A

Auxiliary Contacts       
Single pole double throw auxiliary contacts, used for low power circuit, can be utilised on the majority of our contactors. See the product catalogue for ratings.

Ampere Turns
Ampere Turns is one of the factors that provides an efficient solenoid. The ampere-turn (AT) is the unit of magnetomotive force, represented by a direct current of one ampere flowing in a single-turn loop in a vacuum.

Example: The ampere-turns for a coil with 1000 turns and a 500 mA current.
N = 1000 turns and I = 500 mA
N = 1000 turns and I = 0.5
NI = 1000 x 0.5
= 5 At
*Magnetomotive force is any physical cause that produces magnet flux.

Application Form
The application form is designed to provide the information required to assess an application.

Armature
Steel movable core of the solenoid, used to drive the moving contact assembly.

B

Brackets
A variety of mounting brackets are available, as seen within the catalogue sheets and website product page. Generally these are split into a ‘Top hat’ style for mounting parallel to the mounting surface or an ‘L’ shape mounting bracket for mounting 90 Degrees to the surface.

C

Change Over /  Double Throw (DT)
Set of normally open and set of normally closed contactor.

Closed Covers
The aperture usually found in the top cover housing is sealed to form a barrier to assist prevention of airborne contamination into the contact area.

Coil
Housed within the magnet frame, the solenoid (coil) is energised to generate the electro magnetic force for moving the armature and thus operating the main contacts.

Our coil winding wire is Class H, rated for 180 Degree Celsius insulation.

Coil Finish
Vacuum impregnated coils are available to safeguard against shock and vibration and / or high humidity.

Coil Suppression
See suppression

Coil Termination
Coil termination is typically via 6.3mm faston spade termination. Flying leads, M5 studs and other termination are available.

Current [A or I]
Unit = Amp or Ampere.
An Ampere is the amount of electrons flowing past a given point in the conductor in one second.

D

Dust Shields
The aperture usually found in the top cover housing is sealed to form a barrier to assist prevention of airborne contamination into the contact area.

Duty
An explanation on the terminology used to describe the coil ratings is detailed below:

Very Intermittent - Up to 25% duty Cycle, up to 3 minutes continuous energisation.
Very intermittent - Highest power in coil allowing strongest return spring to be used, giving good switching characteristics available.

Intermittent - Up to 70% duty cycle, up to 15 minutes continuous energisation.
Intermittent - High power in coil allowing strong return spring to be used, giving good switching characteristics available.

Prolonged - Up to 90% duty cycle, up to 54 minutes continuous energisation.
Prolonged - Coil; more powerful than continuous, weaker than intermittent equivalent. Return spring is stronger than continuous but weaker than intermittent

Continuous - 100% duty cycle. Continuous operation.
Continuous - Weakest power coil dictating that a weaker, when compared to the intermittent equivalent, return spring is used. This does not give the best switching characteristics for applications switching frequently on load.

Duty Cycle
The on period over the total cycle, supplied as a percentage.
duty cycle = D
t = on time (coil energised)

T = Total cycle time (on time + off time)

where                          

D is the so-called duty cycle;
t is the duration that the function is non-zero;

Drop Out Voltage
The voltage (V) required to open the contacts (on a normally open contactor) at 20 degree Celsius.

Double Pole (DP)
Contact configuration – two sets of single pole contacts

E

EE Types
Meeting the requirements of UL583 for Type EE Trucks, these contactors are fitted with steel shrouds which create enclosures around the contact housing area. Note these are designed for EE environments and not EX hazardous locations.

Economy Resistors
Placed in series with the coil via auxiliary contacts, the resistors allow a very strong initial energisation. This allows a strong return spring / coil combination to be utilised, and thus providing the best switching characteristics.

EMF
Electro Magnetic Force – this is the transient voltage from the coil when it is switched off.

Environmental
Albright operate a IS0 14001:2004 Environmental Management System.  - Certificate Number: 54527

End Cap
SW180 and SW200 comes with end caps fitted as standard. SW80 series can be fitted as optional extra.

F

Flame Retardant Materials
UL recognised material means good resistance against flammability. Plastics used are generally UL94-V0 and used to help extinguish materials should they ignite.

Fixed Contacts
The non movable main contacts. Supplied as bussbar, stud or female thread termination - dependant on model type selected.

Frequency of Switching
How many times does the coil get energised, e.g. 2 times a day. Twice an hour.

G

H

High powered coil – see duty cycle

I

Induction
A coil will have an inductance measured in Henrys.

In Rush
Being D.C., the coil will not have an in rush current.

Below show current vs time when the coil is energised.
The dip in the rise is where the armature is moving within the coil.

Intermittent Duty Coil  – see duty cycle

J

K

L

Large Tips
Whilst not adding to the thermal characteristics of the contactor, large tips offer significantly more contact material than the standard tip and subsequently benefit in supplying greater contact life. Inductive loads, frequent switching and such like will dictate the use of large contacts, due to the nature of contact wear.

M

Magnetic Blowouts - Used to assist breaking of arcs associated with high voltage. Recommended for applications of 48v (inductive) / 60v (resistive) and over. Fitted within the top cover, there is no increase on the overall dimensions.

NOTE: Generally, contacts become polarity sensitive when magnetic blowouts are fitted.

Magnetic Blowouts - High Powered - High power magnets with greater Gauss allows for increased power loads, especially high Voltages. Offered as an optional extra. Fitted within the top cover, there is no increase on the overall dimensions

NOTE: Generally, contacts become polarity sensitive when magnetic blowouts are fitted.

Magnet Frame
Steel enclosure housing the coil (solenoid), armature and other 'coil assembly' components.

Magnetic Latching
Contact position is secured with the use of a permanent magnet within the coil assembly. The coil requires a pulse(~500ms) to close the contacts, and a reverse polarity pulse (~500ms) to operate the armature and open the contacts, but otherwise remains in the last energised state without the need for power. It should be noted therefore these are not failsafe.

Main Contacts
Made of fixed (stationary) and moving contacts – designed to carry the power circuit. Termination may be stud, female or bussbar depending on the contactor type and therefore dictated by requirements and type of application.

Motor Reversing
Configuration for motor reversing, links supplied - will reverse the armature relative to the motor fields.

Mounting Orientation
Normally Open and Changeover -
Mounted vertical or horizontal.
When vertical, main contacts mounted above coil assembly.

Normally Closed
Mounted vertical or horizontal.
When vertical, main contacts mounted below coil assembly.

Moving Contact Assembly
The movable main contacts - movement provides the making and breaking of  the main contacts.

N

Normally Open (NO) 
Contacts are open when coil is de-energised.

Normally Closed (NC) 
Contacts are closed when coil is de-energised.

O

Ohms Law

Opening on load
If the contacts are breaking load, hot switching, then the contactor can be considered as opening on load.

Operation
See coil duty.

P

Pull-In Voltage
The voltage (V) required to close the contacts (on a normally open contactor) at 20 degree Celsius.

Protected
Some of our series of contactors are available as protected variants, IP66 rated.

Power
[P or W] Unit =Watt.      W=(VxV)/R
Coil power dissipation can be found on the appropriate catalogue sheets, some typical figures are as follows;

Series                 Continuous           Prolonged           Intermittent           Very Intermittent
SW60                5-7W                   7-10W               10-14W               >14W
SU60                
MB60
PC60

SW80                7-13W                 13-15W             15-20W               >20W
SW150
SW250

SW180              10-15W               16-29W             30-40W               >40W
SW260
SW280
SW500
SW560

SW200              13-21W               21-30W             30-60W               >60W
SW600
SW800

SW1000            25-31W               31-40W             40-75W                 >75W
SW1500

Q

Quality
Our customers expect high standards of product and Albright has set the standard for high quality of contactors, something others are trying to emulate. We operate ISO9001:2000 procedures and actively operate a continual improvement ethos.

R

Resistance
The coil resistance (Ohms) will vary dependant on the ambient temperature and coil temperature. Data provided is at 20 Degree Celsius.

Rectifier Board
As our coils are wound for D.C., a rectifier can be fitted for A.C. applications.

RoHS
Contactors and switches supplied are RoHS compliant.

S

Single Pole
Contact Configuration – One set of contacts

Super Magnets
See Magnetic Blowouts - High Powered.

Suppression
Diode or diode and series resistors are used to pre-determine the Transient Voltage to an acceptable level; however adding a diode will increase drop out time, adding a resistor will reduce the drop out time but increase the transient voltage.

T

Technical
Albright manufacture their own original designs, and are continually evolving their products in view of cost reduction and new market opportunities.  Technical assistance is available, either directly or via the appointed local distributor.

Electrical testing is performed in house, and used to validate new and existing designs.

Temperature
The typical ambient temperature that the contactors can be operated within is from -20 degrees C to +60 degrees C in a 90% non condensing humidity.

The expected coil temperature rise will be approximately up to +70 degrees C.  This statement applies to all non magnetic latching Albright contactors, magnetically latching contactors have minimal temperature rise due to the extreme short energisation.

For storage: Albright typically states that the contactors can be stored up to +80 degrees C in a dry/clean environment.

Termination
A variety of coil terminations are available for the majority of our contactor, 6.3mm faston , M5 stud termination and flying leads are amongst more common.

Textured Tips
Used in non switching application. Not essential in applications where main contacts are not being monitored via a sensing signal supplying low current <5A

Top Cover Assembly
Phenolic plastic moulding housing, fixed contacts and in some variants additional components

U

Underwriter Laboratories
In 1986 we started UL testing of products. The Majority of materials are UL 94 V0 recognised.

Our products are recognised under files;

AU2378 –        Industrial Electric Vehicles (inductive)
100 cycles 100% endurance load,
50 cycles 150% overload.

E165921  -      Power Distribution (resistive)
1000 cycles endurance, 50 cycles 150% overload.

E181430  -      Industrial Switches (ED’s)
100 cycles 100% endurance load,
50 cycles 150% overload.

V

Vacuum Impregnated Coils
Prevention against Shock, Vibration and high humidity.

Vibration
Many of our contactors are tested for shock and vibration - the standard tested to is BS EN 61373

Voltage (Electromotive Force)
[V or E]  Unit = Volt

W

Windings
We offer coil windings suitable for 6-240v applications.
All coils are wound DC, so if used on AC supplies then a rectifier is required.

X

Y

Z