184
Butt-Contact Technology
p. 187
Dead-Front Construction
p. 189
Keying System
p. 190
Dual Voltage Devices
p. 190
Resistance to Environments and Chemicals
p. 191
Watertightness / Ingress Protection
p. 193
Impact Resistance
p. 194
Operating Temperatures p.
194
Color-Coded Gaskets & Labels
p. 195
182
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Switch Rated Plugs & Receptacles
Meltrics DECONTACTOR
TM
Series products are UL & CSA listed as switch rated plugs and receptacles. These ratings allow
them to be used as a motor circuit disconnect switch, as well as a branch circuit disconnect switch. Switch rated plugs and
receptacles have passed electrical overload, short circuit and endurance tests that are far more rigorous than those applied to
other plugs and receptacles. These tests include the functional requirements for safety disconnect switches in addition to
manual motor controllers. For more information about the tested electrical performance of switch rated devices
consult pages 184 - 186.
Current Interrupting Rated Plugs & Receptacles
Other Meltric devices such as the DXN plugs and receptacles are UL and CSA rated for current interrupting. A current inter-
rupting rated plug and receptacle is not subjected to the same level of endurance testing as a switch rated device and does not
need to be subjected to any overload-locked rotor or short circuit testing (see pages 184 - 186 for performance test compar-
isons). Plug and receptacles rated for current interrupting are not intended to be used as switches, but can withstand making
and breaking of normal resistive loads. Devices that are not hp and short circuit rated are not intended to make and break motor
loads or other inductive loads.
Non-Current Interrupting Rated Plugs & Receptacles
Many competitive plugs and receptacles, as well as some Meltric devices are non-current interrupting rated. They are not
approved by UL or CSA for connecting or disconnecting under load. They have passed the minimum test requirements for
plugs and receptacles but they have not passed current interrupting performance tests or the more demanding electrical
endurance, overload and short circuit tests required of switch rated devices. For more information about the tested electrical
performance of non-current interrupting rated devices consult pages 184 - 186.
Electrical Performance Switch Rated, Current Interrupting
Rated and Non-Current Interrupting Rated Devices
Ratings
Switch Rated
Current Interrupting Rated
Non-Current Interrupting Rated
Product
DSN
DS
DB
DXN
Multipin
DR
PN
DX,
Competitors Pin and Sleeve
Multipin
PF/PFQ
Competitors Pin and Sleeve UL & CSA standards for plugs and receptacles require that the devices be able to withstand overload conditions. General use
conditions are simulated by testing a device to a specified number of operations (50) at 150% of rated current and a power
factor between 0.75 and 0.80. Switch rated plugs and receptacles that are horsepower rated must perform overload testing
at 600% of full load motor current with a more severe power factor (between 0.40 and 0.50) to simulate locked rotor conditions.
UL & CSA Standards Overload Test Requirements and Ratings Comparisons
184
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Electrical Performance
Overload Conditions
Test
Overload
(General Use Devices)
Overload - Locked Rotor
(Horsepower Rated Devices)
UL 1682 &
UL Subject 2682
CSA 22.2 No. 182.1
(used for both UL & CSA listings)
Plugs, Receptacles & Cable Connectors of the Pin & Sleeve Type
Switch Rated Plugs & Receptacles
Non-Current Interrupting (Typical)
Current Interrupting (Typical)
Motor / Branch Circuit Switch Rated (Typical)
3 Operations
50 Operations
50 Operations
@ 150% of Rated Current
@ 150% of Rated Current
@ 150% of Rated Current
(p.f. = .75 - .80)
(p.f. = .75 - .80)
(p.f. = .75 - .80)
50 Operations
-
-
@ 600% of Full Load Motor Current
(p.f. = .40 - .50)
0
0
Typical Non-Current
Interrupting Device
Typical Current
Interrupting
Device
Test Results: Completed Operations at Overload / Locked Rotor Condition
Typical Switch
Rated Device
50
# of Operations @

600% of full load
motor current

power factor = .40 - .50
Note:
Meltric Decontactors can with-
stand temporary overloads due to
frequent restarting of motors. The
same can not be said for brass pin and
sleeve devices. Temporary overloads
may heavily oxidize the contacts and
cause them to weld.
Motors and other equipment can be quickly and safely connected or disconnected with Meltrics Switch Rated DECONTACTOR Series plug and receptacles.
These devices are
not safe for motor
connections UL and CSA standards require endurance testing to ensure that rated performance is maintained over the expected life of the
device. The severity of this testing depends on the rating of the device.
As shown in the chart below, non-current interrupting devices are tested only for mechanical endurance. Current interrupting
devices are additionally subjected to moderate electrical endurance testing, and switch rated devices are subjected to a much
more severe level of electrical endurance testing, which is similar to that required of disconnect switches. In this regard, switch
rated devices may be required to make and break under full load more than 20 times as many operations (depending upon
device amperage) as a current interrupting rated pin and sleeve device.
UL & CSA Standards Endurance Test Requirements and Ratings Comparisons
185
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Test
Mechanical Endurance
(no load)
Electrical Endurance
(With Load)
Notes:
1 Testing alternates between mechanical & electrical operations. This reduces the severity of the electrical test by allowing additional cooling
time during electrical testing.
Non-Current
Interrupting Device
Current Interrupting
Device
Electrical Endurance Test Comparison
Switch Rated
Device
N
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s
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
250
20
A
Non-current interrupting
devices are not tested
for electrical endurance.
A 60A switch rated device undergoes 6X
as much testing as a 60A pin and sleeve
current interrupting rated device.
Electrical Performance
Mechanical and Electrical Endurance
60
-25
0A
30
-60
A
20
A
60
-25
0A
30
-60
A
20
A
60
-25
0A
30
-60
A
UL 1682 &
UL Subject 2682
CSA 22.2 No. 182.1
(used for both UL & CSA listings)
Plugs, Receptacles & Cable Connectors of the Pin & Sleeve Type
Switch Rated Plugs & Receptacles
Non-Current Interrupting
Current Interrupting
Motor / Branch Circuit Switch Rated
15-20A = 5000 Operations
15-20A = 0 Operations
21-63A = 2000 Operations
21-63A = 1000 Operations
64-250A = 250 Operations
64-250A = 500 Operations
15-20A = 5000 Operations
21-63A = 1000 Operations
1
6000 Operations
-
64-250A = 250 Operations
1
@ Rated Current & Voltage
@ Rated Current & Voltage
(p.f. = .75 - .80)
(p.f. = .75 - .80)
6000 Operations
(Covered by Electrical
Endurance testing) 186
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Electrical Performance
Short Circuit Protection
Meltrics Decontactors (DS, DSN, and DB products) have successfully completed high fault current short circuit testing. All these
devices have short circuit make (close) and withstand ratings of either 65 kA or 100 kA. UL witnessed and approved this testing.
UL Recognized Short Circuit Capabilities
ShortCircuit Test Information
Fusing
The amperage and time delay characteristics of the fusing used in testing affects the electrical load seen by the device. UL
Subject 2682 requires short circuit tests be performed with fuses having an amperage rating that is no less than 400% of full
load motor ampacity for horsepower rated devices, or no less than 100% of the devices amperage rating for general use devices.
Meltric used RK1 non-time delay type fusing for the horsepower rated devices because it is a common type of fuse used in
motor applications. Meltric selected RK5 Time Delay fusing for the non-horsepower rated devices (DS9 & DS2) because it
represents the most severe case of the various fusing scenarios that are typically used for general use applications.
Power Factor
The lower the power factor (p.f.) the more rigorous the test. UL Subject 2682 requires short circuit testing at 42,000 amps
and above to be performed with a p.f. of 0.15 or less. By comparison, the p.f. for the 10,000 amp short circuit withstand test
required by UL 1682 for horsepower rated plugs & receptacles, is a much less rigorous 0.50.
Short Circuit Test Summary Table
UL Recognized Short Circuit Capabilities
Short Circuit Ratings Product
Plug & Receptacle Type
Withstand
Make
Standard
General Use Pin & Sleeve Devices
None
None
UL 1682
HP Rated Twist-Type Devices
1kA
None
UL 498
Motor Rated Pin & Sleeve Devices
10kA
None
UL 1682
Meltric Decontactors
65kA
65kA
UL Subject 2682
DSN20
20A
8A (2 hp @ 208 VAC)
100
480
RK1
35A
DSN30
30A
18A (15 hp @ 600 VAC)
100
600
RK1
125A
DSN60
60A
27A (20 hp @ 480 VAC)
100
600
RK1
110A
DS20
20A
11A (3 hp @ 208 VAC)
100
600
RK1
80A
DS30
30A
14A (10 hp @ 480 VAC)
100
600
RK1
125A
DS60
60A
27A (25 hp @ 600 VAC)
100
600
RK1
250A
DS100C
100A
27A (25 hp @ 600 VAC)
100
600
RK1
250A
DS100
100A
-
65
600
RK5 TD
100A
DS200
200A
-
65
600
RK5 TD
200A
DB30
30A
26A (7.5 hp @ 208 VAC)
100
600
RK1
125A
DB60
60A
49A (15 hp @ 208 VAC)
100
600
RK1
250A
DB100
100A
92A (30 hp @ 208 VAC)
100*
600
RK1
250A
1 The maximum associated with any of the devices horesepower ratings. The fusing used in the short circuit testing must be at least 400%
of this value in order for the short circuit rating to apply to the hp rating.
* The fusing used limits the 100kA rating to 60hp @ 600V, 40hp @ 480V,