a part winding start motor
I have a BITZER compressor type 4GE-23Y-40P, with a part winding start option of the motor
Nennspannung = nominal voltage = 380-420
Frequ = frequency = 50
Betr. strom = maximal operating current = 43....
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How does a contactor holding work?
If I'm correct, AN in below picture is an electromagnet.
When the switch S is pushed, the electromagnet AN connects L1 to T1 and L2 to T2.
When the switch S is released, the electromagnet AN ...
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High voltage contactor EMC circuit
I am using a 12V relay to drive high voltage contactors. The contactor coil causes EMC when turned off. I am uncertain of which circuit I should use for reducing the EMC. Is there even any difference ...
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Using three-phase contactor with single-phase motor
If using a contactor for three- phase motors with a single-phase motor, can just the hot (120 V) line be passed through the contactor, with the neutral and ground bypassing it? I believed the concept ...
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Unsure if motor starter (contactor + overload) is needed instead of normal solid state relay
I am designing a system with several pumps ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 HP (all single phase) and am unsure of what kind of circuitry I need. I researched different motor contactors and overloads I could ...
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Starter for Sump Pump
I'm trying to determine proper circuitry for starting a sump pump, but am unsure of what components I need. Originally was going to just use a relay, but have read suggestions for contactor+overload ...
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What is the purpose of these coils in contactor auxiliary contacts?
Can someone please tell me what the function of this module, and more specifically, the curley wires on top of this contactor? It looks like the wires go to the same terminals as the main contactor ...
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\$\mu\$ Symbol on a Relay Module's Nameplate
One of our customers gave us a sample product for inspection. It has a relay output for 220V loads (e.g. fan, bulb, etc.)
Just out of curiosity, what is the meaning of the \$\mu\$ symbol here?
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How to control one motor with two float switches
I have 2 tanks , one is under another and hopes to pump from under tank to upper one using a 0.5 Hp single phase motor.By connecting float switches for both tank,can I control the motor to turn on ...
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DC Relay overrated for max. 100ms
In my case I need a relay to switch continous 0.5A at 24V DC, but in time of closing the contacts there will occour an inrush current from the further circuit of 6A, but only for max. 100ms because ...
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What kind of contactor or device do I need to keep a contactor closed until power draw of the primary circuit is complete?
I have an application where I need to signal a start by sending a 120V signal to the contactor, so it will close a 208V 3 pole circuit. The load on the circuit will run for an unspecified amount of ...
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Can I use solid state output and relay output with the same components?
So I have a OTB1E0DM9LP Schinder Electric I/O distributed module and I want use it'output to control some 24v electro-valve's and some 24V contactors.
The module have
2 Solid-state outputs of 24V 0....
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Using PID relay to drive multiple contactors
I am a physicist by training but have been tasked with designing a heating controller box for a custom application that will be used in an industrial setting. I would like to make sure that I am ...
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What is the coil voltage of this contactor?
Sorry for dummy question but I don't know how to identify the coil voltage necessary to activate this contactor?
Thank you
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