Lovato Electric, of Gorle-Bergamo , Italy , has further extended Orange , its system of components for motor protection and control, by introducing the new generation of contactors for direct current. The modern design and the innovative concepts distinguish this new line of products. During product development, utmost attention has been given to compact size, coil consumptions and operating ranges of the supply voltage. In actual fact, the three-pole contactors, with 9 to 38A rating in AC3, for the control of motors up to 18.5kW, are just 45mm wide. In addition, the new contactors do not use the traditional laminated magnetic core concept but are equipped with particular cores with permanent magnets. The solution with permanent magnets provides for excellent operating coil performance. Lovato Electric offers two coil versions. The standard one, available with 7 different rated voltages: 12-24-48-60-110-220 VDC, warrants a wide operating range of 70 to 125% rated value and a 5.4W consumption at in-rush and holding. The low-consumption type, available with 24 and 48 VDC only, consents electronic controls, such as PLC, to directly drive the contactors, thanks to the mere 2.4W consumption at in-rush and holding and the 80 to 110% operating range. The coils have 4 terminals, two each for the supply connection, on either the line or load end of the contactor; this greatly simplifies contactor wiring. All the models are standard supplied with a built-in TVS type of surge suppressor to reduce peak voltage conditions, without increasing the contactor opening time. This type of suppressor cannot be damaged should it be fitted with inverse polarity. The new series of direct-current contactors include the following configurations:

- three poles
- four poles
- 4NC main poles
- 2N0+2NC main poles
- control relay.

Auxiliary contacts, both built-in and add-on, are designed to warrant high conductivity, even in critical conditions, owing to the scraping effect. All the products have been developed and designed with ultimate care for use in severe operating conditions and comply with the strictest international standards, including the North American authorities UL and CSA.

This new line of contactors is perfectly integrated into the Orange system, which includes another three product packages: motor protection circuit breakers - SM series, thermal overload relays and electromechanical starters. It warrants maximum interchangeability of accessories (thermal overload relays, auxiliary contacts, mechanical interlocks and rigid connections) with the line of alternating-current contactors and the earlier series of contactors. Rigid connections consent to assemble electromechanical starters, such as reversing and star-delta assemblies in a quick and easy way without committing errors and to have a compact size and a streamlined look. In just 45mm of width, motor starters up to 32A can be obtained by connecting contactors with 50kA breaking capacity SM1 breakers. The 33 to 56A in AC1 four-pole contactor versions can be made by fitting an add-on fourth power pole to the three-pole types. Among the accessories, attention can be drawn to the side-mount mechanical interlock equipped with two NC auxiliary contacts for the electric interlock, used to exclude the simultaneous closing of the two contactors, which also can be of two different frame sizes.