Motor Contactors
We often don't think about the parts that make up so many of our household equipment. You often don't worry about your air conditioner or generator's motor contractor unless something goes wrong with the unit. Motor contactors are at the heart of many major equipment pieces. Without them, these devices would not be able to generate power to work. So next time you bask in all the glory of the cool air conditioner, think about that hard-working motor contractor allowing you to enjoy cold air nirvana.
All About Contactors
* Motor contactors are similar to relays except they use higher amp ratings. Therefore, they are used on much larger devices or devices that need a lot of currents.
* Contactors can range from a mere 24 volts to thousands of volts depending on their size and capacity.
* They are comprised of three main components: power contacts, auxiliary contacts, and contact springs.
** The contacts are the part of the contactor that carries the current.
* In the simplest of explanations, a contactor is used to switch on the power of a device or control a circuit.
** When an electrical current passes through the electromagnet of the contactor it becomes active.
** An electromagnetic field is then produced which attracts the contactor's core.
** This force holds the moving and fixed contacts together, thus producing energy to power the device.
** Inside the contactor is a coil and when this coil is no longer energized, the electromagnet is moved by gravity back to its original position.
*** The coil can either be energized by the same voltage as the motor or controlled by a lower voltage coil.
Applications
Motor contactors can be used for a wide variety of products. They are used to control electric motors, lighting, heating, cars parts, air conditioner units, generators, and more. They are often used to control large lighting fixtures in office buildings or retail stores. There are two main types of motor contactors. The first is known as general purpose contactors. These can be used in more than one type of device. The second category is known as definite purpose contactors, meaning they can only be used for the device they were made for. When purchasing a motor contactor, take into consideration the amount of voltage and amperage you will need. Obviously the more power you need/larger the device, the higher the voltage.
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Dayton 2UTN7 Contactor, Definite Purpose, 2P, 24VAC, 40A
