Contactors

[straps]

Re: Contactors

Folks the voltage being applied to alll 4 contactors is 119 VAC total amperage pull when t101 comes on is 4.2 amps total. I have tried them all by themselves I have tried them in groups of 4 and groups of 2 all to no avail. The power circuit for the timer is on its own dedicated circuit, actual wiring length is 18 inchs box is metal not pvc got ( 2 locations mixed up)
Well went to Grainger got a dedicated contactor 120 volt coil 4 pole 30 amp resistive load each pole.Brought it back to the job site. The original contactors were steel based so I figured what the heck I mounted it outside the box on a piece of plywood and it worked but if cycled 3 4 times it failed also.

So anyway I installed the least of brand x contactors on a piece of wood in the box no noise?
Then I installed the square d contactor and it worked 12 times in a row no noise no nothing just great operation.
Tomorow I throw out the brand Xs and install the square d 4 pole insulated contactor, that I ordered at Graingers.
Near as I can figure the ces man contactors have a very high failure rate, I called other ces and they verified that 6-8 out of 10 fail within 5 minutes or they are okay indefinitely.

 

[ramsy]

Re: Contactors

Congrates on solving this. This discussion taught me alot about relays.

However, I still wonder why it was prefered to add relays in the loop, with that 40A T101 timer capable of handling 4.2 amps by itself; perhaps using a multi-terminal block for seperate circuits?

 

[straps]

Re: Contactors

Installed 3 more 4 pole squreds in the box they all worked right out of the pit. No problems. Ramsey the reason for this setup is 6 circuits are holding the outside veranda lighting which is pulling 12 to 19 amps on each of the 4 circuits,
The remaining 3 circuits are the feed for 120 feet of C7 light bulbs in strings of 20 lights each they are pulling 9 amps each total leg.
Understand this is all temporary until the roof is replaced then I will run conduit around the building then come up thru the steel roof to bell boxes at different locations
I want to end up with 6 circuits for the veranda ( 2 stories up in the air) and 12 14 circuits for items hanging off the roof. Thats why the contactors and the t101.It is the cheapest and easiest way to run power to the roof for temp lighting this is not permanent. ( Right now I have 4 2 gang bell boxes with gfcis in a nest on the airconditioning rack up on the roof.
The permanent setup will be conduit to bell boxes with standard 20 amp outlets in bell boxes with in use covers and the gfcis mounted in WIREMOLD 4000. Many thanks to all who tried to help on this project .
The biggest thing I noticed was the square d contactors were totally encased in plastic wereas the brand xs were in steel and wide open to the climate.

Anyway closed up the box with the 3 new contactors (12 circuits)with the gfcis in the control room, .
I am gonna let even the spare one run with the crew to see what happens.

Thanks one and all from the head nut case electrican at "CHRISTMAS IN THE PINES"