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What is Contactor : Construction, Types a

Applications
A contactor is one of the main electrical circuit parts, which can stand on its own power con
part of a starter. They are used to connect and break power supply lines running through
repeatedly establish and interrupt electrical power circuits. These are used in light loads, co
control. They are used with motors, transformers, heaters. It can be considered as an int
between the control circuit and power circuit because it is controlled by the control circuit,
the circuit between power and loads. This article focuses on the importance of contactor
field.

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What is Contactor?
Definition: Contactors are electrically controlled switching devices which are used for switch
The basic operation of this is similar to a relay, but the only difference is that contractors
current compared to relay up to 12500A. They cannot provide short circuit or overload pro
break the contact when coil excites.

Construction of a Contactor

The contactor consists of two iron cores, where one is fixed and the other one is the movable
insulated copper coil. Where the copper coil is located on the fixed core. There are six ma
power connection, where three are fixed cores and the other three are movable cores. The
made from pure copper, and the contact points are made from special alloy to withstan
current and temperature. A spring which is located between coil and the movable core, auxi
could be normally open or closed. The main contacts cut on and off the light current
contactors coil, relays, timers, and many other control circuit parts are linked to contact mech
phase AC power supply provided to the circuit which is shown below,

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 circuit-diagram-of-contactor

It consists of three main parts they are

Coil

It provides a force which is required to close the contact. The coil is also named as an electro
enclosure is used to safeguard the coil and contactor.

Enclosure

It acts like an insulator and protector, which protects the circuit form any electrical contact, du
They are made up of different materials like Nylon 6, Bakelite, Thermosetting plastic, etc.
Contacts

The main function of this is that it carries the current to various parts of the circuit. There are
contact springs, axillary contacts, and power contacts. Where each of the contacts has its ow
which is explained in principle of operation of the contactor.

block-diagram-of-contactor

Working Principle of Contactors

An electromagnetic field is generated whenever current flows where the moving coils attrac
large amount of current is drawn initially by an electromagnetic coil. The moving contact is
by moving core, as a result, the force created by the electromagnet holds the moving and
together.

On de-energizing, the contactor coil gravity or spring moves back the electro-magnetic
position and there is no flow of current in the circuit.
If contactors are energized with AC current, a small portion of the coil is the shaded
magnetic flux in the core is slightly delayed. This effect is too average as it prevents the co
at twice line frequency. There are internal tipping point processes to ensure rapid
contactors can open and closed very rapidly.
From the figure the supply is given using a switch, that is when the switch is closed curren
the contactor coil and attaches the moving core. The contactor attached to the moving c
the motor starts running. When the switch is released the electromagnetic energizes sprin
pause the moving coil back to its initial position and power supply to the motor is cut off.

How to Chooses a Correct Replacement for a Contactor?

A correct replacement for this can be chosen as follows

Firstly, one should check the coil voltage, which is a voltage used to energize the contactor
Checking for auxiliary contacts available, that is how many open and closed nodes are use
contactor.
Checking the rating which is mentioned in a table format on it.

ARC suppression concept arises whenever the contacts are open or closed. If there is
breakdown, an arc that is formed damages the contacts. Along with it if the temperature
causes harmful gases like carbon monoxide which leads to a reduction of the lifetime of moto

Types of Contactors

These are classified based on three factors they are

The load being used

The current capacity and
 The power rating.

Knife Blade Switch

It is the first contactor used to control an electric motor in the late 1800s. It consists of a m
acts as a switch in connecting and disconnecting the connection. But the disadvantage of
that it switching process if very fast, due to which corrosion occurs in the copper material, de
capacity of current the size of the motor is increased which leads to high physical damage.

knife-blade-switch

Manual Contactor

The disadvantages of knife blade contractors are overcome using a manual contactor. Some
of these are,

The operation performed is safe

They are properly encased in order to protect from external environment problem
The size of the manual connector is small
Only a single break is used
The switches are controlled using a contactor.
 manual-contactor

Magnetic Contactor

It operates electromagnetically that is it can be operated remotely, less amount of current is e

a connection and remove the connection. It is the most advanced contactor.

Difference between AC Contactors and DC Contactors

The difference between AC and DC contactor are as follows,

AC Contactors DC Contactors

They are designed for the contactors with self- They are specially designed to suppre
extinguishing arc is drawn whenever the contact arching when there is switching in the
opens

They don’t use freewheel diode They use freewheel diode

Separation time is less Separation time is higher if the load is

load is attached to the main contact.

Advantages

The following are the advantages of the contactor

 Fast switching operation
Suitable for both AC and DC devices
Simple in construction.

Disadvantages

The following are the disadvantages of the contactor

In the absence of magnetic-filed, the coil may burn

Aging of components causes corrosion of materials when exposed to moister.

Applications of Contactors

The following are the application of contactors

It controls lighting
Magnetic starter
Vacuum contactor
Mercury relay
Mercury-wetted relay.

FAQs

1). What is the difference between a relay and a contactor?

The main difference between a relay and a contractor is that,

Relay Contactor

A relay is used for low voltage switching purpose It is used for high voltage switching pu
The relay contactor is similar to the axillary There are two types of contactors aux
contactor. power

The size of the relay is small The size of the contactor is large

Cannot be repaired Can be repaired

2). What is a contactor used for?

It is a switch used to switch high power load and protect the motor from external damage.

3). What is a normally closed contactor?

A normally closed contactor can be represented as NC, which means the connection is made
is normally on.

4). How do you wire a 3 phase contactor?

The connection of three-phase contactor is made as follows

Disconnect the power supply

The three colored phase wires are connected to three terminals T1, T2, T3 of machine
Connect the power supply and allow the current to flow.

5). How do you size a contactor?

The size of this is a product of 100% and full load current.

Thus, this all about an overview of the contactor, it is an electrical switch used in electrical cir
electrical motors switching circuits or capacitive switching circuits. They carry the high curren
parts of the circuit. They are operated by energizing electromagnetic coil inside it when the co
the movable contacts move towards fixed contacts and close the circuit. Here is a question fo
the function of a contactor?
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