home Forum Troubleshoot Used Parts search menu
search
Obsolete Industrial
Maintenance Tech App

Obsolete Contactor Coils

The contactor, along with its operating coil, is an integral part of industrial manufacturing today. Precise machinery and motor control has revolutionized the way we manufacture just about every product in an industrial environment and the contactor coil, in most cases, is a critical part of that system. However, obsolete contactor coils open up a new page in the book of down-time.

When they operate properly, they provide us with the ability to isolate and step up power to motors and other higher current devices using a variety of control voltages. When they fail, they can leave us helpless in a costly situation on the factory floor.

Contactor Coil Troubleshooting Tips | Search eBay for Used Contactor Coil | Contactor Coil in our Forum

OI is user supported. When you buy through our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission, our full disclosure is here.

Contactor Coil Trackdown and Troubleshooting

Fortunately, contactor coil problems can be fairly simple to diagnose, sometimes the bigger issue is finding a drop-in replacement for an obsolete contactor coil in an environment where ever-changing technology and design can phase out, or completely eliminate models from the available parts catalog annually.

For ease of use, accessibility, and available industrial contactor coils, we've been referring individuals to eBay. It almost seems too easy but we've found many parts available that we thought we'd never find. Even after checking with larger parts houses, we still come back and check here regularly. It is not unusual to find obsolete Allen Bradley contactor coils, Westinghouse contactor coils, Square D contactor coils, or obsolete GE contactor coils listed daily. Many times you can stumble on vintage Cutler Hammer coils or even coils with less popular voltages like 48V, 250V, 300V, or 480V.

These parts are those that were posted as a result of hard times at other companies and in many cases are NOS (new old stock).

replace obsolete Contactor CoilsMachine downtime due to an obsolete contactor coil is a reality for many. There are options, however, nothing is ever easy. Here is a systematic approach, a simple yet effective method in dealing with a failed component that has likely been phased out by the manufacturer and no longer readily available.

1. Identify your problem... Making a positive identification of the failed component is the crucial first step. Troubleshooting is not a synonym for guess-work. It is a scientific method of determining a problem. There should be no doubt as to the source of the problem. This is determined through testing and not guessing.

2. Check the shelf... That's right, all too many times has a spare component or unit been passed over and found a day late. It sounds simple, but it is always the next step. Don't go looking for something that doesn't need to be found.

3. Check with the manufacturer... A website visit, email, or quick phone call to inquire about a a drop-in replacement is common sense. This step will deliver the bad news if obsolescence is indeed the case.

4. Check eBay... Believe it or not, this has become somewhat of a flea market for old industrial parts. By many, it is still considered to be a website for collectibles and the like, but a quick search can actually reveal a different side to the 'bay. Many private sellers post industrial components as a buy it now type listing, therefore bypassing the auction format all together.

Take a moment and browse the eBay listings since they are always changing...

5. No positive results? explore other options... If your particular contactor coil is ultimately deemed obsolete and unavailable, you'll need to take the next path of least resistance. This may be upgrade or update your equipment with newer components. The good news is that your machinery or industrial equipment will most likely not need complete re-engineering or a top-to-bottom overhaul to accomodate new components. Adjustments to your system are possible when there is no other choice.


Search for Used Contactor Coil

search for used contactor coils
Search eBay Listings →

Search for Low Cost Coils

search for low cost industrial
Search Amazon →

Search the Forum

Our maintenance forum is jam packed with troubleshooting questions and answer, historical data, and general conversation on almost any topic . Forums are broken down into the maintenance saloon, troubleshooting 101, electrical and electronics, mechanical issues, and the classified ads.SMF file version (2.1.2) does not match SMF database version (2.1.4).
Run the SMF upgrader to fix this.
More information.

Search the Forum for Contactor Coil Q & A

About Us

We are a technology based organization. All parts and information regarding contactor coils has been contributed by a community of industrialists. We do not warehouse parts and components, but provide a means for perspective buyers and sellers to achieve their goals.

We also posted a contactor troubleshooting guide for those who need help diagnosing a problem.

See also: DC Magnetic Motor Controllers | Contactors | Relays | Servo Motors | Stepper Motors | Stepping Motors | Proximity Sensors | PLC Hardware | Variable Frequency Drives | Motor Inverters | PLC Racks | Vintage Breakers | Electro-Pneumatic Valves | Electro-Hydraulic Valves | Position Encoders | Position Resolvers | Pulse Coders | Reversing Motor Starters | Variable Speed Drives | Contactor Coils | Gear Motors | Relay Solenoids | Electronic Solenoids | Varidrive Parts | Soft Starters | Servo Amps

Contactor Coil Troubleshooting Tips | Search eBay for Used Contactor Coil | Contactor Coil in our Forum


Automation, Electronics, & Industrial News