What is Contactor ?
Contactor is a device which is use to automatically switch ON or OFF an electric circuit. Contactor is a special type of relay. The basic difference between the contactor and relay, contactor is used to ON or OFF high power circuit and relay is used to control low power circuit.
Contactor is used for multiple contacts,which have normally closed and normally open and provide the power to the load, when contactor coil is a energized. Contactor are commonly used to control the electrical motor.
The contactor is used to break a control power circuit over a wide range of current and voltage from low power circuit( operating coil) 24 VDC, 24 VAC and 230 VAC.
Siemens Contactor
The main part of the contactor are as follows.
1) Magnetic coil - The magnetic coil is the main part of the contactor which is energized by 24 VDC, 24 VAC and 230 VAC. When the coil is energized and give the force that required to open or close the contacts.
2) Contact - This is another main part of the contactor. The contacts are carry the current for control power circuit.