Contactor with integrated pyrotechnic interrupter

A method of operating an electrical contactor, the electrical contactor including:

• a contactor assembly including:
• a housing;
• an electromagnet coil and an electrically conductive core disposed within the housing, the electrically conductive core being movable relative to the electromagnet coil under influence of an electromagnetic force produced by the electromagnet coil;
• and
• an electrically conductive contact bridge connected to a lower end of the electrically conductive core and movable with the electrically conductive core;
• and
• an interrupter assembly including:
• an electrically insulating base located below the electrically conductive contact bridge and having a trench formed in a top surface thereof;
• an input bus bar and an output bus bar disposed on top of the electrically insulating base on opposing sides of the trench;
• and
• a pyrotechnic interrupter disposed within the trench and including:
• a plunger;
• and
• a pyrotechnic ignitor disposed below the plunger;
• wherein the electrically conductive contact bridge is movable between a first position, wherein the electrically conductive contact bridge provides an electrical connection between the input bus bar and the output bus bar, and a second position, wherein the electrically conductive contact bridge does not provide an electrical connection between the input bus bar and the output bus bar;
• the method comprising increasing a duty cycle of electrical power supplied to the electromagnet coil if current flowing through the input bus bar and the output bus bar rises above a predetermined maximum value.