Heater elements, contact kits, coils, and complete units for legacy NEMA contactors and starters. Westinghouse A200, GE CR305, Furnas 14-series, Allen-Bradley 509/709, Square D Class 8502/8536, and more. Condition disclosed on every quote.
A legacy NEMA contactor that is mechanically sound but has worn contact tips does not need to be replaced. It needs a contact kit. A Westinghouse A200 frame with a burned-out overload relay does not need to be replaced if an H-series heater element for the correct amperage range is still available. The main body of a NEMA contactor, with its enclosure and wiring intact, represents significant value. Replacing consumable parts is nearly always cheaper and faster than tracking down a complete replacement unit.
The problem is that heater element series, contact kits, and replacement coils for legacy contactors are no longer in general distribution. They are available through surplus channels, specialty distributors with old inventory, and secondary market sourcing. Edmundson Industrial sources these consumable parts along with complete contactor and starter units for facilities that need shelf spares or direct replacements.
Items are sourced new, surplus, or reconditioned, with condition disclosed clearly with every quote. Heater elements for legacy overload relays are typically sourced from old stock. Contact kits from NOS (new old stock) are preferred; reconditioned is specified when that is what is available.
Heater elements (also called thermal units or overload heaters) are the consumable part of a bimetallic or melting alloy overload relay. They are sized to the motor full-load amperage and the overload relay's compensation table. When a motor runs under overload conditions, the heater element absorbs the excess current and trips the relay. After a trip, the heater element may need inspection or replacement depending on the severity.
Each manufacturer produced its own heater element series, and the element designation corresponds to a specific current range. An H-32 heater element is not interchangeable with an H-34 even though both fit the same Westinghouse A200 overload relay body. Using the wrong element creates either nuisance trips or insufficient overload protection. For any heater element request, provide the manufacturer, the relay series, and the element designation from the existing unit.
Contact kits replace the worn main and auxiliary contact tips in a contactor without requiring replacement of the full unit. When a contactor starts chattering, welding, or showing high resistance across the power contacts, the contacts are worn. A contact kit restores the contactor to serviceable condition at a fraction of the cost of a complete replacement.
Contact kits are specific to the contactor model and NEMA size. A contact kit for an Allen-Bradley 509 NEMA 3 contactor is a different part number than a contact kit for an AB 509 NEMA 1. Cross-contamination of sizes will result in incorrect contact gap and pressure settings that can cause welding or nuisance opening.
Complete contactor and starter units, heater elements, contact kits, and coils. All items are new, surplus, or reconditioned; condition disclosed with every quote.
The Westinghouse A200 is one of the most widely installed legacy NEMA contactors in North American industry, particularly in older petrochemical, refining, and manufacturing facilities in the Gulf Coast region. The A200 frame covers NEMA sizes 0 through 4; the A201 adds mechanical interlock for reversing applications. Westinghouse was acquired by Eaton/Cutler-Hammer; the A-series was eventually replaced by the Freedom series but the installed base remains large.
GE's CR305 contactor series covers the full NEMA range from size 0 (9A) through size 6 (540A at 460V). The CR305 is a mechanically well-built design that remains in service in many utility, wastewater treatment, and heavy manufacturing facilities. GE's industrial motor control business was eventually divested; CR305 components are sourced from surplus inventory. The CR123 heater element series is the overload element for these starters.
Furnas Electric produced a full line of NEMA contactors and motor starters that were widely installed across the Midwest and industrial Southeast. Furnas was acquired by Siemens and the 14-series designation continued for a period under Siemens branding before being phased into the Siemens NEMA contactor line. Older Furnas-branded units in the field use Furnas-specific heater elements and contact kits that are not interchangeable with later Siemens equivalents.
Allen-Bradley's 509 series is the standard NEMA contactor used across AB MCC lineups and standalone starter applications. The 709 is the mechanically interlocked reversing version. The 1002 is the reduced-voltage autotransformer starter. All three are still encountered frequently in the field, particularly in AB 2100-series MCCs. Heater elements for 509 starters use the W-series designation. The full catalog number (e.g., 509-BOD) includes the NEMA size and accessories.
Square D's Class 8502 magnetic contactors and Class 8536 magnetic starters are the legacy NEMA line that predates the current LC1/LC series. These are found in Square D MCCs and in standalone mounting configurations. The Class 9998 designation covers accessories including heater elements and auxiliary contacts for these devices. Older Class 8502/8536 units used a different construction from current Square D NEMA contactors and are not directly accessorized by current-production parts.
ITE Circuit Breaker Company produced contactors and starters that are now considered Siemens legacy equipment following acquisition. The ITE contactor catalog numbers are distinct from Siemens's own NEMA contactor numbering. Eaton's older AN and AN16 series NEMA starters predate the Freedom series and use different heater element and accessory part numbers than Freedom-series units. Both lines are encountered in older industrial facilities throughout the Gulf Coast and Southeast.
The operating coil is the electromagnet that closes the contactor when energized. Coils fail from voltage transients, overheating, mechanical damage, or age. Unlike heater elements, coils are not consumed in normal operation, but they do fail over time and are a common repair item in older contactors.
Coils are specific to the contactor manufacturer, contactor series, and control voltage. A 120V AC coil for a Westinghouse A200 NEMA 2 contactor is a different part than a 240V AC coil for the same frame. Common control voltages in industrial installations are 120V AC, 240V AC, 480V AC, 575V AC, and 24V DC. The coil voltage must match the control circuit voltage exactly; installing a 120V coil on a 240V control circuit will cause coil failure immediately.
To identify the correct replacement coil, provide the contactor manufacturer, series designation (e.g., A200, CR305, 509), NEMA size, and control voltage. If the original coil part number is still legible, that is the fastest identification path.
For heater elements, the manufacturer, relay series, and element designation (e.g., H-32, W-34, CR123-1210) are the key data points. For contact kits, the manufacturer, contactor model, and NEMA size. For coils, manufacturer, series, NEMA size, and coil voltage. Photos of the nameplate and existing parts are helpful for identification when the part number is worn or illegible.
Most requests can be quoted from the manufacturer, series, and part type. Send this information by email or through the quote form.
Email: sales@edmundsonindustrial.com
Phone: (832) 975-8827