1&2 Pole Contactors/ What Technicians Need To Know

Why are some contactors identified as 1+ poles? Does this mean that they can be used for various applications? Can a 2 pole contactor be used to replace a 1 pole contactor? Packard gives you the knowledge you need for success on the job. For more information on Packard Academy training for technicians, please visit our website at www.packardonline.com. Packard supplies to Wholesalers only.

[@werquantum]

So why doesn’t the “always hot” 120v try to start the compressor? I understand 120 isn’t enough volts, but it would seem that a constant 120 on the compressor would damage it. Something has to be preventing the 120 from trying to start the motor, right?

[@Whyusemyname]

I just got a nice shock because of one of these always closed shunt contractors. I still don’t understand what the purposes or why it was used instead of a regular contactor.

[@RoughEventProds]

Thanks for the short and simple video. Got the exact info I needed.

[@twincam825]

You can use double pole replace a single pole install jumper on one side some companys use that for trickle voltage crank heater cheap and stupid way heating windings.

[@lequang2296]

Great clip
Easy to understand home DIY like me
Thank you for sharing

[@bizcandy]

What? I was hoping you’d show how to wire a 2 pole that’s replacing a 1pole. Got nothing from this video.

[@Anonymous01416]

You wire it exactly the same way, nothing changes. Yes you can use a double pole to replace a single pole. The guy didn’t answer the question or added other info how some units it matters and some don’t matter.

[@imtiazkhan1947]

i watched this video three times but nothing learned nor understand .

[@chidude]

From other videos I gather that 95% of the time you can replace a single pole contactor with a double pole contactor. There are a few applications in older HVAC units where the always hot shunt of a single pole contactor provides power to a heater or a resistor across the capacitor. In such a case you could still use a double pole contactor, but jump the terminals of the extra set of contacts to simulate the original shunt, or just connect those load wires on the bottom line in side.

[@hamzaabbas1231]

ahh so can we use 2 pole as 1 pole or not?

[@packardonline]

Yes. If you want to use it as a single-pole you would just attach a jumper from the line side of one of the poles to the load side of the same pole. When you do that, that pole is always energized.

[@davidhazas7162]

He said no. If you only have a double pole contactor then make it a single pole with a proper sized jumper and the important part of this all is that you always have power through start and run windings in cases where unit is calling for a stint because in some cases it may be vital to the proper start of those motors. If it didn't matter then it wouldn't matter what side of power the stint was on but it's always on the side feeding your windings and capacitors.

[@WindOfTheWisp_Janine]

@@davidhazas7162 Thank you so much for a clear answer! I have been reading & watching videos for 2 weeks now to familiarize myself with the wiring & not one person has mentioned this! All have said that it's fine to replace a 1 1/2 pole with a 2 pole unless you have a crankcase heater. I thought it might be critical when replacing a contactor that the shunt side needs to have certain wires attached & that there may be a reason that the manufacturer used a 1 1/2 pole instead of a 2 pole, & not just to save money. I am replacing my contactor with an Emerson SureSwitch which has things lined up differently from a standard contactor, & it's important to follow the wiring diagram on the condenser unit & on the SureSwitch very carefully. To make things more confusing, the wiring diagram with the SureSwitch is wrong!! I shows L1, L2, T1, & T2 in the pic & diagram in the opposite places from where they actually are on the device, & states that L1 is the switched side when actually L2 is the switched side!!! (Which is the opposite of all contactors I have seen pics of, to make things even more confusing!) No excuse for them not catching & correcting this! The same instructions that came with my new SureSwitch have been online for years with the error - I know because I found them on web pages that were several years old!🤔🤨😮‍💨🙁

[@frankpeters1592]

I got nothing out of that video. keep it simpler

[@JR-ch8rt]

You are not a technician if you don’t understand.

[@nobznezz]

May as well have been speaking Greek. (didn't understand a word!).