Chapter 4

Isolators and Contactors

Isolators:
 Isolator is a mechanical switch which isolates a part of circuit
from system as when required.
 Electrical isolators separate a part of the system from rest for
safe maintenance works.
 Isolator is a manually operated mechanical switch which
separates a part of the electrical power system at off load
condition.
 The isolator must be capable of carrying maximum fault current
for the time, the fault is being cleared by an interrupting device in
series with it.
 Isolators are used extensively for connecting at tiers, feeders, for
repair and maintenance of lines, transformers, circuit breakers or
any component of the system.
 Types of isolators
There are mainly three types of isolators:
1. Double break isolators
2. Single break isolators
3. Pantograph type isolators

1. Double break isolators

This type of isolator consists of three

loads of post insulators. The middle
insulator holds a flat male or tubular
contact that can be turned straightly
by a spin of middle post insulator. The
rotation of the middle post insulator
can be done by a lever method at the
bottom of the post insulator.
 2. Single break isolators
In this type of isolator, the arm
contact is separated into two
elements. The first arm contact
holds male contact, as well as
second arm contact, holds female
contact. The arm contact shifts
because of the post insulator
rotation upon which the arm
contacts are fixed.
The post insulators rotation stacks in reverse to each other which
makes to shut the isolator by shutting the arm contact. Post
insulators counter rotation stacks to open the arm contact, as well
as an isolator, rotate into an off condition. Generally, the motor
operated isolator is used however an emergency manual operated
isolator is also offered.
 3. Pantograph type isolators

The Pantograph Disconnectors are

single break and vertical reach type
Disconnectors mounted on a post
insulator operated through a operating
rod insulator.
These types of Disconnectors permit
the design of modern switchgear
installations with minimum-space
requirement.

Used when two bus bars are at different levels.

 Electrical Isolator operation
The operation of electrical isolator can be done by the
following two operational methods namely opening and
closing.
Opening of an electrical isolator
 In the beginning, open the major circuit breaker.
 Then divide the load from a system with isolator opening
 Close the earth switch. Earth switch can become with an
interlock system with isolator. That’s means when isolator is
open only that time earth switch can be closed.
Closing of an electrical isolator
 Detach the earth switch.
 Shut the isolator.
 Shut the circuit breaker.
Explanation of an operation of isolator
• As no arc quenching technique is provided in isolator, it must be
operated when there is no current flowing through the circuit. No
live circuit should be closed or open by isolator operation. A
complete live closed circuit must not be opened by isolator
operation and also a live circuit must not be closed by isolator
operation to avoid huge arcing in between isolator contacts. That is
why isolators must be open after circuit breaker is open and these
must be closed before circuit breaker is closed.
• Isolator can be operated by hand locally as well as by motorized
mechanism from remote position. Motorized operation
arrangement costs more compared to hand operation; hence
decision must be taken before choosing an isolator for system
whether hand operated or motor operated economically optimum
for the system. For voltages up to 145KV system hand operated
isolators are used whereas for higher voltage systems like 245 KV or
420 KV and above motorized isolators are used.
 Applications
1. It provide electrical isolation of the equipment, bus bar, and circuit
from the live parts for maintenance purpose
2. It is used for transfer of load from one bus to another.
3. Isolator in Substation: When a fault occurs in a substation, then
isolator cuts out a portion of a substation.
 Contactors
A contactor is an electrically controlled
switch used for switching a power
circuit. It is similar to a relay except with
higher current ratings.

Contactors are used to control electric

motors, lighting, heating, capacitor
banks and other electrical loads.

They cannot provide short circuit

protection but can only make or break
contacts when excited.
Construction and operation
 Construction:
 A contactor has three components.
The contacts are the current
carrying part of the contactor. This
includes power contacts, auxiliary
contacts, and contact springs. The
electromagnet (or "coil") provides
the driving force to close the
contacts. The enclosure is a frame
for housing the contact and the
electromagnet. Enclosures are
made of insulating materials like
Bakelite and thermosetting plastics
to protect and insulate the contacts
and to provide some measure of
protection against personnel
touching the contacts.
 Operation:

 When current passes through the electromagnet, a magnetic

field is produced, which attracts the moving core of the
contactor. The moving contact is propelled by the moving
core; the force developed by the electromagnet holds the
moving and fixed contacts together. When the contactor coil
is de-energized, gravity or a spring returns the electromagnet
core to its initial position and opens the contacts. Because
arcing and consequent damage occurs just as the contacts are
opening or closing, contactors are designed to open and close
very rapidly.
 “NO” and “NC” auxiliary contacts
NO - Normally open contact
NC -Normally close contact
 “NO” contact remain open when the contactor coil is not
supplied or is de-energized. Just after the contactor coil gets
supply, it energizes and pulls the “NO” contacts and the
contacts get closed. The “NC” contacts remain closed when
the contactor coil is not supplied. Just after the contactor coil
gets supplied the coil energizes and makes the “NC” contacts
open.
 Applications of contactors
 Lighting Control: Contactors are often used to provide central
control of large lighting installations, such as an office building
or retail building.
 Motor Control: Contactors are intensively used to supply
motors
 DOL Starter (Direct online starter)
 A DOL starter (or Direct On Line starter or across the line
starter) is a method of starting of a 3 phase induction motor.
A direct online starter consist of two buttons, a GREEN button
for starting and a RED for stopping purpose of the motor.
Working of DOL Starter
 The working principle of a DOL starter begins with the
connection to the 3-phase main with the motor. The control
circuit is connected to any two phases and energized from
them only. When we press the start button, the current flows
through contactor coil (magnetizing coil) and control circuit
also. The current energizes the contactor coil and leads to
close the contacts, and hence 3-phase supply becomes
available to the motor.
 If we press the stop button, the current through the contact
becomes discontinued, hence supply to the motor will not be
available, and the similar thing will happen when the overload
relay operates. Since the supply of motor breaks, the machine
will come to rest. The contactor coil (Magnetizing Coil) gets
supply even though we release start button because when we
release start button, it will get supply from the primary
contacts as illustrated in the diagram of the Direct Online
Starter.
 When a motor draws excessive current to meet the load
requirements such that this load requirement goes beyond
the rated limit, this is known as overload. So overload relays
are employed to limit the amount of current drawn. Fuse or
MCB used in the system protects the over current during
short circuit condition.
 Thus the above scheme is best to control and protect the
motor.
 IOE Questions
 What are Isolators? Explain the operating sequence during
opening and closing of an Isolator. [2079 Jestha]
 Explain the construction and operating principle of contactor.
Draw the circuit diagram for remote control of a contactor. [2078
Chaitra]
 How contactors are used to control and protect the motor?
Explain the working principle of scheme with suitable necessary
circuit. [2077 Chaitra]
 Explain with a neat sketch how automation of a system is done
with the help of a contactor. [2076 Bhadra]
 What are the basis differences between Isolator and circuit
breaker? Explain why we use isolator and circuit breaker
simultaneously? [2075 Bhadra, 2074 Bhadra, 2072 Ashwin]
 What is isolator? With the single line diagram, explain the
working of isolator with consideration of closing and opening of
circuit breaker kept in high voltage installations? [2075 Baisakh,
2070 Magh]
 How contactor are used to control and protect the motor? Explain
the working principle of scheme with suitable necessary circuit.
[2073 Magh, 2070 Bhadra]
 Explain the construction, operating principle and application of
isolator. [2073 Bhadra, 2071 Bhadra]
 A high voltage feeder has a circuit breaker and isolator. Develop a
guideline for connecting and disconnecting the feeder through
isolator and circuit breaker. Can you replace circuit breaker with
contactor in the feeder? Justify your answer. [2071 Magh]