7/25/2018 Why do my contactor coils keep burning out?

Technical FAQs

Why
Searchdo my contactor coils keep burning out?

These comments apply to all contactor applications but specifically mention lighting  because of the long periods of energisation often
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experienced.
 
There is no "lifespan" for Schneider contactor coils and they are designed to be able to cope with continuous duty. Where one specific
site is experiencing repeated coil failure, it is almost always a result of conditions of use, e.g.:
Over voltage
Over temperature (ambient)
Physical obstruction preventing the contactor closing fully
Undervoltage where the coil is not producing sufficient force to keep the contactor armature fully sealed
 

 
Lighting contactors are normally energised for very long periods, sometimes weeks or months continuously, therefore it is very
important to ensure that ambient temperatures in enclosures are maintained within specified levels. For Tesys D contactors the
recommended maximum is 60 deg C. This is air temperature immediately around the contactor, not the overall temperature of the
enclosure, so watch out for hot spots. Even in panels and enclosures that do not appear to be overheating it may be necessary to fit
circulation fans to ensure even distribution of the cooler air. A minor increase is normally permissible as long as the nominal coil
voltage is not exceeded. A minor voltage increase (1.1 times nominal) is permissible if the recommended temperature is not exceeded
but a prolonged increase in both, even minor, can cause failure.

Below is an example image of a Thermal Picture of the inside of a control panel.

https://www.schneider-electric.co.uk/en/faqs/FA174800/ 1/2
By 7/25/2018
far the most common cause of contactor coil failure is,Whysurprisingly to many,
do my contactor undervoltage.
coils keep burning out? There may be sufficient voltage to pull
the contactor in, but not enough to keep the coil armature formers firmly "sealed". This will result in over current in the coil as the full
impedance of the coil is not achieved until the mating faces are perfectly closed. This can also happen in dusty environments were
contamination can build up between the mating surfaces. Even a voltage which is so low as to prevent the contactor pulling in at all
Search
can burn out a coil as until the contactor pulls in there is very little impedance to coil and the coil may be carrying many times the
intended current.
  (javas
In some cases failure is a result of a combination of these factors.
 
These comments apply to AC coils, I have not discussed DC coils as they are very different and not normally used in lighting
applications. Because of available voltages in common lighting applications most lighting contactors will have 230 or 240 volt AC coils.
Which brings us to a final point.
 
Unless locally transformed , there is no 230V supply. In UK it is still 240VAC and 220VAC in mainland Europe and Southern Ireland. A
230V coil is designed to run on both, but it will be 220V at the bottom end of its range and 240V at the top. A 240V coil is specifically
designed for UK voltage systems. For lighting applications of long duration I would always recommend using a 240V coil in the UK as it
is optimised for the 240V supply and less likely to be effected by fluctuations in UK supplies than a 230V coil which is already running
nearer the top of its range. In theory it should make no difference as 230V coils are designed for both, but in a situation which is known
to be "difficult" it pays to eliminate as many potential issues as possible.

https://www.schneider-electric.co.uk/en/faqs/FA174800/ 2/2