Load influence on the response of AC-Contactors under power quality disturbances

This paper analyzes the response of AC-Contactors connected to different electrical loads under voltage dips and supply interruptions. A wide range of magnitudes, durations and point-on-wave initiation values are considered for generating the power quality disturbances. For the first time, three types of electrical loads are used to evaluate the AC-Contactor sensitivity under most common power quality disturbances. For this purpose, over 40,000 tests are carried out on AC electromechanical contactors, contributing to reduce the uncertainties of their electrical response outlined in the specific literature. Voltage-versus-time curves of contactors with similar technical specifications, but provided by different manufacturers, are included in the paper. In this way, the behavior of contactors dealing with real situations located in industrial environments is analyzed in detail. The results present a valuable interest for commercial, industrial, utility and OEM sectors, where this kind of switching equipment is widely used in a varying power factor scenario.