WORKSHOP

ELECTRIC DRIVES
COMMON CONTROL DEVICE:
CONTACTOR
A contactor is an electrically-controlled switch
used for switching an electrical power circuit. It’s
designed to be directly connected to high-
current load devices.

Group 7
Nguyễn Trung Đức - 2052451
Trần Minh Long - 2052154
Phạm Quốc Hậu - 2052465
Nguyễn Đăng Khoa - 2052537
 TABLE OF CONTENT

01 Magnetic contactor 02 Solid-stat switching

Description of how a What does solid-state

magnetic contactor switching of contactors refer
operates to?

NEMA description of Which type of switching

magnetic contactor operations are the best suited
 01 Brief description of how magnetic contactor operates

The magnetic contactor is an electrical device that switching the current on or off
by changing the postion of moving contact with respect to the fixed contact when
the electromagnet created by the current passing through the coil.
02 NEMA Definition
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) defines a magnetic
contactor as a magnetically actuated device for repeatedly establishing or
interrupting an electric power circuit.

The main contacts are connected to the circuit to be governed. Ensuring the
establishment and interruption of the main currents and depending on the
number of currents paths, it may be bipolar, tri-polar, tetra polar, etc., maneuvers
being carried out simultaneously on all tracks.
There are two types of auxiliary contacts.
• Normally Open (NO)
• Normally Closed (NC)
These two types of contacts form part of the auxiliary circuit of the contactor. It
ensures the self-supply, controls, contact interlocks, and signaling in the
automation equipment.
02 NEMA Working principal
When voltage is applied to the terminals of the coil, the current flows through the
coil, creating a magnetic field. The coil, in turn, magnetizes the stationary iron
frame, turning it into an electromagnet. The electromagnet draws the armature
toward it, pulling the movable and stationary contacts together. Power then flows
through the contactor from the line side to the load side.
02 NEMA Working principal
Two-wire or three-wire control may be used to switch the motor. The two-wire
control circuit is commonly used in applications where the operation of a circuit is
automatic. This may include such applications as pumps, electric heating, and air
compressors where the pilot device starts the motor automatically as needed.
Three-wire control is similar to the two-wire circuit except it has an extra set of
contacts used to seal it in the circuit. The most common application for three-wire
control is a motor controlled by momentary start/stop push buttons. In this case
the push buttons must be pressed to energize or deenergize the contactor coil.
02 NEMA Definition

The figure shows a typical NEMA magnetic contactor used for switching
AC motor loads for which overload protection is not required or provided
separately.
 03 + 04 Solid-state switching of contactor and application

Solid-state switching refers to interruption

of power by nonmechanical electronic
means. It is made of semiconductor and
electronic components.

Static contactors are recommended in

applications that require a high switching
frequency, such as heating circuits, dryers,
single- and three-pole motors,
and other industrial applications.