NEMA Contactors

The fundamentals of NEMA contactors.

NEMA, also known as the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, is a regulatory body whose standards govern a variety of electrical hardware including contactors, starters, enclosures, and more. Unlike IEC contactors, NEMA contactors typically come pre-installed in an enclosure or control panel. NEMA contactor sizes also use a different scale or category system, with contactors coming in 10 different sizes, NEMA size 00 through NEMA size 8.

NEMA is all about simplicity and serviceability.

The cornerstone of NEMA contactors is applicability and they are well-regarded for a number of reasons. For one they have very long lifespans, partially due to their serviceability and easy maintenance. NEMA contactors also come with additional reserve capacity. This leeway allows a single type of contactor to be used for a variety of applications, regardless of their differences. So as long as two applications carry the the same horsepower and voltage rating, they can utilize the same type of NEMA contactor. A NEMA contactor is a more general purpose device, while IEC contactors are more specified and application-based. But according to NEMA standards, if you need to replace your NEMA size 1 contactor, that number is all you need to know when you’re looking through our product-line. It’s not one size fits all, but it is one size fits many.