Enclosure for contactors

john4703 · 23 Aug 2020

I’ve been looking at the heating system in the church I attend. Very easy to do during lockdown. It is a mess and I will sort it out. I really want to scrap most of the old stuff and replace it with something that will work. I will need to use 5 contactors and was thinking of these from Screwfix British General 20a Dp Contactor (6654p),

Can anyone suggest a decent enclosure for these? I’m sure it needs to be metal to meet the regs but beyond that I am not sure what is available. I don't want to waste money on a main switch or anything else in a populated enclosure.

333rocky333 · 23 Aug 2020

https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/pro...VTe7tCh2GLwTzEAQYHCABEgJwWPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

bernardgreen · 23 Aug 2020

This might be what you need LINK

EDIT too slow typing

SUNRAY · 23 Aug 2020

john4703 said:
I’ve been looking at the heating system in the church I attend. Very easy to do during lockdown. It is a mess and I will sort it out. I really want to scrap most of the old stuff and replace it with something that will work. I will need to use 5 contactors and was thinking of these from Screwfix British General 20a Dp Contactor (6654p),

Can anyone suggest a decent enclosure for these? I’m sure it needs to be metal to meet the regs but beyond that I am not sure what is available. I don't want to waste money on a main switch or anything else in a populated enclosure.

In a church it doesn't need to be metal, what else needs to be in there? MCB's? timers? relays? time switch? etc.
just an example of what can be used:https://cpc.farnell.com/europa-components/pb5322413/ip67-adaptable-box-ik10/dp/EN85070
Try your local electrical wholesaler for more of an idea of availability and usually better pricing.

333rocky333 · 23 Aug 2020

The contacters you have chose run quite warm, i would not recomend putting them in a lidded enclosure.
Also leave at least half a module spacing between each contacter

SUNRAY · 23 Aug 2020

333rocky333 said:
The contacters you have chose run quite warm, i would not recomend putting them in a lidded enclosure.
Also leave at least half a module spacing between each contacter

I've never used this type of device and surprised the heat needs to be considered, I haven't yet found a spec for them.

333rocky333 · 23 Aug 2020

We use the schneider which are similar, it depends more on how long there energized, Tesco run there store lighting through them for years, but recently changed from N/ O to N/C to reduce the coil operating times
We had cases where they had burnt through the sides.
May be able to sort some photos

From the Schneider site
Are spacers required when DIN rail mounted contactors are installed in an enclosure?
When installing more then two contactors, side by side in an enclosure, include a 9mm module spacer (part no. A9A27062) between every two units.
https://www.se.com/uk/en/product/A9C15185/contactor-ct---2-no---25-a---230-v-ac/

aptsys · 23 Aug 2020

Coil is around 3W per device on these, so they do get fairly warm when packed together.

SUNRAY · 24 Aug 2020

aptsys said:
Coil is around 3W per device on these, so they do get fairly warm when packed together.

3W? wow no wonder they get warm.
The lighting panels I made for Tesco [and Sainbury's for that matter] I used ABB contactors [80to90mA@24V for a device twice the size]with NC contacts operated by Trend IQ2 or 3 DO's or SRMV's

bernardgreen · 24 Aug 2020

I assume the heating is electrical hence the need for contactors as apposed to relays.

Rather than having the contactors grouped together could they be distributed, each contactor being close to the heater(s) it controls.. It would mean having to run a control wire to each location which might not possible.

flameport · 24 Aug 2020

john4703 said:
British General

No.

john4703 · 24 Aug 2020

Thanks for all the replies. The enclosures that Rocky and Bernard suggested look good.
As you are warning me that these run warm if I use these I'll space them out.
I was using these contactors as they are neat and easy, I've used them before for lighting. I want one for each zone and they will switch the gas boiler and pump. Total load must be under 16A as that is the MCB rating and will be a lot less. I will look at relays as well.
I'm trying to do it cheaply and use the existing 4 time switches. I'd really like to move over to something like Nest or Hive smart thermostats but they are too expensive just now. Income has been massively reduced by Covid-19. I will try to change it to a system where it would be easy to add smart thermostats later.

bernardgreen · 24 Aug 2020

If the load is less than 16 amps and single pole switching is OK then these relays and sockets from Finder are ideal. ( image is two pole, single pole is the same appearance )

https://www.findernet.com/en/unitedkingdom/products/families/18/series/40

There is a single pole rated at 16 amps and double pole rated at 10 amps.

Word of caution, some relays have contacts on 3mm pitch and other have 5 mm pitch, you need to check carefully that you have the correct socket for the selected relay.

Finder_DIN_base

bernardgreen
8 Nov 2015

john4703 · 24 Aug 2020

bernardgreen said:
If the load is less than 16 amps and single pole switching is OK then these relays and sockets from Finder are ideal. ( image is two pole, single pole is the same appearance )

https://www.findernet.com/en/unitedkingdom/products/families/18/series/40

There is a single pole rated at 16 amps and double pole rated at 10 amps.

Word of caution, some relays have contacts on 3mm pitch and other have 5 mm pitch, you need to check carefully that you have the correct socket for the selected relay.

Thanks, that is helpful.

SUNRAY · 24 Aug 2020

bernardgreen said:
If the load is less than 16 amps and single pole switching is OK then these relays and sockets from Finder are ideal. ( image is two pole, single pole is the same appearance )

https://www.findernet.com/en/unitedkingdom/products/families/18/series/40

There is a single pole rated at 16 amps and double pole rated at 10 amps.

Word of caution, some relays have contacts on 3mm pitch and other have 5 mm pitch, you need to check carefully that you have the correct socket for the selected relay.

Finder_DIN_base

bernardgreen

8 Nov 2015

View attachment 202859

I've never thought of using a CU enclosure for this purpose.

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Enclosure for contactors

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