Cheap A/C Contact for lighting circuit.

So, I was looking at contactors to run a high amperage draw lighting circuit and what I found was that these contactors are expensive as hell.

But, what I did find is that 30A or higher 2 pole contacts for AC units can be purchased cheap. Ideally, you would want one with a 120V coil so you could operate it directly from a standard timer. But even if you can only find ones with 24V coils, you can still use a standard timer with an inexpensive transformer. The transformer powers the contactor which can run a 240V circuit. All for far less than a standard lighting contactor.

Anyone ever try this?

i actually have a 120v coil ac contactor with a 240 circuit run on it and if got it hooked up 2 six 1k lights works fine never hada problem.

your on the right track and these will work i run a siemens 120-660v 40amp contactors on my lighting contoler.
see the 2 contactors either side of breakers these were 70 each
I run two 1 for 120 and the other for 240 use in the wall timers for triggers at 120v my complete setup was like 280, sounds expensive but i have 8 timed 240v plugs and 4 non timed, and 4 timed 120v and 4 nontimed bt all could be timed or not. was very fun to build

withoutAchance said:

your on the right track and these will work i run a siemens 120-660v 40amp contactors on my lighting contoler.
see the 2 contactors either side of breakers these were 70 each
I run two 1 for 120 and the other for 240 use in the wall timers for triggers at 120v my complete setup was like 280, sounds expensive but i have 8 timed 240v plugs and 4 non timed, and 4 timed 120v and 4 nontimed bt all could be timed or not. was very fun to build

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Looks great. Are those AC contactors? Where did you buy them?

I use alarm relays like this
http://www.altronix.com/index.php?pid=2&model_num=RB30
or
http://www.elkproducts.com/_webapp_2981402/elk-912__compact_relay_module,_12_volt_dc_coil
either are under $10 & use a 12vdc coil so you need a transformer or low voltage timer.since I am in the business, most come free/slightly used. have an elk relay that switches from between 400 w HPS & a small cube heater at lights out that has been running for over 2 yrs now so I know it is durable.

mrmadcow said:

I use alarm relays like this
http://www.altronix.com/index.php?pid=2&model_num=RB30
or
http://www.elkproducts.com/_webapp_2981402/elk-912__compact_relay_module,_12_volt_dc_coil
either are under $10 & use a 12vdc coil so you need a transformer or low voltage timer.since I am in the business, most come free/slightly used. have an elk relay that switches from between 400 w HPS & a small cube heater at lights out that has been running for over 2 yrs now so I know it is durable.

Click to expand...

That's amazing! I'm sure a simple doorbell transformer would power a few of these. makes you wonder why others are so expensive. I guess you gotta just know where to look.