My IEC Contactor Coil keeps overheating

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on an overheating issue with a 3-phase IEC contactor featuring a 120V coil voltage. The user reports voltage readings of 121V on L1, 120V on L2, and 121V on L3, yet the coil overheats when energized. Key troubleshooting steps include verifying the coil's connection and measuring the voltage directly across the coil terminals. If the coil is connected across two phases, a 230V coil is required instead of the 120V version.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of 3-phase electrical systems
  • Knowledge of IEC contactor operation
  • Experience with voltage measurement using a voltmeter
  • Familiarity with coil voltage specifications
NEXT STEPS
  • Investigate the wiring configuration of the IEC contactor
  • Learn about the differences between 120V and 230V coil requirements
  • Research methods for measuring voltage across coil terminals
  • Explore troubleshooting techniques for overheating electrical components
USEFUL FOR

Electrical engineers, technicians working with industrial control systems, and anyone involved in troubleshooting contactor issues will benefit from this discussion.

epcole
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I have a 3ph IEC contactor with 120v coil voltage. For some reason, the coil starts heating up like crazy when I run it. I have 121v on L1, 120v on L2 and 121v on L3. I re-connected all the wiring to make sure there were no loose connections but still it keeps heating up when I energize the coil. What could be causing this?
 
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How is the coil connected in the contactor? Is there a transformer using two of the phases to get the 120 volts? If you are connecting the coil across two of the phases directly, you'll need a 230 volt coil.
 
Have you measured the voltage across the coil itself? One voltmeter probe on each terminal of the coil.
 

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