Control gear

Contactor (3-pole)

A switch thrown by an electromagnet — a small coil current commands a large motor current.

Photorealistic three-pole contactor with top and bottom screw terminals

Real part — tap a marker

Contactor (3-pole)

A switch thrown by an electromagnet — a small coil current commands a large motor current.

Terminals

1/L1 · 3/L2 · 5/L3 — three line inputs (top)
2/T1 · 4/T2 · 6/T3 — three load outputs (bottom)
A1 / A2 — the coil (control) supply
13 NO / 21 NC — auxiliary contacts on the add-on block

Coil (A1–A2) — creates the field that pulls the armature in
Fixed and moving contacts — usually double-break, one pair per pole
Armature and return spring — drops the contacts out when the coil de-energises
Arc chutes — split and cool the arc drawn when a motor load breaks
Auxiliary contact block — extra NO/NC contacts for the hold-in circuit
DIN-rail clip — the spring foot that mounts it in the board

Cutaway of a three-pole contactor showing the operating coil, armature, return spring, double-break contacts, arc chutes and auxiliary block

Cutaway — tap a marker

⚡ Meet it in a circuit

Terms used here

Defined in the glossary — each one opens at its own entry.

Safe isolationTesting

⚠ Safety note

A contactor is a control device, not an isolator: it can weld closed after a fault, and the contacts you can see are never the whole picture. Isolate, lock off and prove dead on the incoming side before touching anything, and remember the coil may be fed from a completely different circuit than the contacts switch.

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