Patent ID: 11887795
Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
Field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  G | IPC H

Claim 17:
18. A controller for a mechanical contactor, the controller comprising:
processing circuitry; and
storage storing instructions executable by said processing circuitry whereby said controller is operative to preform a method of controlling a mechanical contractor having at least one pair of contacts for conducting a mains current (Im) when the contactor is in a closed position, and an electromagnet arranged to close the contractor, and maintain the contractor in the closed position, by forcing the pair of contacts towards each other when a control current (Ic) runs through a coil of the electromagnet;
wherein when no control current (Ic) is flowing through the coil, the contactor is in its open position;
wherein when the control current (Ic) is turned on and thus flowing through the coil, the contactor is brought from its open position to its closed position; and
while the control current (Ic) is flowing through the coil, the contactor remains in the closed position;
the method comprising:
while the control current (Ic) is flowing through the coil, obtaining an indication of unintentional separation of contacts of the pair; and
in response to the obtained indication, turning off the control current (Ic), thereby avoiding reclosing of the contacts after the unintentional separation.