Question about relay contact ratings

agarb said:

Reference: http://www.ab.com/en/epub/catalogs/...643/229703/Specifications.html#Specifications

At 120V AC, this relay will make 30 amps and break 3 amps.

But the next row down in the datasheet says that for an AC-15 inductive load it has a 3 A N.O. contact.

Can anybody explain what appears to me as a contradiction?

The reason I am asking is that I would like to use this relay to drive a 100-D180 contactor with 120V AC conventional coil. The 100-D180 datasheet says it has a pick-up of 650 VA (310 Watts) and hold-in of 50 VA (10 Watts). This back-calculates to 5.5 amps make and 0.4 amps break. Obviously, this is much less than 30 amps but more than 3 amps...

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sthompson said:

You didn't specify, but I presume you are talking about the 700-HLT Relay, that is where your Link sent me.

I don't see a problem, the Relay will allow 30A on Make, well above your Coil Pull In Current, and 3A Break, again well above your Coil Holding Current. If you want to extend the life of your Contacts, put a 120VAC MOV across the Contactor Coil.

Stu.....

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agarb said:

My concern is the other line in the datasheet for the 700-HLT... What does it mean when it says - "Inductive Load - AC-15 250V, 3 A N.O. Contact, 1.5 A N.C. Contact"

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