Contactor Configuration

Contactor Control Sequency Summary
:
The Contactor Configuration page provides a way to configure the internal Contactor of the passive filter. The Contactor is an electronically controlled switch that disengages and engages the harmonic filter’s tuning circuit, designed to eliminate most harmonic frequencies. The overall sequence in which the filter goes through is described below:
  1. The Contactor Mode Setting dictates the contactor state if there are no Alerts (Alarms/faults).
  2. The Contactor Mode Setting generates a command to change the Contactor State.
  3. When the command to change the contactor state occurs, the filter waits for the Open Delay or Close Delay time to pass.
    1. And if the Contactor is commanded to Open, the Open Delay time has passed, and the Contactor opens.
    2. Or if the Contactor is commanded Closed, the Close Delay time has passed, the filter ensures the Contactor reclose timer has passed, and then the Contactor Closes.
Note: Saving Settings to make any Contactor changes final.
Contactor Reclose Timer
The Contactor must always wait
2 minutes
 before reclosing after opening. This safety feature ensures the user does not open and close the contactor for short durations.
Open & Close Delay
For the various contactor control modes, there is a customer-settable time delay for the contactor to open and close. A condition that would change the state of the contactor must last longer than the set delay for it to have an effect. This is important to prevent high frequency switching of the contactor, which reduces its longevity. This delay time can range from 5 to 360 seconds for both Open and Close delay times.
Contactor Reset
This manually resets the contactor state and resumes normal operations. It should be selected after an Alert (alarm/fault) condition has occurred and been cleared. This is useful when the auto-reset functionality has been turned off.
Auto Reset Enabled/Disabled
If enabled, the contactor will automatically reset
5 minutes
 after an
alert condition has been cleared
.
Contactor Control Mode Selections:
  • Force Open –
     Forces the Contactor to open permanently after Open Delay time.
  • Force Close –
     Forces the Contactor to close permanently after Close Delay time.
  • Auto Load–
     Automatic contactor mode. It will force the contactor to close when the filter load percentage reaches the Auto Mode Close Threshold. Likewise, if the measured percentage of the load is less than its selected close threshold value, the contactor will automatically open. The load hysteresis threshold can be used to decide at what load percentage the contactor recloses. For example, with a Close Threshold of 30% and Load Hysteresis of 5%, the contactor will close when the filter loading exceeds 30% load, but the contactor will not open until the loading falls below 25% load.
  • Relay–
    Forces the Contactor to open or close based on a signal from Relay Pin J7/J8 on the PQconnect board. For example, if the close threshold of the contactor is 30% and the load hysteresis threshold is at 5%. The contactor will close when the filter loading exceeds 30% load, but the contactor will not reopen itself until the loading falls below 25% load.
  • Auto kVAR–
    Automatic contactor mode. It will force the contactor to open when the filters’ input capacitive kVAR (not inductive kVAR) exceeds the Target kVAR Setpoint. A target hysteresis setpoint can be used to decide when the contactor recloses. For example, if the Target kVAR Setpoint is 54 and the Target kVAR Hysteresis is 10. The contactor will open when the Filter’s input kVAR exceeds 54 kVAR, but the contactor will not close until the Filter’s input kVAR falls below 44 kVAR.
  • Debug Force Close–
    Automatic contactor mode. It will force the contactor to close regardless of any active faults being active. After 15 minutes the PQconnect board will go back to its previous Contactor Mode or until another mode is selected.
    It is recommended not to set this Contactor Mode unless explicitly told by a Tech-Support Engineer. Unknown damage could be done to the filter.
     This mode is only available for Filter’s with PQconnect firmware C3 and above.
Save Settings
It saves any modified settings so that they remain after a power cycle. Saving the settings will automatically open the contactor.
Reset PQconnect
An easy and effective way to power cycle the Filter’s PQconnect board. Any unsaved settings will be lost. Resetting the board will open the contactor if the contactor state is closed.
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