ELECTRICALLY HELD VS. MECHANICALLY HELD CONTACTOR
- Thread starter lizzie14
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petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- Semi-retired engineer
Re: ELECTRICALLY HELD VS. MECHANICALLY HELD CONTACTOR
electrically held contactors require a constant current and a constant power dissipation to hold the circuit. a common relay or motor starter is a good example of this type of contactor.
a mechanically held contactor is held in place without the need of a constant power drain. the coil on these type of contactors is far less likely to burn up as it is only energized momentarily.
electrically held contactors require a constant current and a constant power dissipation to hold the circuit. a common relay or motor starter is a good example of this type of contactor.
a mechanically held contactor is held in place without the need of a constant power drain. the coil on these type of contactors is far less likely to burn up as it is only energized momentarily.
Re: ELECTRICALLY HELD VS. MECHANICALLY HELD CONTACTOR
opinion:
mechanically held cost more usually...make no noise except when switched on or off; perhaps less likely to fail over the long haul (again opinion)
electrically held can be a bit noisey;
cost less; use power when on (although not much)
opinion:
mechanically held cost more usually...make no noise except when switched on or off; perhaps less likely to fail over the long haul (again opinion)
electrically held can be a bit noisey;
cost less; use power when on (although not much)
charlie tuna
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Re: ELECTRICALLY HELD VS. MECHANICALLY HELD CONTACTOR
the control sequences are different. the mechanically held contactor requires a voltage to close it and also a voltage to open it. while the electrically held will drop out or open upon a power outage.
the control sequences are different. the mechanically held contactor requires a voltage to close it and also a voltage to open it. while the electrically held will drop out or open upon a power outage.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Re: ELECTRICALLY HELD VS. MECHANICALLY HELD CONTACTOR
Mechanically held usually require additional control relays to operate with photo-eyes. when used with building automation controllers a mechanically held requires both an On and an Off contact
In a super quite area like a broom closet in a library you might hear the coil "hum" from a electrically held device so a mechanical one would be preffered. In a basement boiler room who care about noise.
Life of the coil is not really a concern for most vendors. Magnetic motor starters are all electically held and there are not a large amount of coil failures. But if the device is going to stay on for hours at a time why pay for the coil losses of a 400A contactor, in this case use a mechanically held device.
Mechanically held usually require additional control relays to operate with photo-eyes. when used with building automation controllers a mechanically held requires both an On and an Off contact
In a super quite area like a broom closet in a library you might hear the coil "hum" from a electrically held device so a mechanical one would be preffered. In a basement boiler room who care about noise.
Life of the coil is not really a concern for most vendors. Magnetic motor starters are all electically held and there are not a large amount of coil failures. But if the device is going to stay on for hours at a time why pay for the coil losses of a 400A contactor, in this case use a mechanically held device.
hardworkingstiff
Senior Member
- Location
- Wilmington, NC
Re: ELECTRICALLY HELD VS. MECHANICALLY HELD CONTACTOR
So if you are using it for an emergency stop situation, put up with the noise and use the electrically held?
So if you are using it for an emergency stop situation, put up with the noise and use the electrically held?
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