Electrical Contactors/Relay Help?

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15 Feb 2026 00:03 - 15 Feb 2026 00:12 #342966 by Looby
Electrical Contactors/Relay Help? was created by Looby
Good Evening All,

I am building an electronics enclosure for my CNC router project and need some education on relays/contactors.  I have a couple salvaged components from an industrial bandsaw that I am integrating such as safety relays, e-stops, buttons, terminal blocks, and maybe contactors…  I preface all the below with I don’t know much about how electrical components work so PLEASE point out even something basic that I might have gotten wrong because I honestly do not know.

The very basic question of this is how do you size relays/contactors for inductive loads such as Makita RT0701C and 48vdc power supplies to run the steppers?  I will be running two separate circuits but if I hit the e-stop I want to cut power to these components while leaving other things like PC, Mesa card, fans, and the e-stop system itself powered.

* Circuit 1 - Makita – 6.5 amp 120vac in
* Circuit 2 - 2x 48vdc PSUs 5amp 120vac in (6amp 3sec surge)

My research says you have to go 5-10x the load when sizing relays/contactors but does that mean I would need a 120amp contactor for my steppers that are a 10 amp regular load?!  the 10x number was more related to solid state relays but this just seems nuts.

I found a McMaster-Carr table that shows a 1.5 hp motor drawing 20amps at full load (Makita claims 1.25) and I would need up to a 200 amp contactor?!  www.mcmaster.com/7603KAC/


As stated electricity and I are not the best of friends so we avoid each other as much as possible.  I could be (and hope I am) missing something very basic here.

Components I have:
* Idec SJ2S-07LW 8amp icecube type relays – 24vdc coil draws 0.025 amp when closed
* Mitsubishi S-T10 Contactors – 24vdc coil draws a MASSIVE 1.3amps when closed (not sure I want or even CAN use these also WHY would this draw so much?)
* TWTADE/JQX-62F-2Z 80 amp contactor - 24vdc coil draws 0.088 amp when closed
* LCTC Solid State Relay 80amp – Its in the mail but don’t know if its any good.

The below is the basic plan I have for wiring power.  If anything in this looks wonky let me know as well please :) 

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Last edit: 15 Feb 2026 00:12 by Looby. Reason: Pasted from word and formating all wonky

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15 Feb 2026 01:36 #342971 by NWE
Replied by NWE on topic Electrical Contactors/Relay Help?
Most contactors list a thermal current rating and an inductive current rating, if your load is less than those current ratings you're fine.
I usually use 30A contactors for 20A loads... just oversizing a bit for good measure.

Not sure about two power sources, are both going to the same box? I try to avoid that. It can cause accidents if someone disconnects one power source and starts working on it. If two power sources to one box is unavoidable, label the cover with a warning label stating the box is powered by more than one power source.

If the two 110V power inputs shown are going to separate boxes, I think it should be fine.
 

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15 Feb 2026 01:54 #342973 by Looby
Replied by Looby on topic Electrical Contactors/Relay Help?
The two 120v ins is more just because I think I will overload a single 120v outlet so trying to split the loads to different circuits. It SHOULDNT but really dont want to wire this whole thing and THEN find out. This is unfortunately a "mobile" setup that I have to load up and take to and from work as I cannot run a router like this in my apartment so I am also making some allowances for portability in this setup so both plugs will be detachable from the unit to ensure power safe if needing to work inside the box. All of this is going in a rolling road case... Yes I know sketchy sketchy sketchy but.... nah no buts I know its sketchy.

I know that some contactors are mechanical so going higher amps increases service life and solid state contactors are heat limited but why would companies state that such a high overage is needed?

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