Electrical Contacts, 2nd Edition

18

Electrical Contact Material Testing Design and Measurement

Gerald J. Witter and Werner Rieder

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.

Aldous Huxley

CONTENTS

18.1    Objectives

18.2    Device Testing and Model Switch Testing

18.2.1    Device Testing

18.2.2    Model Switch Testing

18.3    Electrical Contact Testing Variables

18.3.1    AC versus DC Testing

18.3.2    Switching Load Type

18.3.3    Opening and Closing Velocity Effects

18.3.4    Contact Bounce

18.3.5    Contact Carrier Mass and Conductivity

18.3.6    Contact Closing Force and Over Travel

18.3.7    Enclosed and Open Contact Devices

18.3.8    Testing at Different Ambient Temperatures

18.3.9    Erosion Measurement

18.3.10    Summary Electrical Contact Testing Variables ...