contactor

[jon090]

Hi, im installing a timeclock with contactor for a lighting circiut in house.

Do i need a seperate feed from a seperate breaker for the contactor in addition to the lights feed on B6 breaker, or am i able to loop the two (from the coil side, to the incoming side of the contactor) protected from the same B6 breaker? The total load is aprox 2Amps.

Any advice would be helpfull - Cheers

 

[Tim]

Both methods are acceptable.

If the contactor is only controlling 1 circuit then loop it from the coil, if the contactor is controlling more than 1 circuit give it its own breaker as this will make testing easier

Tim

 

[jon090]

Much apreciated - Thanks Tim

 

[Guitarist]

If it's only a 2A load, may I ask why you need a contactor? Most timeclocks will switch that load quite happily.

 

[jon090]

Theres inductive loads on the circiut which the timeclock on its own is not designed to handle.

 

[Guitarist]

Theres inductive loads on the circiut which the timeclock on its own is not designed to handle.

Let's hope not too inductive, or you may need a C type MCB

 

[jon090]

Ye i reckon itl be fine but fair point though! Cheers guys

 

[wade88]

What would sort of inductive loads could you expect to see in a lighting circuit and where would they come from? I am only familiar with inductive loads generated by maybe an electric motor or transformer and so on. Educate me

 

[wade88]

High bay lighting, fluro and incandescent are inductive? Magnetic inductive.

 

[ackbarthestar]

I've had a couple of jobs where we provided HID perimeter lighting one on a time switch with light sensors and one using remote wireless controls. In both cases the control circuit was on its own separate 6A MCB and the contactor fed a dist. Board.
I always include a manual override switch.

 

[Brightspark2]

High bay lighting, fluro and incandescent are inductive?

It's discharge lighting thats inductive, I'm guessing a son or HQI type in this case. It's down to the ballast.

Incandescent isnt, thats a resistive load.

 

[wade88]

I just did a load of reading up on it. Typically incandescent are resistive yes, but you can still get magnetic inductive incandescent lamps.

Not a particularly exciting lunch time i must confess.

 

[jon090]

Food for thought

 

[44ALLAN]

I just did a load of reading up on it. Typically incandescent are resistive yes, but you can still get magnetic inductive incandescent lamps.

Not a particularly exciting lunch time i must confess.

My Big Mc was luverly

 

[Guitarist]

It's discharge lighting thats inductive, I'm guessing a son or HQI type in this case. It's down to the ballast.

Incandescent isnt, thats a resistive load.

Agree, along with old ballast type florries.
I was simply intrigued that the timeswitch wasn't rated for 2A. Most will handle at least that, even as an inductive load.