Contactors for critical applications

AC and DC contactors up to 4,800 V and 2,000 A

With the the introduction of DC networks in manufacturing, as well as the rapid growth of renewable energies and the electric automobile motor industry, the switching of high DC loads is gaining in significance and underscoring the need for high-quality DC contactors. Building upon our experience in railway technology, Schaltbau produces highly reliable, outstanding contactors for all fields of use in which a load circuit has to be switched on and disconnected securely. Designed to IEC specifications, our wide variety of AC and DC contactors in stock range from contactors for low-voltage devices, such as batteries, through to high-voltage power contactors up to 4,800 V and 1,100 A. We develop DC contactors for, among other uses, industrial storage systems, battery test systems, car batteries and electrical bus motors.

Why arc quenching is so demanding with DC contactors

A DC or AC contactor (or switching contactor) is an electrically or electromagnetically (in special applications also pneumatically) operated switch for large electrical loads. The main contact is located inside the main circuit of the device, while auxiliary contact is found inside an auxiliary circuit and actuated mechanically by the switching device – serving to reduce coil current after the device switches off. The contactor includes a coil input (driven by DC or AC supply), with the coil energized by the same voltage as the motor the device is controlling or controlled with a lower coil voltage.

Whereas a general-purpose relay is nor designed to be directly connected to high-current load devices, both DC contactors and AC contactors can switch large loads remotely via control lines. When a control voltage is applied to the coil of the instrument, the magnetic field pulls an electrical bridge into an active state – the main contacts close. Without control voltage, springs in the contactor restore the initial state of the load circuit – the contact path is open again.

Unlike a general-purpose relay, contactors galvanically isolate the electrical drive train from the power supply when it is switched off, with an auxiliary contact reducing coil current after the contactor closes.

If switching off takes place under load, an electric arc is generated in the contactor. In DC voltage applications, extinguishing this arc is comparatively challenging, as no zero crossing of the voltage occurs here. Our DC contactors have effectively overcome this challenge, making arc suppression one of our products’ most notable attributes.

The electric arc in the contactor produced can only be controlled if different effects interact skillfully. Only then can short arc lifetimes – and thus fast switch-off times – be achieved. Thanks to our patented contactor process, this is a key feature of our DC contactors.

The formation of this so-called switching arc has two main effects: Firstly, current continues to flow despite the contacts being open, as the plasma has a high electrical conductivity. And secondly, very high temperatures of up to 20,000 Kelvin occur, which can cause damage to the contacts of the DC contactor as well as to surrounding system parts.

Unlike lower-powered relays, various measures are present in our DC contactor to counteract this. It is particularly important to move the arc away from the actual contact surfaces and to extinguish it. This is mainly done by means of an arcing chamber in which the electric arc is elongated, cooled and thus extinguished.

The arcing chamber is thus the central functional unit in DC power contactors.

Find contactors for your application

Device type
Nominal voltage
Thermal current
Number of poles
Type of voltage
Industry
CP – Modular and compact switchgearCP – Modular and compact switchgear

1 pole bi-directional high-voltage contactors, disconnectors, changeover switches for DC and AC

Do you have questions about this product?CP – Modular and compact switchgearContactors
5450
C800 – DC bi-directional switchingC800 – DC bi-directional switching

1 pole bi-directional DC NO contactors up to 500 amps

Do you have questions about this product?C800 – DC bi-directional switchingContactors
6179
C801 – DC bi-directional switchingC801 – DC bi-directional switching

Single-pole DC high-voltage interlock contactors with extreme shock resistance for electric vehicles

Do you have questions about this product?C801 – DC bi-directional switchingContactors
6092
CF – Multipole AC power contactorsCF – Multipole AC power contactors

Modular and compact AC power contactors for inverter-fed AC drives with higher frequencies

Do you have questions about this product?CF – Multipole AC power contactorsContactors
5714
CT – power contactors for AC and DC (bidirectional) up to 4.8 KV and 1,100 ACT – power contactors for AC and DC (bidirectional) up to 4.8 KV and 1,100 A

Combination of electric and permanent-magnetic blowout in one contactor.

Do you have questions about this product?CT – power contactors for AC and DC (bidirectional) up to 4.8 KV and 1,100 AContactors
4996
CU – Double-pole DC power contactorCU – Double-pole DC power contactor

NO contactor for DC (unidirectional) up to 3000 V and 600 A.

Do you have questions about this product?CU – Double-pole DC power contactorContactors
2733
CS115/10 - 4 pole AC and DC contactor up to 800 V and 30 ACS115/10 - 4 pole AC and DC contactor up to 800 V and 30 A

Main contacts and auxiliary switches as NO/NC contact.

Do you have questions about this product?CS115/10 - 4 pole AC and DC contactor up to 800 V and 30 AContactors
2854
C193 – Compact AC and DC contactors C193 – Compact AC and DC contactors

AC or DC designs of up to 1,200 V for frequent switching under load.

Do you have questions about this product?C193 – Compact AC and DC contactors Contactors
807
C294 – double pole DC contactorC294 – double pole DC contactor

Compact DC contactor (2 make contacts) up to 1,500 V for frequent switching under load.

Do you have questions about this product?C294 – double pole DC contactorContactors
878
C295 – double pole contactors for DC or AC up to 1,600 volts (UiC295 – double pole contactors for DC or AC up to 1,600 volts (Ui

Designs with 200, 750 or 1,200 V of rated voltage; continuous current: 120 A.

Do you have questions about this product?C295 – double pole contactors for DC or AC up to 1,600 volts (UiContactors
877
C160, C162 – Universally configurable AC and DC contactorsC160, C162 – Universally configurable AC and DC contactors

Single-pole cam contactors up to 1,000 V and 250 A. DC versions with blowout magnets.

Do you have questions about this product?C160, C162 – Universally configurable AC and DC contactorsContactors
263
C152, C153, C154 – Universally configurable AC and DC contactorsC152, C153, C154 – Universally configurable AC and DC contactors

2, 3 and 4 pole cam contactors up to 1,000 V and 200 A.

Do you have questions about this product?C152, C153, C154 – Universally configurable AC and DC contactorsContactors
265
C155, C156, C157 – Universally configurable AC and DC contactorsC155, C156, C157 – Universally configurable AC and DC contactors

2, 3 and 4 pole cam contactors up to 1,000 V and 300 A.

Do you have questions about this product?C155, C156, C157 – Universally configurable AC and DC contactorsContactors
872
C158, C159 – Universally configurable AC and DC contactorsC158, C159 – Universally configurable AC and DC contactors

Single-pole and double-pole cam contactors up to 1,000 V and 500 A.

Do you have questions about this product?C158, C159 – Universally configurable AC and DC contactorsContactors
873
S005 – Cam switch elementsS005 – Cam switch elements

Single pole cam-operated switching elements for 15 A

Do you have questions about this product?S005 – Cam switch elementsContactors
2702
S007 – Cam switch elementsS007 – Cam switch elements

Single pole cam-operated switching elements for 25 A and 60 A

Do you have questions about this product?S007 – Cam switch elementsContactors
2707
S008 – Cam switch elementsS008 – Cam switch elements

Single pole cam-operated switching elements for 25 A and 60 A

Do you have questions about this product?S008 – Cam switch elementsContactors
2709
S306 – Cam switch elementsS306 – Cam switch elements

Single pole cam-operated switching elements for 160 A and 200 A

Do you have questions about this product?S306 – Cam switch elementsContactors
658
S307 – Cam switch elementsS307 – Cam switch elements

Single pole cam-operated switching elements for 250 A and 300 A

Do you have questions about this product?S307 – Cam switch elementsContactors
813
S310 – Cam switch elementsS310 – Cam switch elements

Single pole cam-operated switching elements for 500 A

Do you have questions about this product?S310 – Cam switch elementsContactors
814
EKS127 – Terminal bolts for low voltage applicationsEKS127 – Terminal bolts for low voltage applications

Easy to install terminal points in 4 sizes

Do you have questions about this product?EKS127 – Terminal bolts for low voltage applicationsContactors
1455
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