Relay points

[Pietenpol]

Had a sweep call on 48 last night, no pins in table, no jam, full rack. I cycled the table and then it was fine. Another call, then sweep seemed weird. Swapped chasis, took it back to shop and found the fried points. Is there a way to check the points on the machine with a meter? Do a visual inspection with dental mirror? What's the best way to verify the integrity of the rest of the machines?

[wb8yjf]

Re: Relay points

If these are the original Allen Bradleys, visual is usually a good way to go. Also make sure the sprint under the contact compresses a little when engaged - to make sure they are getting a solid mechanical connection. If you are using the newer A&B replacements, junk those and go with another type contactor. They are very unreliable! Call Stahls and ask about the new style A&B contactors - they are GREAT! If you do go that route, you'll have to drill a couple of new holes for the mounting plate to make more room between the contactors - otherwise they will be practically touching (S & T contactors). Piece of cake.... [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif[/img]

Jon

[8270_Wang]

Re: Relay points

Use bowltronics Solid State contactors. They are the only way to go.

Wang

[Andrew]

Re: Relay points

We have far more problems with the newer closed contactors than the old style A&B 'open' ones. We have about half and half.

We usually just overhaul the old style ones when they fail instead of replacing them.

Of the closed style, we have Seimens, A&B and Moeller.

Almost all of the failed ones have been A&B's newer style and the failures have been the contacts. I usually try to salvage contacts to rebuild them, but we ain't buying any more of those so they'll slowly disappear by natural selection [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/img] .

We first started using Seimens several (~7) years ago and have only had a few coils fail over the years (the contacts seem quite good).

We also started using Moeller contactors about 2 years ago. Haven't had problems yet (but too short a time to know). They have bigger contacts than the A&B closed style.

But still, with proper maintenance, I reckon the old 'open' style A&Bs are clearly the best mechanical contactor we've used.

Andrew.

[wb8yjf]

Re: Relay points

Andrew, have you ever tried the new style (enclosed) A&B contactors? They are grey and a little bigger than the others. They work great!

Jon

[Webster City Bowl]

Re: Relay points

I'm with Wang on this one, Bowl-Tronic solid state all the way.

[old-school-mechanic]

Re: Relay points

Solid state is not bad after you get use to the quiet. Weird not hearing any snap coming from the chassis

[JimDorsin]

Re: Relay points

Originally posted by WangJ:
Use bowltronics Solid State contactors. They are the only way to go.

Wang

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I third that motion

[TCPserved]

Re: Relay points

now i know what to expect outta the newer a&amp;b enclosed contacts.. i got 6 of em and decided to put them in. hasn't even been a year yet but hey if the die, i still got the old allen bradleys to rely on. also have a few bowltronics boards and they seem pretty reliable (only blew up maybe 2 so far..) and i got some cheap knock off bowltronics contacts somewhere.. they're fun to look at but that's about it. and moeller. and siemens. wow. didn't realize what a variety i had! well, IMO the old style allen bradleys will never let you down, but i'm really starting to like those bowltronics thingies. and i've never had any problems with enclosed contacts that i'm aware of.

[TCPserved]

Re: Relay points

wait! what am i sayin?? old allen bradleys suck! I always have to fix em. enclosed or bowltronics! (note to self: stop posting right after you crawl out of bed.)

[Table Head]

Re: Relay points

IMO bowltronics is the way to go they are just as much as bying a mechanical relay but have far less problems that I have seen. I think the old style A&amp;B and Simmens are the better ones of the mechanical contactors. I'd like to see Cutler &amp; Hammer come out with one. They make realy good contactors, but I haven't seen one that we could use.

[Pietenpol]

Re: Relay points

Was going to tell the owner about the bowltronics...$60 with a button to activate. Much nicer I would think than reaching under to activate the old contacts. Was going to add up cost of 2 contacts vs. 1 bowltronics board. Also considering the average life space of the old ones...anyone have a guesstimate for that?

[8270_Wang]

Re: Relay points

Check around with different distributors. They might have a different price on the bowltronics contactors.

Wang

[Table Head]

Re: Relay points

I can only find mechaincal contactors for about 50-55 buck so spending an extra 5 is worth it for soild state.

[Andrew]

Re: Relay points

Originally posted by wb8yjf:
Andrew, have you ever tried the new style (enclosed) A&amp;B contactors? They are grey and a little bigger than the others. They work great!

Jon

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I meant those ones - the enclosed contact A&amp;B ones. Ours just don't last long. Usually it's the brake contacts on one side only that burn up (that's why I am able to salvage half the contacts to rebuild some).

Perhaps we are using the wrong ones - the number is 100-C12UX200.

Anyway, we don't buy them anymore.

I would like to try the solid state ones. I have some grovelling to do...

Andrew.