You might do better with D.P. contactors. Contact life can be increased by wiring them in series.
LED drivers are DC power supplies, with filter capacitors that have a high initial charging current.
That's why they take a moment to come on, and several moments to extinguish when turned off.
I was thinking the same thing although I think that a 30 amp definite purpose contactor probably receives the same arcing that a 30 amp lighting contactor does. Really one is just shrugging and saying "it's rated for 30 amps and 480v volt" when asked if the definite purpose contactor is rated for the task and hoping an inspector approves the install based on a lack of testing. I believe the real problem is that even 10 years into LED's going mainstream there just isn't a testing and rating standard that reflects real world parameters. Below is a quote from Schneider:
"Complying with the standards
At the time of this writing, existing standards only include test requirements to certify contactors for use with conventional lighting loads, e.g. fluorescent, tungsten, incandescent, etc. The standards do not cover test requirements to certify contactors for use with LED luminaires. However, included in the UL 508 standard Table 46.1 and Section 61C, and in the NEMA 410-2015 standard are testing parameters and guidelines for LED coordination.
In North America, Schneider Electric has tested, for internal verification purposes, the design of its Class 8903 Type L/LX and Class 8903 Type S lines of lighting contactors against the UL and NEMA specifications. We have confirmed that our offers not only meet, but exceed the desired results based on the listed testing guidelines. This provides peace of mind to the installer and user of these models of Schneider Electric lighting contactors when using in conjunction with LED luminaires. This applies to any new installations or retrofit projects in commercial and industrial buildings."
It all sounds good until you read what the test consists of. Again another quote from Schneider:
" Conforms to NEMA -410 -2015 and UL508: Table 46.1 and Section 61C test procedures for LED loads up to 16 A at 120 V. Devices were tested to 20 A at 120 V and conform to the test requirements."
What a test, 16 amp at 120v and that's it! And apparently that's the only test that exists regardless of contactor size. About half my job is service work and some of that pertains to LED lightning additions or upgrades and I can tell you I've seen original installs by others that have 24 amps at 277 volt worth of LED pole lights on a 30 amp circuit being switched by a "up to 30 amp" contactor pole. The only thing the NEMA and UL testing does is push one into unknown and untested parts.
