quick question

[davelerave]

can spare poles on switches and contactors be wired in series to reduce arcing when making/breaking inductive loads

thanks

 

[mechelec]

it will not help as it can not be garanteed that the contacts will open at the same time ( if you are talking about switching more than the contactor rating)
Best to use an RC snubber circuit accross the contacts of the switch or contactor as this will reduce arcing.

 

[davelerave]

no i didn't mean paralleling the poles-exceediing the rating

just wondered theoreticallly will series poles reduce arcing-i beleive it's true



i'm aware of the RC 'snubber ' circuit-in parallel with contacts - are they commercially available?

 

[mechelec]

common practice in control to use them to reduce contact erosion and for electromagnetic interference suppression when switching inductive loads. Yes they are commercially available check these out

Welcome to rswww.com

 

[davelerave]

http://www.schrackrelays.com/schrack/pdf/C0_v4bg_4.pdf there's a reference on page 22 to series contacts lengthening the arc and increasing the breaking capacity may be 'old school' compared to 'snubber' but still interesting