Mechanically held lighting contactor

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dnbob

Senior Member
Location
Rochester, MN
I am looking for help or possibly a diagram on how to connect a mechanically held lighting contactor to a photocell. I used an ice cube relay and connected the unlock to n.c. & lock to n.o., but the unit was apparantly intended to have momentary contact to energize the coils, not continuous as I did. Any other thoughts would be appreciated.

This is for a small town mainstreet street lights. 10 - 240 v. ckts.
This was specified by the engineer.

Thanks, Bob
 
Re: Mechanically held lighting contactor

most of the mechanically held contactors have internal contacts to disconnect the operating source after it functions---are you duplicating these?
 
Re: Mechanically held lighting contactor

I?m not sure why a mechanically held contractor was specified for this application. It seems an electrically held would be a better choice. As Charlie stated many mechanically held contactors include coil clearing contacts to de-energize the coil after being switched to the open or closed position. If this job was designed by an engineer I would tell them to provide you with a drawing showing exactly how they want this system wired.
 
Re: Mechanically held lighting contactor

I think you will find the coil needs a latching capacitor to pull the latch in and bleed off. But ether way you will have to use a relay output type photocell as a heated bi-metal photocell will cycle when the load is dropped off.
Manufacture will know what size cap.
But this was on one that I had to replace the cap on. Not sure with the one you have.
 
Re: Mechanically held lighting contactor

I would assume all mechanically held coils are intended for momentary contacts to energize the coil. The benefit of mechanically held is that the contacts will stay latched through a power failure. Because of that, they need a voltage signal to turn the device off.
 
Re: Mechanically held lighting contactor

I've seen a lot of prints specify mechanically held when they really should have been electrically held in order to work properly as drawn.

Getting an engineer to admit a mistake is a rareity, and of course their mistakes never cost them monetarily. It mainly affect the contractor's pocketbook, and the electrician that has to take what is drawn, and turn it into something that will actually work.
 
Re: Mechanically held lighting contactor

Most Mech held contactors have additional relays built in that will provide control for a two wire lighting control ckt. If not installed, look at the manufactures specs and see if it can be purchased and installed..
 
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