Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 68 views

    Contactor Coils and Long Control Circuit Cable

    Uploaded by

    Dheeraj Yadav
    This document discusses potential issues that can arise from long control circuit cable runs between contactor coils and control switches. Specifically: - With cable runs over 300 feet, capacitance between the wires can induce enough voltage to keep contactor coils energized even after the control switch opens, or cause coil burnout. - Factors like cable type, size, burial location can impact the cable capacitance. Less than 0.1 microfarads of capacitance may be enough to cause issues in some systems. - The solution is to add a run capacitor across the contactor coil terminals to help drop out the coil and maintain safe voltages over long cable runs.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Contactor Coils and Long Control Circuit Cable

    Uploaded by

    Dheeraj Yadav
    68 views3 pages
    This document discusses potential issues that can arise from long control circuit cable runs between contactor coils and control switches. Specifically: - With cable runs over 300 feet, capacitance between the wires can induce enough voltage to keep contactor coils energized even after the control switch opens, or cause coil burnout. - Factors like cable type, size, burial location can impact the cable capacitance. Less than 0.1 microfarads of capacitance may be enough to cause issues in some systems. - The solution is to add a run capacitor across the contactor coil terminals to help drop out the coil and maintain safe voltages over long cable runs.

    Original Description:

    manual

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    This document discusses potential issues that can arise from long control circuit cable runs between contactor coils and control switches. Specifically: - With cable runs over 300 feet, capacitance between the wires can induce enough voltage to keep contactor coils energized even after the control switch opens, or cause coil burnout. - Factors like cable type, size, burial location can impact the cable capacitance. Less than 0.1 microfarads of capacitance may be enough to cause issues in some systems. - The solution is to add a run capacitor across the contactor coil terminals to help drop out the coil and maintain safe voltages over long cable runs.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    68 views3 pages

    Contactor Coils and Long Control Circuit Cable

    Uploaded by

    Dheeraj Yadav
    This document discusses potential issues that can arise from long control circuit cable runs between contactor coils and control switches. Specifically: - With cable runs over 300 feet, capacitance between the wires can induce enough voltage to keep contactor coils energized even after the control switch opens, or cause coil burnout. - Factors like cable type, size, burial location can impact the cable capacitance. Less than 0.1 microfarads of capacitance may be enough to cause issues in some systems. - The solution is to add a run capacitor across the contactor coil terminals to help drop out the coil and maintain safe voltages over long cable runs.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 3

    Contactor Coils and Long

    Control Circuit Cable Runs


    Posted on March 21, 1998 by copywriterfele

    In the last issue we spoke of contactor coil characteristics and how both high
    and low voltage could cause coil burn-out. We also described how a typical
    three-phase pump panel and a Franklin deluxe control box have both a main
    power circuit and a separate control circuit.
    In this issue we will discuss circumstances which can result in contactor coil
    burn-out or the failure of the contactor to dropout (shut off the motor) even
    though the control switch has opened. The Figure to the right shows a
    contactor and control circuit for a single-phase unit, although this condition
    could affect either a single- or three-phase contactor. Note that in the example
    there is more than 300 feet of wire between the contactor and the control circuit
    switch. Again the control switch could be a pressure switch, float switch, time
    clock, or other control device(s).

    There will always be some capacitance between the two wires in the control
    circuit. With normal control circuit lengths, this capacitance causes negligible
    voltage on the coil. However, if the length of the wire is long enough, this
    voltage may exceed the coils sealing or must hold voltage rating and keep
    the coil energized. The resultant coil voltage can also be either high or low
    enough to cause coil burn-out (remember the contactor characteristics example
    from the last issue). If the capacitance happens to be near a specific ratio to the
    coils inductance, a phenomenon called series resonance can cause the coil
    volts, or cable volts, or both, to exceed the line voltage. One test demonstrated
    that 0.8 microfarad open-switch control cable capacitance created 420 volts
    across the coil-with only 240 volts input! Specific tests conducted at Franklin
    Electric have shown that cable capacitance of as little as 0.1 microfarad could
    keep a contactor closed even though the control switch had opened. Tests have
    also shown that as little as 0.2 microfarad could cause contactor coil burn-out.

    The length of control circuit wire necessary to set up this type of capacitance will
    vary from a few hundred to several thousand feet. Factors such as cable type,
    cable size, and burial locations (wires side by side or separated) are some of the
    factors contributing to this condition. In addition, different brands and types of
    contactors are affected differently.
    Also, keep in mind that these same symptoms may be caused by wiring
    problems such as ground fault or shorts between the wires. With all power
    removed and all control switches opened, if there is any continuity between the
    two control circuit wires, the wires are shorted or connected together
    somewhere. Continuity is always checked with the POWER OFF and generally
    an ohmmeter is used. Always carefully troubleshoot the control circuit before
    assuming the coil problems are caused by control cable capacitance. Shorted
    connections can also be caused by a malfunctioning switch or timer. You should
    also eliminate possible damage caused by mice, moles, fire-ants, or other
    insects.

    While there is no known one size fits all method of curing conditions of high
    control cable capacitance, it can usually be solved by connecting either a
    resistor or capacitor across the contactor coil. Franklin recommends that any
    time there is more than 300 feet of cable between the contactor and the control
    switch, a capacitor should be added across the contactor coil (Figure to the
    right). The capacitor should be a continuous duty, AC capacitor, like the gray or
    silver run capacitors used in Franklins larger control boxes. Note: Run
    capacitors are available in both plastic and metal cases. If metal cased
    capacitors are used, they must be grounded. Recommended ratings are
    shown in the Figure below. The contactor Franklin uses typically has four (4)
    quick-connect terminals located on the contactors coil. Two are used to supply
    power to the coil and two are not used. Connect the new run capacitor to the
    two empty terminals. Connecting a run capacitor to the coil terminals normally
    assures drop-out and safe coil voltages with all cable lengths and contactor
    models. Note: this run capacitor is an additional capacitor. You can not
    use an existing control box run capacitor for both the motor power
    circuit and the control circuit. Run capacitors are typically found inside
    Franklins 1 through 15 Hp single-phase control boxes.

    You might also like