Reversing switch or contactor?

jdunmyer · 11-19-2012, 08:21 PM

Why would one want a reversing switch rather than a contactor? When building up my 1979 CC with a Curtis 1205 controller, I found a reversing contactor from an electric pallet jack. As those seem to be equipped with 400-amp controllers, the reversing contactor must be rated at that, right? The only problem that I saw was the coil on the contactor was 24 volts. A bit of measurement and calculation told me that a 15 ohm power resistor would take care of that issue.

It works great, I have an Allen-Bradley 3-position selector switch on the dash instead of the big ol' selector. Other than the 900 ma extra draw, why would I NOT want the contactor?

11-19-2012, 08:21 PM	#1
jdunmyer Gone Wild Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Lower SE Michigan Posts: 330	Reversing switch or contactor? Why would one want a reversing switch rather than a contactor? When building up my 1979 CC with a Curtis 1205 controller, I found a reversing contactor from an electric pallet jack. As those seem to be equipped with 400-amp controllers, the reversing contactor must be rated at that, right? The only problem that I saw was the coil on the contactor was 24 volts. A bit of measurement and calculation told me that a 15 ohm power resistor would take care of that issue. It works great, I have an Allen-Bradley 3-position selector switch on the dash instead of the big ol' selector. Other than the 900 ma extra draw, why would I NOT want the contactor?

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