Method of dissipating energy from a contactor coil

A method of rapidly dissipating energy from a contactor's pickup coil controlled by a switching device during a jogging mode, the steps comprising:

• operably connecting the switching device electrically in series with the pick up coil;
• operably connecting a metal oxide varistor to the switching device;
• periodically interrupting electrical current to the pickup coil;
• absorbing energy dissipated from the pickup coil;
• and,
• preventing a voltage across the switching device from exceeding a predetermined value.

A method of rapidly dissipating energy from a contactor circuit's dual wound coil controlled by a switching device during a jogging mode, the steps comprising:

• operably connecting the switching device electrically in series with a pickup coil of the dual wound coil;
• operably connecting a metal oxide varistor to the switching device, said metal oxide varistor must have a voltage rating at least 110% of the highest main voltage used in the contactor circuit;
• interrupting electrical current to the pickup coil of the dual wound coil;
• absorbing energy dissipated from the pickup coil;
• and,
• preventing a voltage across the switching device from exceeding a predetermined value.

A method of rapidly dissipating energy from a contactor in a jogging mode, the steps comprising:

• connecting a metal oxide varistor electrically in parallel with a switching device, both being electrically in series with a contactor coil;
• jogging the contactor by rapidly operating the switching device for a brief time period thereby rapidly energizing and de-energizing the contactor coil;
• absorbing the energy dissipated from the contactor coil during each de-energizing such that contactor dropout is achieved before the next energizing is started;
• and,
• preventing a predetermined amount of voltage from existing across the switching device during each de-energizing of the contactor coil.

A method of rapidly dissipating energy from a contactor pick-up coil device during a jogging mode, the steps comprising:

• connecting a switching device electrically in series with the contactor pick-up coil;
• connecting a metal oxide varistor of selected voltage rating electrically in parallel with the switching device;
• operating the switching device in rapid succession for a brief time period thereby rapidly energizing and de-energizing the contactor pick-up coil;
• absorbing energy dissipated from the contactor pick-up coil during each de-energizing such that contactor dropout is accomplished;
• and,
• preventing a predetermined amount of voltage from existing across the switching device during each de-energizing of the contactor pick-up coil.