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

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Thermal current
Number of poles
Type of voltage
Industry
S307 – Cam switch elements
Single pole cam-operated switching elements for 250 A and 300 A
S306 – Cam switch elements
Single pole cam-operated switching elements for 160 A and 200 A
S008 – Cam switch elements
Single pole cam-operated switching elements for 25 A and 60 A
S007 – Cam switch elements
Single pole cam-operated switching elements for 25 A and 60 A
S005 – Cam switch elements
Single pole cam-operated switching elements for 15 A
C158, C159 – Universally configurable AC and DC contactors
Single-pole and double-pole cam contactors up to 1,000 V and 500 A.
C155, C156, C157 – Universally configurable AC and DC contactors
2, 3 and 4 pole cam contactors up to 1,000 V and 300 A.
C152, C153, C154 – Universally configurable AC and DC contactors
2, 3 and 4 pole cam contactors up to 1,000 V and 200 A.
C160, C162 – Universally configurable AC and DC contactors
Single-pole cam contactors up to 1,000 V and 250 A. DC versions with blowout magnets.
AFS11, AFS711, AFS177, AFS717, AFS817, AFS797 – 2 and 4 pole motor reversing contactors
Battery contactors for thermal currents up to 80 A, 150 A and 250 A
Battery contactors for thermal currents up to 80 A, 150 A and 250 A
Battery contactors for thermal currents up to 80 A, 150 A and 250 A
CA – power contactors for AC applications
Triple pole contactors up to 4,800 V, 800 A and 400 Hz.
CH1130 – compact contactor for AC and DC (semi-bidirectional) up to 4.8 kV
Redesign based on CT technology.
CL – Single-pole, double-pole and triple-pole contactors
AC and DC contactors up to 2200 V and 250 A.
C360 – DC NO contactors for railway applications
Compact AC and bidirectional DC contactor of up to 1,500 volts. Making current up to 2,500 amps; continuous current up to 500 amps; short-time current up to 3,000 amps.
C320 – DC bidirectional switching
Compact AC and DC contactor of up to 1,500 volts. Continuous current up to 1,000 amps; short-time current up to 5.000 amps.
CPP – Compact single-pole NO and NC contactors
Rated insulation voltagebis up to 3.600 V. Making current up to 2000 A. Continuous currents up to 200 A. Short-time currents up to 2000 A.
CF – Multipole AC power contactors
Modular and compact AC power contactors for inverter-fed AC drives with higher frequencies
R400 – High-voltage relays for test benches
Rated insulation voltagebis up to 1,500 V. Continuous currents up to 25 A. Short-time currents up to 200 A.
CU – Double-pole DC power contactor
NO contactor for DC (unidirectional) up to 3000 V and 600 A.
CS115/10 – 4 pole AC and DC contactor up to 800 V and 30 A
Main contacts and auxiliary switches as NO/NC contact.
C193 – Compact AC and DC contactors
AC or DC designs of up to 1,200 V for frequent switching under load.
C294 – double pole DC contactor
Compact DC contactor (2 make contacts) up to 1,500 V for frequent switching under load.
EKS127 – Terminal bolts for low voltage applications
Easy to install terminal points in 4 sizes
S135 – Emergency disconnect switch up to 320 V DC
Emergency disconnect switch (NC) for battery voltages. Checked for industrial trucks (EN1175-1).
S134 – Emergency disconnect switch up to 160 V DC
Emergency disconnect switch (NC) for battery voltages. Checked for industrial trucks (EN1175-1).
S132 – Emergency disconnect switch up to 160 V DC
Emergency disconnect switch (NC) for battery voltages. Checked for industrial trucks (EN1175-1).
S100/80 – Emergency disconnect switch up to 48 V DC
Emergency disconnect switch (NC) for battery voltages. Checked for industrial trucks (EN1175-1)
Fuse holder for strip fuses to DIN 43560
Strip fuse holders for battery-electric vehicles up to 80 V from 50 A to 425 A
C100 – Battery contactors up to 80 V
DC-contactor with magnetic blowout. Four sizes for continuous currents of up to 60, 100, 150 and 250 A.
C110B – bidirectional battery contactor
DC contactor for battery voltages up to 48 V (80 volt Ui). Four sizes up to 60, 100, 150 and 240 A.
C130 – Combination contactors for battery voltages
A combination of a DC line contactor and a manual cut-off switch, fuses and an optional horn in an all-in-one device
C137, C163, C164 – Battery contactors for railway, industrial and UPS applications
Unidirectional single pole NO or changeover contactors or with magnetic blowout
C295 – Double-pole AC and DC contactors up to 1,600 V
Designs with 200, 750 or 1,200 V of rated voltage; continuous current: 120 A.
C195 – AC and bidirectional DC Contactor
NO or changeover contactors of up to 1,800 V and continuous currents of up to 320 A. Bidirectional and bistable designs.
C130 – Combination contactors for battery voltages
A combination of a DC line contactor and a manual cut-off switch, fuses and an optional horn in an all-in-one device
C300 – DC bidirectional switching
Super compact DC contactor of up to 1,500 V. Making current up to 2,500 A; continuous current up to 500 A; short-time current up to 3,000 A.
C310 – DC bidirectional switching
Compact AC and DC contactor of up to 1,500 volts. Making current up to 2,500 amps; continuous current up to 500 amps; short-time current up to 3,000 amps.
CT power contactors – Revolution in handling DC and AC electric arcs
Kombination elektro- und permanent-magnetischer Blasung in einem Schütz.
CP – Modular and compact switchgear
1 pole bi-directional high-voltage contactors, disconnectors, changeover switches for DC and AC

Media library

Katalog C40
CP – 1-polige bidirektionale Leistungsschütze, Trenner, Umschalter für DC und AC in Leistungsstromrichtern
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Brochure New Mobility
Safe disconnection of high voltages in e-vehicles
EN

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