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Definition:

Ac Contactors

Contactors are heavy-duty electrical relays, or switches, typically used to drive motor and pumps in equipment such as air conditioning units and heat pumps. The contactors take an electrical input voltage and create a magnetic field. The resulting magnetic field draws in additional contacts that feed power to components drawing from the same electrical circuit. AC contactors are driven by alternating current and typically include an additional copper ring, known as a shading ring, on the end of the solenoid to help even out the alternating magnetic pull.