RE: Switch

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "sundog by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <sundog-at-timeship-dot-net>

Hi All,

 Yep.  Ebay is the place to check for large contactors.  I got my contactors
(500v350A 3P) off Ebay for $36 and change.  Shipping brought it up to
~$45-47 (I can't remember exactly.)  They laugh at switching the pole pig,
and make a very satisfying "CHUNK!* when energized.   The real killer I
found with small contactors (240v30A) was that they weren't designed with
this heavy of an inductive load in mind, and there's pretty bad sparking of
the contacts on opening and closing.  My PFC caps made this a whole lot
worse.  While it won't be much of a big deal for small coils, it becomes
problematic on big trannies.  My small contactors (the 240w30A) welded shut
on me when I used them on the pig at ~20A input. I don't think it was the
current, but the sparking when they closed.  A quick rap with a screwdriver
(after I cut the breaker off) and they popped apart.  A stronger spring
would probably fix it.
 For a small coil, they work fine though.  You may have to clean up the
contacts with emery paper once in a while, depending on the quality of the
contactors (my small ones were cheapies, $2 ea at a flea market, new in the
box)

 Keep it safe!
												Shad

-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 1:32 PM
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: Switch


Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>"
<Mddeming-at-aol-dot-com>

In a message dated 3/28/01 12:53:23 AM Eastern Standard Time,
tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:


>
> > > Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>"
> > <Gbjsjg-at-aol-dot-com>
> > >
> > > Does anyone have a good location to buy, 50 amp120/240 volts switches,
> for
> > > power controller use?
> >
  -Max



I got a 60-Amp 600v dpst knife switch off eBay last year. Very impractical,
but good for "stage effect". It looks like the type seen in 1930s
Frankenstein movies. Might try there.
Matt D.