CONTACTOR DEVICE INCLUDING ARC SUPPRESSION MEANS

CONTACTOR DEVICE INCLUDING ARC SUPPRESSION MEANS An electrical contactor device includes a solid state arc suppression circuit connected in parallel with main relay contacts. Auxiliary contacts provide gating signals to the arc suppression circuit prior to, during and shortly after the main contacts open. Protection contacts connected in series with the arc suppression circuit are part of a relay which is actuated by additional auxiliary contacts of the main relay. The protection contacts prevent the arc suppression circuit from operating during initial closure of the main contacts thereby allowing the contactor device to be used in those applications where a high in-rush current is expected. A delay circuit holds the protection circuit relay contacts closed after the main relay contacts open to permit operation of the arc suppression circuit; the relay contacts thereafter open to isolate the arc suppression circuit and thereby to prevent any leakage current from flowing therethrough and to prevent any false triggering thereof. A fuse in the protection circuit prevents operation of the contactor device in the event the solid state devices become short circuited.