Rockwell Automation Publication 1502-UM060A-EN-P - October 2020
9
Chapter 1 Product Description
Electrically Held Contactor
Operation
IntelliVAC Controlled Contactors
The electrically held contactor consists of three vacuum bottles. An electro-
magnet assembly and a mechanical linkage are used to close the contacts (see
).
•
When the IntelliVAC control module receives a close command, the
contactor coils (two connected in series) are energized, and the current
creates an electromagnet with the coils.
•
The electromagnet pulls the armature plate towards the core of the coils,
which rotates the shaft and causes the actuator plate to move upwards.
•
As the actuator plate moves, it pushes the insulator and each vacuum
interrupter’s movable shaft up, which closes the contacts in the vacuum
bottle.
•
The IntelliVAC control module supplies the current required to close the
coils for approximately 200 milliseconds. Afterward, the coil current is
reduced to a much lower hold-in value.
•
When the close command is removed from the IntelliVAC control
module (Open), the coils are de-energized, which opens the contactor.
Electromechanical Relay Controlled Contactors
When the main pilot relay (CR1) in the control circuit is energized, the circuit
energizes an electromagnet in the closing coil and in the hold-in coil
(
). The electromagnet pulls the armature plate towards the core of the
coils, which rotates the shaft and causes the actuator plate to move upwards.
As the actuator plate moves, it pushes the insulator and each vacuum
interrupter’s movable shaft up, which closes the contacts in the vacuum bottle
(see
). The control circuit economizing auxiliary contacts, on the left
side of the contactor, change from the normally closed state to the normally
open state as the contactor closes, which de-energizes the closing coil.
The hold-in coil remains energized and keeps the contactor closed. De-
energizing the hold-in coil opens the contactor.
IMPORTANT
The standard electrically held contactor requires an external
120V AC or 240V AC control relay and rectification circuit to
control the standard DC closing and hold-in coils on the contactor
(see
).
