Posted 3 years ago
AnythingOb…
(1778 items)
Here's another one of my 'industrial electrical' collection. Manufactured by the SQUARE D COMPANY, this is an item commonly called a "contactor" -- it is essentially a heavy duty relay which allows something BIG (a large motor, a stadium full of floodlights,, etc. etc.) to be ultimately controlled (turned on or off, that is) by some other kind of much smaller and less hazardous (or automated, or etc. again) switch. This one is rather small as such things go, making it also one which could be commonly found (in some equivalent size/brand) in most any boiler or equipment room in any kind of commercial environment.
That classic "KER-CHUNK" sound effect noise often heard in movies or TV dramas when somebody hits a switch somewhere and all the warehouse lights suddenly blaze on together -- *that's* supposed to be a "contactor". :-) :-) :-)
This particular unit probably isn't all that old, maybe 20-25 yrs if that, still very much a viable piece of equipment that could be returned to service somewhere tomorrow, and for which any normally replaceable parts are certainly still available from an electrical supply distributor. It actually has several 'part' or 'model' numbers for its various components that are crucial in determining its exact application parameters, which can be configured as needed.
It's a motor starter isn't it? The bottom part looks to be the overload.
BHIFOS... it is 2 - 5 horse motor ....smiling...
I remember working on older faze in motor motors that had a handle on them like a old truck emergence brake handle ..and you had to work it back and forth to faze the motor start up to get up top speed ..what a trip...lol
https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=AOaemvI9s7tFPDjN3ti5b66ykCa2s1kuAg:1631200616528&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=nema+d+box+motor+starters&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiZibjql_LyAhW6MlkFHVmPA5YQjJkEegQIJRAC&biw=1920&bih=955
I should of mention the were D C motors that I worked on when working at a hydro eclectic plants .. they call them brush motors ..
here's a snip on them & how they work .. Brushed motors were the first commercially important application of electric power to driving mechanical energy, and DC distribution systems were used for more than 100 years to operate motors in commercial and industrial buildings. Brushed DC motors can be varied in speed by changing the operating voltage or the strength of the magnetic field. Depending on the connections of the field to the power supply, the speed and torque characteristics of a brushed motor can be altered to provide steady speed or speed inversely proportional to the mechanical load. Brushed motors continue to be used for electrical propulsion, cranes, paper machines and steel rolling mills. Since the brushes wear down and require replacement, brushless DC motors using power electronic devices have displaced brushed motors from many applications
Yes BHIFOS -- correct on both counts -- and apparently Rocky22222 can read/translate its specs from the plates in the photos because he's also correct -- it *did* control a "2-5 HP motor!!! :-) :-) :-)
That's also fascinating recollection about the huge DC motors you worked with Rocky -- thanks for sharing!!! My own 'motor experience' doesn't get quite that big, but I have seen and marveled at equipment like that?!!! :-) :-) :-)
THANKS also to vetraio50, BHIFOS, fortapache, vintagelamp, & Manikin for your <love it>s!! :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
I used to work on quite a lot of old style motor starters, primary resistance, secondary resistance, star/delta. I got called into a local quarry one day as the main crusher had stopped, when I walked into the switch room there was torchy (a nickname we gave their fitter as he would regularly gas axe through critical stuff like large power cables) with the contents of the old cast iron oil bath star delta starter lying on the floor (it was old and obsolete then) I asked if he knew how it all went back and he thought I would know. Yea right another puzzle to fix!