CONTACTORS

CONTACTORS
 Designed to connect high current devices from power
supply.
 Devices switching more than 15 ampere or more uses
contactors
 is a large relay, usually used to switch current to an
electric motor or other high-power load.
How does contactor works?
 When current is passed through the contactor, the
electromagnet starts to build up, producing a
magnetic field. Thus the core of the contactor starts to
wind up. This process helps in energizing the moving
contact. Thus the moving and fixed contacts make a
short circuit. Thus the current is passed through them
to the next circuit. The armature coil brings in high
current in the initial position. This reduces as soon as
the metal core enters the coil. When the current is
stopped, the coil gets de-energized and thus the
contacts get open circuited.
Types of Contactors
Lighting control
 Contactors are often used to provide central control of
large lighting installations, such as an office building
or retail building. To reduce power consumption in the
contactor coils, latching contactors are used, which
have two operating coils. One coil, momentarily
energized, closes the power circuit contacts, which are
then mechanically held closed; the second coil opens
the contacts.
Magnetic starter
 A magnetic starter is a device designed to provide
power to electric motors. It includes a contactor as an
essential component, while also providing power-
cutoff, under-voltage, and overload protection.
Vacuum contactor
 Vacuum contactors utilize vacuum bottle encapsulated
contacts to suppress the arc. This arc suppression
allows the contacts to be much smaller and use less
space than air break contacts at higher currents. As the
contacts are encapsulated, vacuum contactors are used
fairly extensively in dirty applications, such as mining.
 Advantage
 homogenizes or balances out
changes in electrical frequency
which may come from a power
supply as well as to act as a
safeguard.
 enable machines in heavy
industries to be automatically
shut down and started.
 contactors cut off current in the
event of an overload.
disadvantages
 The more frequently the
contacts are opened and closed,
the shorter the life of the
contactor.
 As contacts open and close, an
electrical arc is created between
them. The arcs produce
additional heat, which, if
continued, can damage the
contact surfaces