Continue to Site

Eng-Tips is the largest engineering community on the Internet

Intelligent Work Forums for Engineering Professionals

  • Congratulations KootK on being selected by the Eng-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!

Question on Contactor Based Design for switching 1

Status
Not open for further replies.

budhiman

Electrical
Jan 26, 2016
60
Hello All,

I am looking for any ideas and a sample electrical design if available. A design to feed I want to connect and feed a separate load contactor-based design to switch between different loads when from a source. As shown in the attached picture (it is high level) the generator feeds the normal loads during utility outages or emergencies but when the generator is not being used it feeds the load bank. The PLC will control the contactor operation (open and close), generator signal (start and stop), and sense voltage. I have seen something similar done with motorized/electrically operated breakers with PLC control. I was wondering if something similar can be done with relay-based contactors as shown (like how in 83 throw-over for control power switching). The reason to do this is cost and footprint. If all this can be accommodated in a small enclosure rather than a big electrical panel. Please do provide thoughts and if possible share similar designs. I am concerned with the contactor breaking capacity and are there lighting contactors for 600Vac rating small enough to be wired in an enclosure and wired for automation?

Attached image
Capture_cuvbn5.jpg
 
Replies continue below

Recommended for you

Yes, it can be done. It's not very difficult to pick the parts and put it together.
 
Hi @LionelHutz,

Do you have a reference design?
 
No, this is a tips site, not a "we will design it for you" site.
 
Hi @IonelHutz,

Understood :). Can you advise me on manufacturers who would have a heavy-duty contactor rated for 480V but have circuit coil voltage of 24 to 120V ac/dc? I did find Square D, and Eaton has few options.
 
Almost every company that manufactures electrical components makes what you're looking for.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Part and Inventory Search

Sponsor