Lighting contactors

[Richard3009]

When installing loads of lights in a warehouse, is it common practice to use lighting contactors driven from a standard light switch, what would a typical installation on a large scale consist of.

 

[davesparks]

What’s wrong with one light switch for 120KW of lighting?

I don't think it would be all that light, probably getting on for quite heavy if you go for a decent make.

 

[Darkwood]

What’s wrong with one light switch for 120KW of lighting?

Nothing if your supply is up to it and you aint gonna dip half the neighbourhood when you press it

 

[Knobhead]

Nothing if your supply is up to it and you aint gonna dip half the neighbourhood when you press it

It was one control circuit that switched about ten contactors around the plant. Off the top of my head fed from five or six 11/.433KV transformers.

I inherited the set up, from what I was told a guy had broken his leg looking for various light switches. Hence one switch by the main personnel door that switched everything on.

 

[Diddy]

I assumed in asking the question he hasn't experience in the design concept so if its an area he's interested in he would need to work along side someone who has experience or look into taking a course .... wasn't saying the course is the only route their are other ways hmmmm yes my post did read that way though ooophs!..

TBH Ive seen lighting circuits designed wrong so many time by even experienced industrial sparks it beggars belief, telling a older spark who has pride in his work that he's designed the lighting wrong is not an easy thing to do .... denial and the more experience than me attitude is a hard wall to get around.... well until I prove things...TBH an advanced course wouldn't go a miss for a lot of them.

You seem confident Diddy and mostly likely its a breeze for you but surely you must have seen a lot of bad designs over the yrs not to mention sparks working in fields out of their depths... I know I have, I usually am the one that gets called out to finally resolve problems after in-house sparks etc fail to do so and I always end up ruffling a few feathers in resolving the problem.

Fair enough mate. It is also the reasons you state in the quoted post that I was reluctant to post up much more with regards as to how the op should tackle the job. If the op has no experience of even installing high load factory lighting then he really should be referring the job to someone who has (No disrespect intended to you OP...you could always tag along with the other electrician as it is like riding a bike...you never forget and from what you have written so far you seem to know in theory what you need if just a little unsure how to tackle it).
When installing such circuits it is not just the load needing switched that you need to pay attention to. You would also have to think of cable sizes/CB sizes/Volt drop ect ect ect. If you are not confident mate get some help is my best advice because us trying to assist online leaves far too many variables unanswered.

415v at switch......small sticker stating 415v on switch.

 

[Engineer54]

Oh God Yes, ...don't whatever you do, .....forget the compulsory sticker!!!

 

[Darkwood]

That sticker requirement is no longer required it was dropped a while back and only applies where you have over 230v to earth so not a set-up found behind any light switch really even with 400v present. Yes E54..... they took out the need for a sticker :willy_nilly:woo hoo!

 

[davesparks]

But was it a mistake that they'll change with the next excuse to fleece us for more money (aka ammendment)

 

[Knobhead]

That sticker requirement is no longer required it was dropped a while back and only applies where you have over 230v to earth so not a set-up found behind any light switch really even with 400v present. Yes E54..... they took out the need for a sticker :willy_nilly:woo hoo!

I'm gutted! I think stickers add to the aesthetics of a job, until some pratt put 6 on my CU!

 

[shanky887614]

I'm gutted! I think stickers add to the aesthetics of a job, until some pratt put 6 on my CU!

are you sure they were not a member on here lol

 

[gazj82]

If it hasn't been mentioned look up latching relays, much nicer than contactors for this sort of thing.

Latching relays Hager

 

[davesparks]

If it hasn't been mentioned look up latching relays, much nicer than contactors for this sort of thing.

Latching relays Hager

In what way are they nicer than contactors?

 

[Darkwood]

My thoughts exactly ... what advantage do these have if any over a designed contactor/relay set-up and I expect these are more expensive too?

Notably only go to 16amp and only AC1 rated so not alot of good for high inductive lighting ....Fail!.. expensive home switching option and nothing more; not for the Industrial scale set-up.

 

[gazj82]

Mainly that they don't have to sit there energized for hours on end, a pulse will change there state. Plus multiple switching is easier, just put all push switches in parallel on one pair, any switch closes the control circuit momentarily and the relays flip state from on to off or off to on.

Fine, for industrial setup, I have done a packhouse previously with over 40 fluorescent fittings controlled by these, obviously the switches operated a few of them all together. How many people are putting in lighting circuits >10A anyway?

 

[Darkwood]

Mainly that they don't have to sit there energized for hours on end, a pulse will change there state. Plus multiple switching is easier, just put all push switches in parallel on one pair, any switch closes the control circuit momentarily and the relays flip state from on to off or off to on.

But the OP is discussing large scale lighting install these are for low inductive and small scale installs AC1 rated so very limited.. so no good for this thread but that aside what exact benefits do you get that a light switch doesn't achieve all I can see here is this could interfaced with a computer and given remote operation and timing benefits but probably at a cost and a half ....I've seen these used and they achieved little more than a light switch itself well in the set-up I encountered think the customer had been hoodwinked by a sales rep'.

 

[davesparks]

How many people are putting in lighting circuits >10A anyway?

Me for one, I have to put in lighting feeds of up to 400A three phase sometimes

I have used impulse/latching relays in lighting control in the past, but usually when replacing an existing system with momentary push button control or if for some reason momentary push button control is required.