Springer Controls offers the CR460 series of lighting contactors from ABB.
Your Lighting Contactor Guide
Number of Poles
Poles can be added to the base as single poles or double poles to create the desired total number of poles in the circuit. Each pole is rated for 30A for lighting applications. Poles can be converted from NO to NC or vice versa by rotating 180 degrees how they are mounted in the base.
The CR460 has a base that contains the coil for opening and closing the contacts and auxiliary contacts, and to that base, you can add up to 12 poles for lights. Each pole is rated for 30A. This modular design allows additional capacity to be added or reconfigured in the field. NO contacts can be converted to NC contacts by reversing how they are mounted in the base.
Open or Closed
The CR460 series can be purchased from Springer Controls OPEN for mounting in your own enclosure or ENCLOSED with the internal wiring completed, so you just need to run power in and out of the enclosure. Enclosures can be NEMA 1 or NEMA 12/3R. NEMA 1 is for indoor use only, while NEMA 12/3R is suitable for outdoor use. For other options, please contact Springer Controls.
Electrically or Mechanically Held
The CR463L is the electrically held contactor. This means that the control power closing the coil is always on when the contacts are closed and the lights are on. This can result in some slight electrical buzz, so if the contactor is located in a quiet area where people may be present, you may consider the mechanically held option to avoid anyone hearing any electrical noise.
The CR463M is the mechanically held contactor. Once the control power energizes the coil to close the contacts, a mechanical latch holds the contacts closed and keeps the lights on, and the coil power is turned off. This eliminates any potential for electrical noise from the contactor and prevents the lights from flickering if there is a problem with the control power. Mechanically held contactors are recommended when the contactor will be installed in a quiet area where people may be present or if the control power is potentially unreliable, like from a battery.
2 Wire or 3 Wire
The contactor is available in 2 or 3 wire configurations. 2 wire configuration is used when there is only one switch to turn the lights on/off. If there are multiple switches/locations that can be used to turn the same light(s) on/off, then you will need the 3 wire configuration.
Coil Voltage
The CR460 series is available with 120V or 277VAC coils. This is the control voltage used to turn the lights on or off, not necessarily the line power that is powering the lights.
Auxiliary contacts can be used to activate a pilot light or local indicator of the system’s status, on or off. Springer Controls can add Hand-Off-Auto switches for systems using daylight sensors or timers to turn the lights on or off.
The control module includes a microprocessor that validates the control signal before operation to prevent momentary voltage spikes or noise causing flickering. A short delay (0.4s) in the operation command of the microprocessor avoids short-term power cycling, which can fatigue or damage lighting. A feedback loop prevents the contactor from being out of sequence with the switches, even during power failures.
The CR460 lighting contactor from ABB is a versatile, reliable, and durable contactor that is ideal for a wide range of lighting control applications. The contactor’s modular design and various features make it a great choice for any lighting control application.
Lighting Contactor Customizations
Contact Springer Controls for more details or to receive a quote on a system customized to your requirements.