Monitoring Electrical Contactor Health

A method of monitoring contactor health for an electrical contactor of an electric apparatus, the electrical contactor being switchable in a switching event between an open state and a closed state or between a closed state and an open state, wherein in response to a switching event instruction the method comprises:

• determining a current value indicative of current flowing in the electrical contactor in the closed state at a time proximate to the switching event;
• attributing a percentage of a total contactor life estimate to the switching event based on the current value, wherein the total contactor life estimate is an estimate of the total life of the contactor;
• determining an updated remaining percentage contactor life estimate by subtracting the percentage of total contactor life estimate from an initial remaining percentage contactor life estimate, wherein the updated remaining percentage contactor life estimate comprises an estimate of the life of the contactor following the switching event and the initial remaining percentage contactor life estimate comprises an estimate of the life of the contactor prior to the switching event;
• and
• outputting the updated remaining percentage contactor life estimate.