TRAC timers??

[Kev2632]

Hello i was wondering could explain to me what the information means on the number 2 output means?? and is number 2 and 1 the option of having two outputs on the timer?? thanks

 

[Kev2632]

So why are you working on this installation? Did it work before? What have you changed?

I've changed nothing, it's at a college and they ain't sure if it worked properly before

 

[Richard Burns]

As far as I can tell, you have:
The override switch when operated will switch on both black wire and grey wire contactors irrespective of photocell or timer operation.

The photocell when activated will switch on the grey contactor irrespective of the timer and when the timer is on then both black and grey contactors will be on.

When the timer is on, if the photocell is off then nothing will come on.

I.e if it is dark one contactor is on
If it is light nothing is on
If the timer is on AND it is dark then both contactors will be on.
Override switch does what it says.

What operation are you wanting to happen? what is your aim in working on this circuit?

 

[Kev2632]

As far as I can tell, you have:
The override switch when operated will switch on both black wire and grey wire contactors irrespective of photocell or timer operation.

The photocell when activated will switch on the grey contactor irrespective of the timer and when the timer is on then both black and grey contactors will be on.

When the timer is on, if the photocell is off then nothing will come on.

I.e if it is dark one contactor is on
If it is light nothing is on
If the timer is on AND it is dark then both contactors will be on.
Override switch does what it says.

What operation are you wanting to happen? what is your aim in working on this circuit?

yea youve hit the nail on the head there i think, its just my boss asked me to have a look at the job today for him because the college is complaining that only some of the light are working, so to me that sounds like the timer is broken isnt it??

 

[Richard Burns]

Depending on what the contactors, switch. then that is possible. If some lights come on when it is dark and others do not then the only way this can happen is if the contactor has gone or the timer has gone (unless all the lamps have gone in the one set of lights!

Easy way to test that is to set the timer to on and (with the power off) see if you have continuity between 1 and 2.
Similar type of test for the contactor in some ways.

 

[Kev2632]

Depending on what the contactors, switch. then that is possible. If some lights come on when it is dark and others do not then the only way this can happen is if the contactor has gone or the timer has gone (unless all the lamps have gone in the one set of lights!

Easy way to test that is to set the timer to on and (with the power off) see if you have continuity between 1 and 2.
Similar type of test for the contactor in some ways.

okay i understand yea, for testing for continuity on the contactor do you just test between a1 and a2 yea?? ( power off)

 

[Richard Burns]

okay i understand yea, for testing for continuity on the contactor do you just test between a1 and a2 yea?? ( power off)

You need power to A1 A2 to switch the contactor, if you have removed all other connections from the contactor then test continuity 1 to 2, 3 to 4, 5 to 6 depending on how many poles you have or, if they are numbered differently between, each top and bottom connection, but if you are not sure always test for dead first.

 

[Kev2632]

You need power to A1 A2 to switch the contactor, if you have removed all other connections from the contactor then test continuity 1 to 2, 3 to 4, 5 to 6 depending on how many poles you have or, if they are numbered differently between, each top and bottom connection, but if you are not sure always test for dead first.

Yea i understand that yea perfect, is there any way of testing the coil itself for continuity or anything on the a1 and a2 connection??

 

[Richard Burns]

L to A1, N to A2 does the contactor go click!
can't remember the coil resistances but there should be a fairly large resistance across the coil.

 

[Kev2632]

L to A1, N to A2 does the contactor go click!
can't remember the coil resistances but there should be a fairly large resistance across the coil.

So you would measure from L to A1 and from N to A2 to check the resistance of the coil yea?

 

[Richard Burns]

Sorry I am tired now.
I was joking slightly: if you apply power across A1 A2 then the contactor will click and show the coil is OK.

If you want to test the resistance then use an ohmmeter between A1 and A2, because they do not take much power the resistance can be fairly high in the Kohm range, but this varies by contactor type.

 

[Kev2632]

Sorry I am tired now.
I was joking slightly: if you apply power across A1 A2 then the contactor will click and show the coil is OK.

If you want to test the resistance then use an ohmmeter between A1 and A2, because they do not take much power the resistance can be fairly high in the Kohm range, but this varies by contactor type.

Thanks Richard, thats perfect, and one last thing, you see on the timer i have here, i assume these contacts 1 and 2 are closed when the timer says to do so yea?

 

[Richard Burns]

It does not sound like you are too sure, so please be careful with what you are doing, I am not detailing the procedure only giving an outline, so do make sure you know what you are testing and why and always be safe.

 

[Kev2632]

It does not sound like you are too sure, so please be careful with what you are doing, I am not detailing the procedure only giving an outline, so do make sure you know what you are testing and why and always be safe.

Yea i understand that, ill have somebody with me also tomorrow but on the timer i have here, i assume these contacts 1 and 2 are closed when the timer says to do so yea?

 

[Richard Burns]

Thanks Richard, thats perfect, and one last thing, you see on the timer i have here, i assume these contacts 1 and 2 are closed when the timer says to do so yea?

When the timer is on, contact 1 to 2 will be closed, i.e. there should be almost zero resistance between one and two.
When the timer is off there should be maximum resistance between 1 and 2.

 

[Kev2632]

When the timer is on, contact 1 to 2 will be closed, i.e. there should be almost zero resistance between one and two.
When the timer is off there should be maximum resistance between 1 and 2.

so basically its like a light switch those two contacts and they are volt free from the timer itself, hence why you need to power one side up is that correct yea?