Capacitor Switching Contactor for choked and unchoked Power Factor Correction System

Capacitor contactors for unchoked power factor correction system
During the switching of unchoked power factor correction capacitors a peak-switching current of 200 times the normal current can occur. This load stresses the capacitors and the switching contacts of the contactors immensely. This can lead to corruption of welded main contacts of contactors.

Modern power factor correction systems are currently equipped with special capacitor contactors the switch the capacitors first with leading contacts and then additionally with resistance wires. The in rush current gets damped strongly by the resistors. After approximately 5 ms the main contacts for the contactor switch and take over the current supply to the capacitor. Further to this, the leading contacts open up and no current can flow during permanent operation. This also avoids additional power loss.

The advantages include:
	Significant damping of in-rush current
	Improvement in voltage quality during the switching process
	Extended life of capacitors
	High operational reliability if power factor correction system
	Extension of the maintenance periods of the power factor correction system
	Suitable for choked and unchoked power factor correction systems due to leading transition contacts opening during permanent operation

	Patented design with significant dampening of inrush current
	Long-life contactors tested by FRAKO up to 100,000 switching operators
	Suitable for choked and unchoked power factor correction systems
	Very high operational reliability

Capacitor contactors for choked power factor correction system:
When choked power factor correction systems are switched, the peak-switching current is essentially lower because of the high inductivity of the harmonic filter reactor as with unchoked power factor correction systems.

	Safe switching (On & Off) of choked capacitor steps
	Improved voltage quality through chatter proofed switching operations
	Extended life of the contactor ( > 100,000 switching operations)
	High operational reliability of the power factor correction system