CPC H01H 1/0015 (2013.01) [H01H 50/546 (2013.01); H01H 73/045 (2013.01); H01H 2071/044 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. A method for determining contact thickness change in a contactor, said method comprising:
sensing, using a position sensor, a first displacement distance moved by an armature of the contactor from a reference location to a first transition point during a switch-off operation of the contactor at a first contactor life reference time when movable contacts and fixed contacts of said contactor define a first contact thickness;
sensing, using the position sensor, a second displacement distance moved by the armature from the reference location to a second transition point during a switch-off operation of the contactor at a second contactor life reference time after said first contactor life reference time when said movable contacts and said fixed contacts define a second contact thickness that is less than said first contact thickness; and
using said first displacement distance and said second displacement distance to determine a contact thickness change between said first contact thickness and said second contact thickness.
|