Other lamp technologies - choice of contactors

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For LED lamps, see LEDs - choice of contactors.

Modular contactors and impulse relays do not use the same technologies. Their rating is determined according to different standards and does not correspond to the rated current of the circuit.

For example, for a given rating, an impulse relay is more efficient than a modular contactor for the control of light fittings with a strong inrush current, or with a low power factor (non-compensated inductive circuit).

Fig. N71a and N71b show the maximum number of light fittings for each relay, according to the type, power and configuration of a given lamp.

  • These values are given for a 230 V circuit with 2 active conductors (single-phase phase/neutral or two-phase phase/phase). For 110 V circuits, divide the values in the table by 2.
  • To obtain the equivalent values for the whole of a 230 V three-phase circuit, multiply the number of lamps and the total acceptable power:
    • by √3 (1.73) for circuits with 230 V between phases without neutral,
    • by 3 for circuits with 230 V between phase and neutral or 400 V between phases.
  • The power ratings of the lamps most commonly used are shown in bold. For powers not mentioned, use a proportional rule with the nearest values.
  • The total acceptable power values mentioned (such as "1550 W to 2000 W" for incandescent lamps - iCT 16A contactor) are provided as an indication only. The minimum value is for the smallest lamp power (1550 W, corresponding to 38 x 40W LED lamps), the maximum value for the highest lamp power.
Fig. N71a – Maximum number of light fittings for each relay, according to the type, power and configuration of a given lamp
Products iCT contactors iCT+ contactors
Type of lamp Maximum number of light fittings for a single-phase circuit and maximum power output per circuit
16 A 25 A 40 A 63 A 20 A
Basic incandescent lamps, LV halogen lamps, replacement mercury vapour lamps (without ballast)
  40 W 38 1550 W
to
2000 W
57 2300 W
to
2850 W
115 4600 W
to
5250 W
172 6900 W
to
7500 W
4660 W x cos φ
60 W 30 45 85 125
75 W 25 38 70 100
100 W 19 28 50 73
ELV 12 or 24 V halogen lamps
Ferromagnetic transformer 20 W 15 300 W
to
600 W
23 450 W
to
900 W
42 850 W
to
1950 W
63 1250 W
to
2850 W
4660 W x Cos φ
50 W 10 15 27 42
75 W 8 12 23 35
100 W 6 8 18 27
Electronic transformer 20 W 62 1250 W
to
1600 W
90 1850 W
to
2250 W
182 3650 W
to
4200 W
275 5500 W
to
6000 W
50 W 25 39 76 114
75 W 20 28 53 78
100 W 16 22 42 60
Fluorescent tubes with starter and ferromagnetic ballast
1 tube without compensation[a] 15 W 22 330 W
to
850 W
30 450 W
to
1200 W
70 1050 W
to
2400 W
100 1500 W
to
3850 W
4660 W x cos φ
18 W 22 30 70 100
20 W 22 30 70 100
36 W 20 28 60 90
40 W 20 28 60 90
58 W 13 17 35 56
65 W 13 17 35 56
80 W 10 15 30 48
115 W 7 10 20 32
1 tube with parallel compensation[b] 15 W 5 µF 15 200 W
to
800 W
20 300 W
to
1200 W
40 600 W
to
2400 W
60 900 W
to
3500 W
18 W 5 µF 15 20 40 60
20 W 5 µF 15 20 40 60
36 W 5 µF 15 20 40 60
40 W 5 µF 15 20 40 60
58 W 7 µF 10 15 30 43
65 W 7 µF 10 15 30 43
80 W 7 µF 10 15 30 43
115 W 16 µF 5 7 14 20
2 or 4 tubes with series compensation 2 x 18 W 30 1100 W
to
1500 W
46 1650 W
to
2400 W
80 2900 W
to
3800 W
123 4450 W
to
5900 W
4 x 18 W 16 24 44 68
2 x 36 W 16 24 44 68
2 x 58 W 10 16 27 42
2 x 65 W 10 16 27 42
2 x 80 W 9 13 22 34
2 x 115 W 6 10 16 25
Fluorescent tubes with electronic ballast
1 or 2 tubes 18 W 74 1300 W
to
1400 W
111 2000 W
to
2200 W
222 4000 W
to
4400 W
333 6000 W
to
6600 W
4660 W x cos φ
36 W 38 58 117 176
58 W 25 37 74 111
2 x 18 W 36 55 111 166
2 x 36 W 20 30 60 90
2 x 58 W 12 19 38 57
Compact fluorescent lamps
External electronic ballast 5 W 210 1050 W
to
1300 W
330 1650 W
to
2000 W
670 3350 W
to
4000 W
Not tested 4660 W x cos φ
7 W 150 222 478
9 W 122 194 383
11 W 104 163 327
18 W 66 105 216
26 W 50 76 153
Integral electronic ballast (replacement for incandescent lamps) 5 W 160 800 W
to
900 W
230 1150 W
to
1300 W
470 2350 W
to
2600 W
710 3550 W
to
3950 W
7 W 114 164 335 514
9 W 94 133 266 411
11 W 78 109 222 340
18 W 48 69 138 213
26 W 34 50 100 151
Low-pressure sodium vapour lamps with ferromagnetic ballast with external ignitor
Without compensation[a] 35 W 5 270 W
to
360 W
9 320 W
to
720 W
14 500 W
to
1100 W
24 850 W
to
1800 W
4660 W x cos φ
55 W 5 9 14 24
90 W 3 6 9 19
135 W 2 4 6 10
180 W 2 4 6 10
With parallel compensation[b] 35 W 20 µF 3 100 W
to
180 W
5 175 W
to
360 W
10 350 W
to
720 W
15 550 W
to
1100 W
55 W 20 µF 3 5 10 15
90 W 26 µF 2 4 8 11
135 W 40 µF 1 2 5 7
180 W 45 µF 1 2 4 6
High-pressure sodium vapour lamps

Metal-iodide lamps

Ferromagnetic ballast with external ignitor, without compensation[a] 35 W 16 600 W 24 850 W
to
1200 W
42 1450 W
to
2000 W
64 2250 W
to
3200 W
4660 W x cos φ
70 W 8 12 20 32
150 W 4 7 13 18
250 W 2 4 8 11
400 W 1 3 5 8
1000 W 0 1 2 3
Ferromagnetic ballast and external ignitor, with parallel compensation[b] 35 W 6 µF 12 450 W
to
1000 W
18 650 W
to
2000 W
31 1100 W
to
4000 W
50 1750 W
to
6000 W
70 W 12 µF 6 9 16 25
150 W 20 µF 4 6 10 15
250 W 32 µF 3 4 7 10
400 W 45 µF 2 3 5 7
1000 W 60 µF 1 2 3 5
2000 W 85 µF 0 1 2 3
Electronic ballast 35 W 24 850 W
to
1350 W
38 1350 W
to
2200 W
68 2400 W
to
4000 W
102 3600 W
to
6000 W
70 W 18 29 51 76
150 W 9 14 26 40
  1. ^ 1 2 3 Circuits with non-compensated ferromagnetic ballasts consume twice as much current for a given lamp power output. This explains the small number of lamps in this configuration.
  2. ^ 1 2 3 The total capacitance of the power factor correction capacitors in parallel in a circuit limits the number of lamps that can be controlled by a contactor. The total downstream capacitance of a modular contactor of rating 16, 25, 40 or 63 A should not exceed 75, 100, 200 or 300 μF respectively. Allow for these limits to calculate the maximum acceptable number of lamps if the capacitance values are different from those in the table.
Fig. N71b – Maximum number of light fittings for each relay, according to the type, power and configuration of a given lamp
Products iTL impulse relays iTL+ impulse relays Reflex iC60 (C curve)
Type of lamp Maximum number of light fittings for a single-phase circuit and maximum power output per circuit
16 A 32 A 16 A 10 A 16 A 25 A 40 A 63 A
Basic incandescent lamps, LV halogen lamps, replacement mercury vapour lamps (without ballast)
  40W 40 1500W
to
1600W
106 4000W
to
4200W
3680W x

cosφ

28 1120W
to
2175W
46 1840W
to
2600W
70 2800W
to
3600W
140 5600W
to
6800W
207 8280W
to
9800W
60W 25 66 23 36 55 103 152
75W 20 53 29 31 46 80 121
100W 16 42 15 23 33 60 88
ELV 12 or 24 V halogen lamps
Ferromagnetic transformer 20W 70 1350W
to
1450W
180 3600W
to
3750W
3680W x

cosφ

11 220W
to
500W
19 380W
to
800W
27 540W
to
1050W
50 1000W
to
2200W
75 1500W
to
3300W
50W 28 74 8 12 19 33 51
75W 19 50 7 10 14 27 43
100W 14 37 5 8 10 22 33
Electronic transformer 20W 60 1200W
to
1400W
160 3200W
to
3350W
47 940W
to
1200W
74 1480W
to
2000W
108 2160W
to
2600W
220 4400W
to
5100W
333 6660W
to
7300W
50W 25 65 19 31 47 92 137
75W 18 44 15 24 34 64 94
100W 14 33 12 20 26 51 73
Fluorescent tubes with starter and ferromagnetic ballast
1 tube without compensation[a] 15W 83 1250W
to
1300W
213 3200W
to
3350W
3680W x

cosφ

16 244W
to
647W
26 390W
to
1035W
37 555W
to
1520W
85 1275W
to
2880W
121 1815W
to
4640W
18W 70 186 16 26 37 85 121
20W 62 160 16 26 37 85 121
36W 35 93 15 24 34 72 108
40W 31 81 15 24 34 72 108
58W 21 55 9 15 21 43 68
65W 20 50 9 15 21 43 68
80W 16 41 8 12 19 36 58
115W 11 29 6 9 12 24 38
1 tube with parallel compensation[b] 15W 5µF 60 900W 160 2400W 11 165W
to
640W
19 285W
to
960W
24 360W
to
1520W
48 720W
to
2880W
72 1080W
to
4080W
18W 5µF 50 133 11 19 24 48 72
20W 5µF 45 120 11 19 24 48 72
36W 5µF 25 66 11 19 24 48 72
40W 5µF 22 60 11 19 24 48 72
58W 7µF 16 42 8 12 19 36 51
65W 7µF 13 37 8 12 19 36 51
80W 7µF 11 30 8 12 19 36 51
115W 16µF 7 20 4 7 9 17 24
2 or 4 tubes with series compensation 2 x 18W 56 2000W 148 5300W 23 828W
to
1150W
36 1296W
to
1840W
56 2016W
to
2760W
96 3456W
to
4600W
148 5328W
to
7130W
4 x 18W 28 74 12 20 29 52 82
2 x 36W 28 74 12 20 29 52 82
2 x 58W 17 45 8 12 20 33 51
2 x 65W 15 40 8 12 20 33 51
2 x 80W 12 33 7 11 1 26 41
2 x 115W 8 23 5 8 12 20 31
Fluorescent tubes with electronic ballast
1 or 2 tubes 18W 80 1450W
to
1550W
212 3800W
to
4000W
3680W x

cosφ

56 1008W
to
1152W
90 1620W
to
1798W
134 2412W
to
2668W
268 4824W
to
5336W
402 7236W
to
8120W
36W 40 106 28 46 70 142 213
58W 26 69 19 31 45 90 134
2 x 18W 40 106 27 44 67 134 201
2 x 36W 20 53 16 24 37 72 108
2 x 58W 13 34 9 15 23 46 70
Compact fluorescent lamps
External electronic ballast 5W 240 1200W
to
1450W
630 3150W
to
3800W
3680W x

cosφ

158 790W
to
962W
251 1255W
to
1560W
399 1995W
to
2392W
810 4050W
to
4706W
Infrequently used
7W 171 457 113 181 268 578
9W 138 366 92 147 234 463
11W 118 318 79 125 196 396
18W 77 202 49 80 127 261
26W 55 146 37 60 92 181
Integral electronic ballast (replacement for incandescent lamps) 5W 170 850W
to
1050W
390 1950W
to
2400W
121 605W
to
650W
193 959W
to
1044W
278 1390W
to
1560W
568 2840W
to
3146W
859 4295W
to
4732W
7W 121 285 85 137 198 405 621
9W 100 233 71 113 160 322 497
11W 86 200 59 94 132 268 411
18W 55 127 36 58 83 167 257
26W 40 92 25 40 60 121 182
Low-pressure sodium vapour lamps with ferromagnetic ballast with external ignitor
Without compensation[a] 35W Not tested, infrequently used 3680W x

cosφ

4 153W
to
253W
7 245W
to
405W
11 385W
to
792W
17 595W
to
1198W
29 1015W
to
2070W
55W 4 7 11 17 29
90W 3 4 8 11 23
135W 2 3 5 8 12
180W 1 2 4 7 10
With parallel compensation[b] 35W 20µF 38 1350W 102 3600W 3 88W
to
169W
4 140W
to
270W
7 245W
to
450W
12 420W
to
720W
19 665W
to
1440W
55W 20µF 24 63 3 4 7 12 19
90W 26µF 15 40 2 3 5 8 13
135W 40µF 10 26 1 2 3 5 9
180W 45µF 7 18 0 1 2 4 8
High-pressure sodium vapour lamps
Metal-iodide lamps
Ferromagnetic ballast with external ignitor, without compensation[a] 35W Not tested, infrequently used 3680W x

cosφ

12 416W
to
481W
19 400W
to
750W
28 980W
to
1350W
50 1750W
to
2500W
77 2695W
to
4000W
70W 7 11 15 24 38
150W 3 5 9 15 22
250W 2 3 5 10 13
400W 0 1 3 6 10
1000W 0 0 1 2 3
Ferromagnetic ballast and external ignitor, with parallel compensation[b] 35W 6µF 34 1200W
to
1350W
88 3100W
to
3400W
14 490W
to
800W
17 595W
to
1200W
26 910W
to
2200W
43 1505W
to
4400W
70 2450W
to
7000W
70W 12µF 17 45 8 9 13 23 35
150W 20µF 8 22 5 6 9 14 21
250W 32µF 5 13 3 4 5 10 14
400W 45µF 3 8 2 3 4 7 9
1000W 60µF 1 3 0 1 2 4 7
2000W 85µF 0 1 0 0 1 2 3
Electronic ballast 35W 38 1350W
to
2200W
87 3100W
to
5000W
15 525W
to
844W
24 840W
to
1350W
38 1330W
to
2100W
82 2870W
to
4650W
123 4305W
to
7200W
70W 29 77 11 18 29 61 92
150W 14 33 6 9 14 31 48
  • Reflex iC60 - High-pressure sodium vapour lamp with electronic ballast: For the 10 A and 16 A B-curve ratings, the number of lamps should be reduced by 10 % to limit unwanted magnetic tripping.
  1. ^ 1 2 3 Circuits with non-compensated ferromagnetic ballasts consume twice as much current for a given lamp power output. This explains the small number of lamps in this configuration.
  2. ^ 1 2 3 The total capacitance of the power factor correction capacitors in parallel in a circuit limits the number of lamps that can be controlled by a contactor. The total downstream capacitance of a modular contactor of rating 16, 25, 40 or 63 A should not exceed 75, 100, 200 or 300 μF respectively. Allow for these limits to calculate the maximum acceptable number of lamps if the capacitance values are different from those in the table.
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