Lighting circuit contactor

SparkyAndGeorge · Jun 9, 2019

Hi all I am replacing a contactor in a communal block of flats I believe it for the external and internal lights. Am replacing like for like but it doesnt seem right to me. Looks like its been messed about with previously? The old contactor had an a2 terminal at the bottom aswell whereas the new IMO one has an A1 and A2 at the top and bottom. There is a time clock next to it for the internal lights and a photocell out the front of the building for the external lights. Looking at the current set up this will not work as designed? Am I correct in saying the 1.0mm brown needs moving from the bottom A1 into the T1 terminal and the 1.0mm blue needs moving into the top A2 terminal? Many Thanks for any thoughts.

James · Jun 9, 2019

The terminals are the same on both contactors
The smaller terminals towards the back are the relay coil. Assuming that it is a 230v coil the connections from the old one should be duplicated on the new one like for like.

SparkyAndGeorge · Jun 9, 2019

James the Spark1976 said:
The terminals are the same on both contactors
The smaller terminals towards the back are the relay coil. Assuming that it is a 230v coil the connections from the old one should be duplicated on the new one like for like.

Thanks James but the old one did not have an A1 coil at the bottom just an A2 whereas the new one has A1 and A2 at top and bottom.

James · Jun 9, 2019

SparkyAndGeorge said:
Thanks James but the old one did not have an A1 coil at the bottom just an A2 whereas the new one has A1 and A2 at top and bottom.

A1 and A2 are connected internally, it makes no difference if you connect it top or bottom

Edit, that’s misleading.
A1 is connected to one side of the coil,
A2 is connected to the other side of the coil
A2 is duplicated top and bottom, connected internally
A1 is often duplicated but not always

Pete999 · Jun 9, 2019

SparkyAndGeorge said:
Thanks James but the old one did not have an A1 coil at the bottom just an A2 whereas the new one has A1 and A2 at top and bottom.

A new configuration of the terminals, are you or have you checked to see what these terminals are connected to???? Do the instructions not tell you anything??????????

SparkyAndGeorge · Jun 9, 2019

No instructions Pete. Will have another look when I attend later and report back, thanks for the advice both.

Pete999 · Jun 9, 2019

SparkyAndGeorge said:
No instructions Pete. Will have another look when I attend later and report back, thanks for the advice both.

Did you supply, or was it supplied by others??

Charlie_ · Jun 9, 2019

What was the problem with the old contactor?

SparkyAndGeorge · Jun 9, 2019

Supplied by others Pete and Charlie the old one was making a horrendous buzzing apparently. Think ive figured it out now just got slightly confused with the extra A2 terminal on the bottom of the contactor. Thanks for the help guys.

The Ghost · Jun 9, 2019

Those chattering contacts can be cleaned and re-mated to get rid of that chatter. And just a thought but if originally the lights were high load such as sodium/halide and have since been replaced by LED you could always do away with the contactor.