Contactor Sizes and Ratings

Magnetic contactors are rated by NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) according to the contactors ability to carry rated current for 8 hours without overheating according to size and type of load to be controlled.

 Magnetic contactors are also rated for the type of load to be utilized or actual applications. Load utilization categories include : Nonlinear load Resistive loads Inductive loads Capacitive loads

 Enclosed magnetic contactors must be housed in an approved enclosure based on the environment in which they must operate to provide mechanical and electrical protection. More severe environments require more substantial enclosures. Sever environment factors to be considered include: o Exposure to damaging fumes o Operation in damp place o Exposure to excessive dust o Subject to vibration, shocks, and tilting o Subject to high ambient air temperature.

 There are two general types of enclosures: 1. nonhazardous-location, are further subdivided into the following categories: General-purpose Watertight Oiltight Dusttight 2. hazardous-location, are classified into two categories: Gaseous vapors Combustible dusts

Solid-state Contactor
A solid-state contactor is a power-switching device designed to replace magnetic contactors for application involving both resistive and inductive loads. Solid-state three-phase contactors are especially suited to high-cycling applications owing to the absence of arc-producing air gap contacts.

 Silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCRs) is the most common high-power switching semiconductor that enable reliable control of electric power from 1 kW to 1000 kW for most types of resistance heaters, motors, and other inductive loads. Two SCRs connected in inverse-parallel are necessary to switch ac power

Zero-fired control refers to turning on the SCRs at the zero voltage crossing for full cycles, applying full power or no power with the proportion of full cycles, or determining the resulting power to the load. This is some times called integral cycle mode or burst firing