New 60 Amp Relay Contactor

[Spanky]

In many cases a 30 amp relay is too small to control some hot water heaters, pumps, or other high current devices.

Soon ELK will be offering a new high current 60 amp relay contactor, double pole, double throw, in a metal enclosure that can plug into any applicance module such as X10, Insteon, UPB, Zwave, and Zigbee, or it can be hardwired to a controller. It will have high current terminals that can accept up to 8 guage wire.

The current ELK 9100 has 30 amp contacts and is available for X10 only. The new contactor in a box will open up high current control to all the powerline carrier and wireless protocols available that have an appliance module.

Availability around April. Cost of the high current contactor in a box and an applicance module will be in line with the ELK 9100 cost.

 

[gatchel]

Do you know how much current the contactor will draw? There have been some reports that with Insteon modules under low current loads the modules can act "funny"

 

[Photon]

I am familiar with relays. How is a "contactor" different?

 

[Spanky]

A contactor is a BIG relay that can handle more current through its contacts than the normal relay. Relays generally go up to about 30 amp contacts. Some motor starting contactors can have built in timing to step start the motor.


The coil will draw about 1 watt of power at 120 VAC. You should use an appliance module with on/off so that it does not try to dim.