Lighting contactors

[Mwoods4757]

Hi all I'm trying to get my head around contactors. I understand how they work and what they are just finding the wiring a little hard

I know the
coils are on a1 and a2 which is the control circuit.
So do you have the supply coming in to the top terminals and the load to the light going out from the bottom and you just link from a1 and a2 to the overload?
Is there always a overload too.

Any information would be appreciated or simple diagrams if possible.

 

[malcolmsanford]

To be honest Matt I have never seen an overload fitted to a lighting circuit, there really isn't any need.

You would bring you Switch/Line to A1 and the Neutral to A2. Normal practices is yes to have the supply upper and load lower on a contactor if vertical, but it really dose not matter

 

[telectrix]

you would not generally use an overload except on motors. think of a contactor as a relay. you apply the control voltage to A1/A2 and the contactor pulls in L1-T1, L2-T2, L3 -T3.

 

[Thefailsafe2012]

Check out this previous thread it might have some useful info for you

http://www.electriciansforums.net/e...trical-forum/47991-hager-es240-contactor.html

 

[Thefailsafe2012]

Oops bit late its pretty much been answered! Sorry!

 

[Mwoods4757]

Cheers all. So the control circuit on the coils a1 and a2 is this where your ssupply would be?

Also would you need to link out the terminals at the top to the load on the bottom?

 

[Rockingit]

Cheers all. So the control circuit on the coils a1 and a2 is this where your ssupply would be?

Also would you need to link out the terminals at the top to the load on the bottom?

If your switching and load are coming from the same supply / cct, then yes. If fior example you were in a 3ph environment and had three banks of lights, one on each phase, then you'd be using a 3 pole (or probably 4p with the neutral) contactor, so you'd have:
Ph 1 - L1
Ph 2 - L2
Ph 3 - L3
N - N

but then you'd need to be using one of the phases as your switch cct, so you might have :

Ph 1 - A1
Ph 1 - L1
etc.

Or in a single phase environment then yes you would gang all the L's to the A1 feed. Depending on the type of contactor sometimes you can even use a bit of busbar.

 

[ThrownRazor25]

Your contractor basically breaking the load of your chosen circuit.this circuit is opened/closed by a switch,photocell,time clock,PIR etc.a1 is your switch wire a2 is your neutral.On the contractor depending on make or model it will have for a 4 pole one 1,3,5,7 on the top and 2,4,6,8 on the bottom your permanent feed side goes into 1,3,5,7 and the switched side into 2,4,6,8.

 

[Knobhead]

Never use a four pole for 3ph lighting. The neutral isn’t late break, so you run the risk of a momentary floating neutral and all the problems that can cause.

 

[Bobster]

Also on flourescent lighting banks use the ac3 rating of the contactor.