What are contacts?

Contacts, variously called a contactor, a contactor switch, or a contactor relay, is a type of electrical device specifically designed for switching electrical circuits on and off. They are similar to relay circuits, but the major difference between the two is that a contact is specifically used in electrical devices that involve higher current capacity.

How do contacts work?

As described above, contacts are slightly different from standard relays as the former is specially designed for devices that need high current loads. As such, contacts are usually used in larger-scale control applications. The working principle of a contactor switch, however, is simple. It can function by itself as well as act as a power control device. A contract can also be a part of a motor starter, depending on the requirements of the specific application. More importantly, contactor switches can be controlled from a distance.

Specifications

Contacts, or contactor switches, have vast applications, and each application requires certain specifications where different types of contacts are concerned. Some of the major specifications of contacts include:

• Both AC & DC types of contacts are available with different coil specifications, such as 12 V, 24 V, 48 V, 110 V, 240 V, 400 V, and 440 V.
• Contacts are equipped with either reversing or non-reversing functionality. 
• Contact variations also include different pole specifications, including 2 poles, 3 poles, 4 poles, and even 8 and 10 pole variants.