The main difference between electrical contactor and circuit breaker is that a contactor is an electrically controlled switch that makes contact to connect the load with the power supply whereas a circuit breaker is an electrical protective device that breaks contacts to disconnect the load from the power supply during a fault condition. Let's go to know other important differences between circuit breaker and contactor.
Constructional difference between Contactor and Circuit Breaker
Contactor: Contactor is quite simple in construction than a circuit breaker. It has multiple contacts, some of them fixed contact and some movable contacts are designed to move when electromagnet attracts. The electrical contactor also has an electromagnetic coil design to operate at low voltage and current. So when control voltage is applied to the coil, its movable contacts touch the fixed contacts and connect the load with the power supply.
Contactor Symbol:
Circuit Breaker: There are different types of circuit breakers available and all are made with different construction. So if we see the overall basic construction common with all circuit breakers, then we will see it also has multiple fixed contacts and movable contacts like an electrical contactor but they are designed to contact physically by electromagnetic attraction, mechanical pressure, or pneumatic pressure. The circuit breaker also has current and voltage sensing circuits, unlike a contactor, because they are automatically operated, and it must interrupt the circuit automatically when any fault occurs.
Circuit Breaker Symbol:
Functional difference between Circuit Breaker and Contactor
Electrical Contactor Function: The main function of an electrical contactor is to connect the load to a power supply with high voltage and current. The contactor also has an advantage i.e. it is designed to rapidly open and close contacts. A contactor is mainly required when we need to control or switch high voltage, current with low voltage, current.
Circuit Breaker Function: The main function of a circuit breaker is to automatically break the contact to disconnect the power supply during an overload or short circuit fault. The circuit breaker can be operated manually to make the contact to connect the power supply. So, in normal conditions, a circuit breaker acts as a switch also.
Other comparisons between circuit breaker and contactor are given below.
Contactor VS Circuit Breaker
| Electrical Contactor | Circuit Breaker |
| It is an electrical switching device | It is an electrical protective device |
| Its main function is controlling | Its main function is to protect |
| It works under normal condition | It works under abnormal(fault) condition |
| It is used for low to medium-voltage | It is used for low to ultra-high voltage |
| There are more chances of sparking, flashing | There is almost no chance of sparking or flashing |
| It cannot work automatically | It can work automatically and trip the circuit when a fault occurs |
| The Electromagnetism principle is used to make contact between fixed and movable contacts | Electromagnetism and mechanical or pneumatic pressure are used to make contact between fixed and movable contacts |
| There is no arrangement for ARC quenching. | High voltage and current circuit breakers have ARC quenching arrangements. |
| There are no current-voltage sensing circuits in the electrical contactor. | Circuit Breaker has current and voltage sensing circuits. |
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January 06, 2021
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