11/6/2020 Contactor vs Relay: What's the Difference?

CONTACTORS VS RELAYS: WHAT’S THE

DIFFERENCE?
Posted June 18, 2018 by springercontrols

There is a lot of confusion around the industry about the difference between contactors and
relays and many times the terms are used nearly interchangeably. The defining differences
are not always clear, so we thought we’d try and help sort out the answer.

According to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers:

Relay – “A device by means of which contacts in one circuit are operated by a change
in conditions in the same circuit or in one or more associated circuits”

Contactor – “A device for repeatedly establishing and interrupting an electric circuit

under normal conditions”

What Makes Contactors Different from Relays?

The textbook definitions are similar enough it doesn’t really help us. Both perform the same
task of switching a circuit! So What really differentiates the two devices?

1. Load Capacity

Relays are generally classified as carrying loads of 10A or less, while a contactor would be
used for loads greater than 10A, but this definition, while simple, gives an incomplete
picture. It leaves out any physical differences, or standards.

2. Open/Closed Contact Standards

Contactors are almost exclusively designed to operate with normally open (Form A)
contacts. Relays on the other hand can and often are both Normally Open and/or Normally
Closed depending on the desired function. This means that with a contactor, when it is de-
energized there is (typically) no connection. With a relay there very well could be.

3. Auxiliary Contacts
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11/6/2020 Contactor vs Relay: What's the Difference?

To confuse things a bit, contactors are often fitted with auxiliary contacts which can be NO
or NC however these are used to perform additional functions related the control of the
contactor.  For example, the contactor may transmit power to the motor, while the auxiliary
contact is in the control circuit of the motor starter and commonly used to turn on a pilot light
indicating the motor is operating.

4. Safety Features (Spring-Loaded Contacts)

Because contactors are typically carrying high loads, they often contain additional safety
features like spring-loaded contacts to help ensure the circuit is broken when de-energized.
This is important because in high load situations contacts can weld themselves together.
This can create the dangerous situation of a circuit being energized when it is supposed to
be off. Spring-loaded contacts help to reduce this chance, as well as ensure all circuits are
broken at the same time. Since relays are typically for lower power, spring-loaded contacts
are much less common.

5. Safety Features (Arc Suppression)

Another safety feature commonly included in contactors, due to the high loads they typically
carry, is arc suppression. Magnetic arc suppression works by extending the path an arc
would have to travel. If this distance is extended further than the energy can overcome, the
arc is suppressed. Since relays aren’t designed for high loads, arcing is less of a concern
and arc suppression is much less common on relays.

6. Safety Features (Overloads)

Lastly, contactors are commonly connected to overloads that will interrupt the circuit if the
current exceeds a set threshold for a selected time period, usually 10-30seconds. This is to
help protect the equipment downstream of the contactor from damage due to current.
Overloads are much less common on relays.

Contactor vs Relay Applications

Contactors are typically built for and used in 3-phase applications where a relay is more
commonly used in single phase applications. A contactor joins 2 poles together, without a
common circuit between them, while a relay has a common contact that connects to a
neutral position. Additionally, contactors are commonly rated for up to 1000V, while relays
are usually rated to only 250V.

Choosing Between Contactors and Relays for Your

Application
When selecting between the two, some very general rules you can follow to help

When to Use a Relay:

10A or less current

Up to 250VAC
1 phase

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11/6/2020 Contactor vs Relay: What's the Difference?

When to Use a Contactor:

9A or more current
Up to 1000VAC
1 or 3 phase

Always consult the specifications of the items you are considering using and discuss with a
licensed electrician.  This is for informational purposes only.

In practice, you should be looking at the function as well.  For any circuit where an overload
condition could occur, and a failure to de-energize the circuit will create a dangerous
condition, then a contactor is likely the best choice because of the additional safety
features.  For switching low power, when the additional safety features of a contactor are not
necessary, a relay is typically the more economical choice.

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