Appleton™ PlexPower™ Factory-Sealed Contactor and Motor Starter
Installation and Operation Instructions
FOR PROPER AND SAFE INSTALLATION OF THIS PRODUCT, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS
Signal Words Defined
DANGER indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury. WARNING indicates a hazardous
situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury. CAUTION indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
could result in minor or moderate injury. NOTICE is used to address practices not related to physical injury.
Product Safety
The PlexPower™ Contactor and Motor Starter with or without a main breaker is rated 125 amps maximum. For individual breaker
disconnect, maximum rating applies at 30 amps. Contactor and overload relay are rated up to 27 amps, 600 volts AC maximum.
Safety Instructions
WARNING: Ensure that the power to the panel mains is switched off before replacing any parts or accessories in the contactor
and motor starter.
CAUTION: Only authorized personnel may open the unit because live components are installed behind the cover.
NOTICE: To ensure nger-safe operation, a dead pan is supplied inside the unit.
Applications
The Appleton™ PlexPower™ Contactor and Motor Starter provides
electrical protection and control of electrical circuits in hazardous
environments such as:
• Ensuring that all installation instructions are followed.
• Carefully reading, understanding and following the current edition of the National Electrical Code® (NEC®) or the
Canadian Electrical Code.
• Inspecting the contactor and motor starter thoroughly before operating.
• Understanding how to operate all standard and accessory equipment.
• Ensuring that anyone operating or maintaining the contactor and motor starter is qualied and has been
fully instructed on how to perform those tasks.
• Retaining and storing these instructions for reference during future inspections and maintenance.
Lifting and Transfer
To lift the contactor and motor starter, insert the supplied shackle into the top mounting foot of the enclosure. Lift the unit vertically
with the help of a crane, wire rope, chain, or at lifting belt to enable the movement/transfer to the mounting location.
• Inspect the mounting feet on unit before beginning the installation. Consult the factory immediately if you nd a mounting foot
damaged or missing. All mounting feet must be in perfect condition to install the unit safely and correctly.
• Make sure that the mounting studs/bolts are in place on the mounting frame, mounting strut, or wall according to the dimensions
specied on the drawings in the “Installation” section of this document.
• The contactor and motor starter is intended to be mounted vertically. Use the “U-Slot” on each mounting foot for positioning and
fastening the unit to the mounting frame, mounting strut, or wall.
• All mounting locations must be secured properly to avoid any damage to the unit or injuries to personnel.
• If the unit was moved by using the eye bolt, secure the bottom mounting locations rst.
• Once the bottom mounting locations are securely fastened, release the lifting accessories and fasten the upper mounting locations
to the mounting frame, mounting strut, or wall.
• After the bottom middle mounting feet are fastened to the mounting frame, mounting strut or wall, remove the eye bolt from top
mounting foot and secure it to the mounting frame, mounting strut or wall with an M10 bolt.
• Make sure that all bolts are fully tightened.
• The number of bolts required to mount the panel should be equal to the number of mounting feet on the panel.
• For the Multiple Contactor and Motor Starter:
- Allow 20 inches of clearance to the left of the panel to facilitate the 120˚ swing of the door.
- The maximum clearance between the oor and bottom side of the panel should be one foot to facilitate the easy operation of
switches and handles.
• For the Single Contactor and Motor Starter:
- Allow 8 inches of clearance to the left of panel to the facilitate the 120˚ swing of the door.
- The maximum clearance between the oor and the bottom side of the panel should be 2'3" to facilitate the easy operation of
• To facilitate wiring connection to both the line side and load side of the panel, two holes need to be drilled on the gland plate
provided on the bottom side of enclosure.
- Make sure to utilize the correct and required wire size according to the panel specications.
To connect wires from load side to the terminal blocks, refer to the wiring diagram below. Also note the terminal block markings.
To connect wires to control terminals for the auxiliary block, refer to the wiring diagram below and to the terminal block markings.
Note: The following directions must be followed for wiring routing through the contactor and motor starter enclosure.
• All wires must be routed in such a way that they will not interfere with each other.
• All wires should be tied with cable ties.
• All wires must be appropriately tagged for easy identication.
• Secure wires rmly by applying the required torque on the pressure screw.
• Special care needs to be taken while connecting wires to line side and load side. Wires routed close to the heater
must be examined carefully as well.
WARNING: All wiring must be checked and tested to ensure all circuits are wired correctly and there are no unwanted opens,
shorts or grounds. Do not apply power until the following steps are completed:
• Test each circuit to verify correct phasing and ground connections.
• Test each circuit for insulation resistance by hi-pot test; to be sure the system does not have any short circuits
or unwanted grounds.
• All wiring completed at the factory will have passed a hi-pot test.
• If any circuit displays a resistance to another circuit or to ground of 1 megaohm or less, that circuit must be analyzed, corrected
and tested to be good to more than 1 megaohm before applying power.
• Perform these tests with the circuit breakers in both the “ON” and “OFF” positions.
• Check the terminals and connectors for looseness or signs of overheating.
• Overheating will show as discoloration, melting, or blistering of conductor/connector insulation, or as pitting or melting of
conductor surfaces due to arcing.
• If there is evidence of overheating, terminations should be cleaned or replaced.
• Before re-energizing the contactor and motor starter, all terminations and cable should be refurbished to the condition
of the original install.
The status of the breaker is determined by the position of the knob indicated on the label. Operation simply consists of twisting
the handle to the desired position.
Contactor
The status of the contactor is determined by illuminated lights as indicated by the label.
Resetting Tripped Overload Relay
• Simply push the reset button on the panel.
• If it the unit cannot be turned on, it is either not reset, or it is being subjected to conditions which are causing an immediate trip.
Investigate the circuit immediately.
• “Auto” mode allows the user to operate the motor from a remote location. By selecting the “auto” mode, the user does not
need to start and stop the motor locally provided there is an electrical switch connected from Terminal Block 2 (TB2) to Terminal
Block 4 (TB4) as depicted in the diagram below.
Hand Mode
• “Hand” mode enables the user to start and stop the motor manually.
Off Mode
• When the “Off” mode is selected, the user cannot start the motor remotely or manually.
WARNING: Electrical power must be disconnected before and during maintenance. Modication of this contactor and motor
starter or substitution of parts with non-standard parts may result in serious/fatal injury.
Maintenance
• Before carrying out any work on equipment, cited safety instructions must be very carefully observed.
1. Disconnect power to the contactor and motor starter panel before opening the panel.
2. The main breaker and branch breaker should be locked and tagged out for safety during maintenance procedures.
3. The hardware installed shall be inspected on regular schedule.
4. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure these inspections are implemented according to the protection modes of the equipment
hardware installed.
5. Before use of the contactor and motor starter, check that all module cover attaching screws are properly tightened to ensure that
the product remains explosion-proof.
6. The ameproof function for product must be kept for complete duration of service life therefore joints must be maintained
in good condition.
• No scratches, marks or modications are allowed on parts such as the module body and module cover which are critical
for amepath integrity.
• To ensure the security and electrical safety of the unit, the external lug assembly and connecting wires from other devices should
be checked on a regular basis
• Any appliance found to be defective should be replaced as quickly as possible.
• Perform visual, electrical, and mechanical checks on all components on a regular basis.
• Visually check for undue heating as evidenced by discoloration of wires or other components, damaged or worn parts, or leakage
as evidenced by water or corrosion of the interior.
• Electrically check to ensure that all connections are clean and tight.
• Mechanically check that all parts are properly assembled, and operating mechanisms move freely.
• Contact Appleton if the contactor and motor starter does not function correctly.
• Maintenance should be done only by skilled and authorized personnel who have complete knowledge and understanding of the
product, its applications, and requirements.
IMPORTANT: No scratch marks or modications are allowed on parts or features which are critical for amepath integrity.
In general, no scratches/marks/modication are allowed on the body ange and cover ange areas. Damage to these parts/features
may compromise the ameproof function of entire housing.
Alignment of Mistake-proof Feature
While assembling the body and cover, ensure the alignment of the mistake-proof feature orientation on the body and cover. Also
check for correct orientation and placement of the cover to avoid any damage.
Replacement of Contactor:Replacement of Overload Relay:
1. Remove the F-Frame cover from the body by unscrewing the M8 screws.
2. Once the cover is removed, unscrew power and control connection from the contactor and auxiliary, respectively. Then,
remove contactor from DIN rail.
3. Install the new contactor into the body. While installing the new contactor into the body, make sure that it is installed with the
correct orientation (line side/load side).
4. After installing the contactor into its designated place, make all power and control connections.
5. After installing the contactor into the body, check the mistake-proof feature orientation, then replace the cover. Fasten the M8
1. Remove the F-Frame cover from the body by unscrewing the M8 screws.
2. Once the cover is removed, unscrew the power and control connection from the overload relay and auxiliary switch. Then,
remove the overload relay with its stand from the DIN rail.
3. Push the new overload relay into the stand and install overload relay with stand into the body. While installing the overload relay
into the body, make sure that it is installed with the correct orientation (line side/load side).
4. After installing the overload relay into its designated place, make all power and control connections.
5. After installing the overload relay into the body, check the mistake-proof feature orientation, then replace the cover. Fasten the M8
screws to a torque value of 90 in-lbs. NOTE: If the overload relay is damaged, order a new relay with mounting stand.
Wiring Connection for Contactor and Line Bushing Installed in Housing
After installing the new contactor into the housing, make line bushing connections on the contactor as shown in the diagram below.
Once the connections are completed, verify that all wires are secured into their correct locations as per the wiring diagram. Pay careful
attention to the markings on contactor terminals and on line bushing wires.
Wiring Connection for Overload Relay and Line Bushing Installed in Housing
After installing the new overload relay into the housing, make line bushing connections on the overload relay as shown in the diagram
below. Once the connections are completed, verify that all wires are secured into their correct locations as per the wiring diagram. Pay
careful attention to the markings on overload relay terminals and on line bushing wires.