What am I looking at? (Electrical component identification question)

[Michael Thomas]

This device (picture 1) was located in a box to the side of a load-side panel in a basement - the box in which it was mounted is to the left of the load-side panel in pictures 2 & 3.

(The odd "stain" at the left hand side of the second and third pictures is an artifact introduced when I pulled up a shadowed area in Photoshop.)

Identification?

Function?

Thanks in advance

[Robert Meier]

It looks like a 4-pole contactor. Nothing more than a fancy electrically operated 4-pole switch.

[Garry Blankenship]

It's a 30 or 40 amp rated, ( too much strobe light ), relay or contactor, ( I've forgotten what discriminates one from the other ). Regardless an electic coil operated control device. Often used to start & stop a motor, but it can control any electrical device within it's maximum allowable amperage limits, ( outside lights, a gate motor, a central vac system, a heater, or ? ). There will be some control wires involved that go to some push buttons, a switch, a photo-cell or some other remote control device, ( in this case obviously not wireless ).

[Michael Thomas]

There *is* a central vac installed at this property...

[Dom D'Agostino]

This data sheet from Potter & Brumfield (http://relays.te.com/pnb.asp)decodes the specs (P30P49...)

http://documents.tycoelectronics.com/commerce/DocumentDelivery/DDEController?Action=srchrtrv&DocNm=1308242_P30P40&DocType=DS&DocLang=EN

[Rollie Meyers]

It is a old (Siemens* owned Potter & Brumfield for years) definite purpose DP contactor, if you look at the label notice the RU & the lack of a UL symbol it's a UL recognized component of UL listed equipment, it is not UL listed.



* Not sure if they still still do.

[H.G. Watson, Sr.]

Its marked AMF that's the pre-Siemens owner of P & B, which coincides with the '83 mfg date stamp of the recognized componant.

Hey M.T., did the property have multiple sump pumps? an ejector for the basement? a water treatment system? private water supply/Pressure tank or If public supply, only available within the last two decades? If no, then I'd best-guess can't trace a wire via pic - go with the central vac.

Mag contactor, as you indicated in your title, yep, its just a recognized componant (likely after-warranty or after-original application replacement sourced gray market part).

Edited to add:

P.S. I just slapped myself in the head when I (duh moment :o ) realized it was a 120 Vac coil. Ix-nay on the well pump/pressure tank question!

[Lou Romano]

AMF? It must be for their personal in-house bowling alley ;)

[H.G. Watson, Sr.]

Seriously AMF (1970-ish f/k/a American Machine and Foundry since 1900-ish) owned Potter & Brumfield until the hostle Jacobs/Minstar Inc. takeover in 1985 upon which AMF was busted up and assets immediately sold off. P&B was sold to Siemens and the "Bowling" Division was sold to a Virginia group.

AMF was into just about everything - from nuclear reactors to Harley Davidson, P & B, sports equipment, bicycles, bowling (1950s) & billards, and much more.

[cuba_pete]

Best yet, it's made in the U.S.A.

[Galen L. Beasley]

Seriously AMF (1970-ish f/k/a American Machine and Foundry since 1900-ish) owned Potter & Brumfield until the hostle Jacobs/Minstar Inc. takeover in 1985 upon which AMF was busted up and assets immediately sold off. P&B was sold to Siemens and the "Bowling" Division was sold to a Virginia group.

AMF was into just about everything - from nuclear reactors to Harley Davidson, P & B, sports equipment, bicycles, bowling (1950s) & billards, and much more.


I hope they were better at making electrical components than they were at making motorcycles.

[bob smit]

One good way to screw up a Harley.

[Rollie Meyers]

One good way to screw up a Harley.


What do Harley & a German Shepard have in common?








They both like to ride in the back of pickup trucks. :p



Returning to the original topic......