contactor
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thumb|Tesys D Schneider Electric Contactor A contactor is a type of relay (electrically operated switch) with high power rating (current rating and voltage rating). Contactors usually refer to devices switching more than 15 amperes or in circuits rated more than a few kilowatts. Contactors are typically used to control electric motors (combination motor starters), lighting, heating, capacitor banks, thermal evaporators, and other electrical loads. The physical size of contactors ranges from a device small enough to pick up with one hand, to large devices approximately a meter on a side.
~14 min read
Encyclopedic overview
18 sectionsContents
- Differences between other electrical devices
- Circuit breaker
- Construction
- Operating principle
- Arc suppression
- Ratings
- IEC utilization categories
- NEMA
- Applications
- Lighting control
- Magnetic starter
- Vacuum contactor
- Mercury relay
- Mercury-wetted relay
- EV Charging
- Camshaft operation
- References
- External links
thumb|Tesys D Schneider Electric Contactor A contactor is a type of relay (electrically operated switch) with high power rating (current rating and voltage rating). Contactors usually refer to devices switching more than 15 amperes or in circuits rated more than a few kilowatts. Contactors are typically used to control electric motors (combination motor starters), lighting, heating, capacitor banks, thermal evaporators, and other electrical loads. The physical size of contactors ranges from a device small enough to pick up with one hand, to large devices approximately a meter on a side.
Contactors usually have provision for installation of additional contact blocks, rated for pilot duty, used in motor control circuits.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “contactor” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.