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contactors-lecture 1

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41 views

contactors-lecture 1

Uploaded by

dilshanimaduwanthi14
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Contactor – Construction-part 1

• An electrical contactor is a switching device, widely


used for the switching of motors, capacitors (for power
factor correction) and lights.
• According to the word of contactor is used to make or
break contacts as like an ordinary on-off switch.
• the contactors have an electromagnet that holds the
contacts when energized whereas switches do not have
it.
• The basic operation of a contactor is similar to that of a
relay but contactor contacts can carry big current than
relays.
• We are not able to use relays in circuits where the
current exceeds 20 amperes. In such conditions,
contactors can be used.
• usually Contactors are available in a wide range of
ratings and forms.
• available ampere rating of contactors are up to
12500A.
• Actully Contactors cannot provide short circuit
protection but can only make or break contacts when
excited.
Important Constructional features of Contactor
• A contactor consists of an electromagnet, contacts and spring
enclosed inside an enclosure.
• In some contactors, economizers are provided to reduce power
consumption.
• Certain arrangements for arc extinction is also made inside for
making and breaking the operation of contactors.
• An electromagnet is a key component in contactors without which it
cannot function.
• It requires an additional supply for excitation.
• It drains negligible current from the supply during excitation. These
electromagnets will be hollow cylindrical in shape.
• A rod (armature) with spring return arrangement will be placed in the
hollow cylindrical electromagnet.
• In some contactors, this electromagnet is split into two halves.
• One of the halves is fixed and the other is movable. Movable power
contacts are fixed to the movable electromagnet. Under normal
condition, these two halves of electromagnets are held apart using a
spring in between.
Conventional Low voltage Hollow Cylindrical Type Coil
contactor coil
Conventional laminated soft iron Solid Steel Core
Magnetic Core
• In contactor with AC coil, the electromagnetic core is made up
of laminated soft iron to reduce eddy current losses and in
contactor with DC coil, the electromagnetic core is made up of
solid steel/ soft ironic core since there is no risk of eddy
current loss in DC.
Contacts

• contactor has two sets of contacts, of which one is stationary and the
other is moveable. Silver tin oxide (AgSnO2), silver nickel (AgNi) and silver
cadmium oxide (AgCdO)are the normally used contact materials.
• These materials have high welding resistance and stable arc resistance.
Silver cadmium oxide and silver nickel are used in contactors of less
ampere rating whereas Silver tin oxide is used in contactors of high
ampere rating and in DC contactors.
• The movable set of contacts is attached to the armature or
movable electromagnet.
• Contact material must withstand mechanical stresses,
arcs, erosion and must have very low resistance.
Enclosure
• Electromagnet and contacts are packed inside an enclosure
made of plastic, ceramic or Bakelite, which protects it from
dust and external environment and ensures safe opening
and closing of contacts.
Arc Suppressor
• Arc extinction is a major part of contactor operation. AC arcs
can be easily extinguished since it passes through zero twice
for every cycle.
• DC contactors used magnetic blowouts or specially designed
arc chutes for arc extinction.
• Arc chutes are present inside the contactor for arc
suppression
• Economizer circuit
• An economizer circuit is the one used to reduce the power
consumption of the contactor coil. It supplies a high current
during contactor pickup and later supplies adequate power
to keep the contacts closed. It is not mandatory that all
contactors should have an economizer circuit.

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