Timer and contactor

[AlexGoode]

Hello, a friend has asked me to install a few 20W LED fittings on his out houses working off a timer, there are already some lights form a board with a timer in it. i have looked at the wiring but am wondering how the wiring works for the timer,and the timer. the lights are down a drive and at the end but the ones i will install are just above doors close to the board. if you can help i am very grateful

 

[tazz]

May I ask....are you an electrician or diyer...?

 

[shanky887614]

permL+N to the contactor then Sw+N to the lights on the output.

the timeclock will be used to switch the contactor (by pulling it closed) this will probably have its own supply from board but it might not

 

[trev]

Trainee according to his profile mate.

 

[trev]

So where does the contactor come in to it? Do you know why contactors are used?

 

[ImpededLoop]

Hi,

I suspect that the timeclock energises the coil of a contactor. The contractor will contain a number of switching contacts which close (switch on) when the coil is energised.

One side of these contacts will be fed from circuit breaker(s) or fuse(s) in the distribution board. The outgoing side will supply the external lighting. It may be that both line and neutral are switched by the contactor.

To add another circuit, you'll probably need another contactor. Loop the coil feed from the existing contactor to also feed the coil of your new contactor so the both operate together. Then run a new lighting circuit through the new contactor to the new lights.

LED's can have quite a high start up current, so get s contactor that is higher rated than you may normally use.

If you're unsure, get a colleague to have a look before you start.

 

[AlexGoode]

I am currently an apprentice but have done little work with e likes of contractors and relays and have never found the easy to understand, don't know why,is the a page to look at to understand them. i looked at the wiring today and found that a type B 10amp breaker feeds both the timer and contactor. on the contractor there is A1 at the front on the top and A2 is at the from on the bottom, are the back terminals 1 and 3 and 2 and 4?if so what is the difference between A1 and A2 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4?

 

[trev]

Alex, do yourself a massive favour here. Do this job with the guy you're apprenticed to, I can see this ending badly for you.

 

[ImpededLoop]

A1 and A2 are the coil connections.

 

[ImpededLoop]

Alex, do yourself a massive favour here. Do this job with the guy you're apprenticed to, I can see this ending badly for you.

I'd agree with Trev. You'll learn a lot if you get someone to do this with you and explain it all.

 

[AlexGoode]

the wiring is from what i already, there, surely i can just carry it on or there is just the with live and neutral i need to connect to?

 

[trev]

the wiring is from what i already, there, surely i can just carry it on or there is just the with live and neutral i need to connect to?

In English mate?
Seriously, if you don't know why and how contactors are installed then you need to leave well alone.
I appreciate that you want to do your mate a favour but he isn't doing you any.

 

[AlexGoode]

ok then, thanks, if i was to say to him that i suggest getting someone else to do it, could you at least explain it in a simple way to understand?

 

[AlexGoode]

could you at least explain to me who after wiring it it would work if i suggest to him togged somebody else in

 

[Anthony S]

You need to understand the working's of a contactor before you start meddling.

 

[AlexGoode]

could you explain then please?

 

[tazz]

It is a very simple everyday circuit for most electricians, A1 & A2 are the coil 123 are the relay com, nc, no contacts....if you don`t understand this setup, then please get somebody who does

 

[Anthony S]

could you explain then please?

You need to learn off a tutor at your college with your text books or an electrician who you are training with.

 

[AlexGoode]

the tutor will have broken up for xmas

 

[shanky887614]

It is a very simple everyday circuit for most electricians, A1 & A2 are the coil 123 are the relay com, nc, no contacts....if you don`t understand this setup, then please get somebody who does

just to add usually the schematic is printed on the relay/contactor as well