Electrical Standards For Contactors AC1, AC2, AC3, AC4, DC1, DC2 DC3

Electrical Standards For Contactors AC1, AC2, AC3, AC4, DC1, DC2 DC3

The duty of the electrical contractors is categorized by the types of electrical loads used such as inductive, or resistive or capacitive and duty cycle such as plugging or runtime breaking, short circuit breaking etc.

Let’s see the different types of contactor duties that are used in the electrical distribution system. Below mentioned duties are categorized by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission). Generally, these ratings are normally mentioned on the contactor Refer to the picture.

AC duty (Alternating Current) for Contactors:

AC-1: Such duty contactors are used in resistive loads such as heaters and electrical furnace. Non-inductive or slightly inductive loads are included which means the power factor of the load lie between 0.95 to 1.

AC-2: These are used in slip-ring motors starters such as Switching on and switching off the motor. They mostly prefer for high Torque current applications.

AC-3: These types of contactors are generally preferred for the starting of Squirrel-cage motors, and switches off motor during the running time which means the contactor can withstand high current continuously. Example. Lifts, elevators, fans, etc.

AC-4: Frequently on/off on Squirrel-cage motors such contractors are used. They have the ability to break high starting current starting such as plugging and inching operation. Example: Cranes

AC-5a: This type of contactor is used in discharge lamps such as mercury vapor and sodium vapor lamps and Auxiliary Control circuit.

AC-5b: Switching of incandescent lamps

AC-6a: Transformers ON/OFF

AC-6b: This type of contractor is used in capacitor banks switching.

AC-7a: Small Inductive loads on households such as TV, mixers, drilling machine, etc.

AC-7b: Rotating machines on households such as fans, central vacuum cleaners, washing machines etc.

AC-8a: Hermetic refrigerant compressor motor control with manual resetting on O/L.

AC-8b: Hermetic refrigerant compressor motor control with automatic resetting overloads

AC11: Auxiliary (control) circuits i.e. they don’t have power contacts such as NO (Normally open) and NC (Normally closed)

AC-12: Electronics switching using solid-state devices on resistive loads

AC-13: Control of Resistive Load & Solid State Load with Transformer Isolation

AC-14: Control of small electromagnetic loads less than 72VA

AC-15: Control of A.C. electromagnetic loads greater than 72VA

AC-20: Connecting and disconnecting under no-load conditions

AC-21: Switching of resistive loads, including moderate overloads

AC-22: Switching of inductive loads as well as resistive loads (Mixed)

AC-23: Switching of motor loads or other highly inductive loads

A: Protection of circuits, with no rated short-time, withstand current

B: Protection of circuits, with a rated short-time withstand current

Direct Current Duties DC1, DC3, DC5:

DC-1: Non Inductive or slightly inductive loads, resistance furnaces, heaters

DC-3: Shunt-motors, starting, plugging (1), inching(2), dynamic braking of motors

DC-5: Series-motors, starting, plugging (1), inching(2), dynamic braking of motors

DC-6: Switching of incandescent lamps

DC-12: Control of resistive loads and solid-state loads with optocoupler isolation

DC-13: Control of D.C. electromagnetics

DC-14: Control of D.C. electromagnetic loads having economy resistors in the circuit

DC-20: Connecting and disconnecting under no-load conditions

DC-21: Switching of resistive loads, including moderate overloads

DC-22: Switching of mixed resistive and inductive loads, including moderate overloads (i.e. shunt motors)

DC-23: Switching of highly inductive loads (i.e. series motors)

However, mostly in industry AC1 and AC3 contractors are preferred

The difference between AC1 and AC3 contactors is AC1 contactor is used for less inductive loads such as resistive loads (the power factor of the load is near about 1) but AC3 duty contactors are used for high inductive, squirrel cage motors which will be off during the motor is running condition.

Example for AC1: Heaters, Electric Furnace

Example for AC3: all squirrel cage motors such as industrial fans, lifts, escalators, conveyors, bucket elevators, compressors, pumps, mixers, air conditioning units