IEC 60947-4-1:2018

Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Part 4-1: Contactors and motor-starters - Electromechanical contactors and motor-starters

IEC 60947-4-1:2018 is applicable to the following equipment:
- electromechanical contactors and starters including motor protective switching device (MPSD);
- actuators of contactor relays;
- contacts dedicated exclusively to the coil circuit of this contactor or this contactor relay;
- dedicated accessories (e.g. dedicated wiring, dedicated latch accessory);
intended to be connected to distribution circuits, motors circuits and other load circuits, the rated voltage of which does not exceed 1 000 V AC or 1 500 V DC. This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition published in 2009 and its Amendment 1:2012. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- Scope structure and exclusions
- Editorial correction of notes and hanging paragraphs
- Reference to IEC 62683-1
- Motor protective switching device (MPSD) with its requirements
- Safety aspects related to:
- General aspects;
- Limited energy circuits;
- Electronic circuits;
- Assessment procedure for electromechanical overload protection used in safety -applications (new Annex L)
- Introduction of provisions covering the impact of higher locked rotor current to achieve high efficiency class
- Mention of dedicated wiring accessories
- Pickup power measurement
- Alignment to IEC 60947-1:2007, IEC 60947-1:2007/AMD1:2010, and IEC 60947‑1:2007/AMD2:2014
- Direct current requirements for covering photovoltaic application (new Annex M)
- Load monitoring indicators (new Annex O)
- Short-circuit breaking tests of MPSD (new Annex P)
- Co-ordination under short-circuit conditions between a MPSD and another short-circuit protective device associated in the same circuit (new Annex Q).
The contents of the interpretation sheet of March 2020, the corrigendum 1 of April 2020 and the corrigendum 2 of April 2021 have been included in this copy.

Appareillage à basse tension - Partie 4-1: Contacteurs et démarreurs de moteurs – Contacteurs et démarreurs électromécaniques

L'IEC 60947-4-1:2018 s'applique aux équipements suivants:
- contacteurs électromécaniques et démarreurs, y compris les appareils de connexion de protection des moteurs (ACPM);
- organes de commande de contacteurs auxiliaires;
- contacts destinés exclusivement au circuit de la bobine de ce contacteur ou ce contacteur auxiliaire;
- accessoires dédiés (câblage dédié, accessoires d'accrochage dédié, par exemple);
destinés à être connectés à des circuits de distribution, des circuits de moteur et à d'autres circuits de charge, dont la tension assignée ne dépasse pas 1 000 V en courant alternatif ou 1 500 V en courant continu. Cette quatrième édition annule et remplace la troisième édition parue en 2009, ainsi que son Amendement 1:2012. Cette édition constitue une révision technique.
Cette édition inclut les modifications techniques majeures suivantes par rapport à l'édition précédente:
- Structure du domaine d'application et exclusions
- Corrections rédactionnelles des notes et des alinéas suspendus
- Référence à l'IEC 62683-1
- Appareil de connexion de protection des moteurs (ACPM) accompagné de ses exigences
- Aspects relatifs à la sécurité:
- Aspects généraux;
- Circuits limités en énergie;
- Circuits électroniques;
- Procédure d'évaluation de la protection électromécanique contre les surcharges utilisée dans des applications de sécurité (nouvelle Annexe L)
- Introduction des dispositions relatives à l'impact du courant rotor bloqué plus élevé afin d'atteindre une classe de rendement supérieure
- Mention des accessoires de câblage dédiés
- Mesurage de la puissance d'appel
- Alignement avec l'IEC 60947-1:2007, l'IEC 60947-1:2007/AMD1:2010, et l'IEC 60947‑1:2007/AMD2:2014
- Exigences en matière de courant continu pour couvrir les applications photovoltaïques (nouvelle Annexe M)
- Indicateurs de surveillance de charge (nouvelle Annexe O)
- Essais de coupure en court-circuit de l’ACPM (nouvelle Annexe P)
- Coordination dans les conditions de court-circuit entre un ACPM et un autre dispositif de protection contre les courts-circuits associés dans le même circuit (nouvelle Annexe Q).
Le contenu de la feuille d’interprétation de mars 2020, du corrigendum 1 d'avril 2020 et du corrigendum 2 d'avril 2021 a été pris en considération dans cet exemplaire.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 24-Oct-2018
• ICS: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION
• ICS: 29.120.99 - Other electrical accessories
• ICS: 29.130.20 - Low voltage switchgear and controlgear
• Technical Committee: SC 121A - Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear

Relations

• Corrected By: IEC 60947-4-1:2018/COR2:2021 - Corrigendum 2 - Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Part 4-1: Contactors and motor-starters - Electromechanical contactors and motor-starters
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Corrected By: IEC 60947-4-1:2018/COR1:2020 - Corrigendum 1 - Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Part 4-1: Contactors and motor-starters - Electromechanical contactors and motor-starters
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revises: IEC 60947-4-1:2009 - Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Part 4-1: Contactors and motor-starters - Electromechanical contactors and motor-starters
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revises: IEC 60947-4-1:2009/AMD1:2012 - Amendment 1 - Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Part 4-1: Contactors and motor-starters - Electromechanical contactors and motor-starters
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revised: IEC 60947-4-1:2023 - Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Part 4-1: Contactors and motor-starters - Electromechanical contactors and motor-starters
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revised: IEC 60947-4-1:2018/ISH1:2020 - Interpretation sheet 1 - Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear - Part 4-1: Contactors and motor-starters - Electromechanical contactors and motor-starters
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 60947-4-1 ®
Edition 4.0 2018-10
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear –
Part 4-1: Contactors and motor-starters – Electromechanical contactors and
motor-starters
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form

or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from

either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or

your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

IEC Central Office Tel.: [phone]
3, rue de Varembé [e-mail]
CH-1211 Geneva 20 www.iec.ch
Switzerland
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
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latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.

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IEC 60947-4-1 ®
Edition 4.0 2018-10
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear –

Part 4-1: Contactors and motor-starters – Electromechanical contactors and

motor-starters
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 29.120.99, 29.130.20 ISBN 978-2-8322-6208-5

 IEC 2020
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
IEC 60947-4-1
Edition 4.0  2018-10
LOW-VOLTAGE SWITCHGEAR AND CONTROLGEAR –

Part 4-1: Contactors and motor-starters –
Electromechanical contactors and motor-starters

INTERPRETATION SHEET 1
This interpretation sheet has been prepared by subcommittee 121A: Low-voltage switchgear
and controlgear, of IEC technical committee 121: Switchgear and controlgear and their
assemblies for low voltage.
The text of this interpretation sheet is based on the following documents:
DISH Report on voting
121A/336/DISH 121A/342/RVDISH
Full information on the voting for the approval of this interpretation sheet can be found in the
report on voting indicated in the above table.

___________
Interpretation of the first paragraph of 6.2

The reference to 5.2 of IEC 60947-1:2007, IEC 60947-1:2007/AMD1:2010 is intended to cover
the whole subclause where its first paragraph can be discarded.
In particular, the third paragraph of this Subclause 5.2 requiring the marking on the equipment
of manufacturer's name or trademark and type designation or serial number is covering items
a) and b) of 6.1.1 of IEC 60947-4-1:2018.
n o
and of Table 7
Interpretation of footnotes
The standard making conditions for the utilization category AC-3e are defined by the ratio
o
I / I equal to 12 with the corresponding value of Cos ϕ in footnote .
e
n
Footnote provides the possibility to select an alternate value of the ratio I / I between 12
e
and 13, and gives the corresponding equations to determine the value of Cos ϕ.
ICS 29.120.99; 29.130.20
– 2 – IEC 60947-4-1:2018/ISH1:2020

 IEC 2020
Interpretation of the rated operational current of Table 13 and Table 14

Tables 13 and 14 are intended to be used for contactors and starters specified for motor

loads. If the contactor or starter is specified with more than one motor load utilization category

(AC-2, AC-3, AC-3e or AC-4), the rated operational current I corresponding to the utilization
e
category AC-3 is preferred for determining the prospective current “r” for the test.

The utilization category AC-3 is considered as the most representative use case and is

deemed to cover the other motor utilization categories.

– 2 – IEC 60947-4-1:2018 RLV © IEC 2018

CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 10

INTRODUCTION . 13

1 Scope and object . 14

2 Normative references . 17

3 Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviated terms . 20

3.1 General . 20

3.2 Alphabetical index of terms . 20
3.3 Terms and definitions concerning contactors . 22
3.4 Terms and definitions concerning starters . 24
3.5 Terms and definitions concerning characteristic quantities . 29
3.6 Terms and definitions concerning safety aspects . 30
3.7 Symbols and abbreviated terms . 31
4 Classification . 32
5 Characteristics of contactors and starters . 32
5.1 Summary of characteristics . 32
5.2 Type of equipment . 33
5.2.1 Kind of equipment . 33
5.2.2 Number of poles . 33
5.2.3 Kind of current (AC or DC) . 33
5.2.4 Interrupting medium (air, oil, gas, vacuum, etc.) . 33
5.2.5 Operating conditions of the equipment . 33
5.3 Rated and limiting values for main circuits . 33
5.3.1 Rated voltages . 33
5.3.2 Currents or powers . 35
5.3.3 Rated frequency . 37
5.3.4 Rated duties . 37
5.3.5 Normal load and overload characteristics . 38
5.3.6 Short-circuit characteristics . 40
5.3.7 Pole impedance of a contactor (Z) . 40
5.4 Utilization category . 40
5.4.1 General . 40
5.4.2 Assignment of utilization categories based on the results of tests . 41

5.5 Control circuits . 43
5.6 Auxiliary circuits . 44
5.7 Characteristics of relay and release of overload relays and motor protective
switching device (MPSD) . 44
5.7.1 Summary of characteristics . 44
5.7.2 Types of relay or release . 45
5.7.3 Characteristic values . 45
5.7.4 Designation and current settings of overload relays . 47
5.7.5 Time-current characteristics of overload relays . 47
5.7.6 Influence of ambient air temperature. 48
5.8 Co-ordination with short-circuit protective devices . 48
5.9 Void . 48
5.10 Types and characteristics of automatic change-over devices and automatic
acceleration control devices . 48

5.10.1 Types . 48

5.10.2 Characteristics. 48

5.11 Types and characteristics of auto-transformers for two-step auto-transformer

starters . 49

5.12 Types and characteristics of starting resistors for rheostatic rotor starters . 49

6 Product information . 49

6.1 Nature of information . 49

6.1.1 Identification . 49

6.1.2 Characteristics, basic rated values and utilization . 50

6.2 Marking . 51

6.3 Instructions for installation, operation, maintenance, decommissioning
and dismantling. 52
6.4 Environmental information . 53
7 Normal service, mounting and transport conditions . 53
8 Constructional and performance requirements . 53
8.1 Constructional requirements . 53
8.1.1 General . 53
8.1.2 Materials . 54
8.1.3 Current-carrying parts and their connections . 54
8.1.4 Clearances and creepage distances . 54
8.1.5 Actuator . 55
8.1.6 Indication of the contact position . 55
8.1.7 Additional requirements for equipment suitable for isolation . 55
8.1.8 Terminals . 55
8.1.9 Additional requirements for equipment provided with a neutral pole . 56
8.1.10 Provisions for protective earthing . 56
8.1.11 Enclosures for equipment . 56
8.1
...

IEC 60947-4-1 ®
Edition 4.0 2018-10
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear –
Part 4-1: Contactors and motor-starters – Electromechanical contactors and
motor-starters
Appareillage à basse tension –
Partie 4-1: Contacteurs et démarreurs de moteurs – Contacteurs et démarreurs
électromécaniques
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
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About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.

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Technical Specifications, Technical Reports and other English and French, with equivalent terms in 16 additional
documents. Available for PC, Mac OS, Android Tablets and languages. Also known as the International Electrotechnical
iPad. Vocabulary (IEV) online.

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IEC 60947-4-1 ®
Edition 4.0 2018-10
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear –

Part 4-1: Contactors and motor-starters – Electromechanical contactors and

motor-starters
Appareillage à basse tension –

Partie 4-1: Contacteurs et démarreurs de moteurs – Contacteurs et démarreurs

électromécaniques
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 29.120.99, 29.130.20 ISBN 978-2-8322-5922-1

 IEC 2020
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
IEC 60947-4-1
Edition 4.0  2018-10
LOW-VOLTAGE SWITCHGEAR AND CONTROLGEAR –

Part 4-1: Contactors and motor-starters –
Electromechanical contactors and motor-starters

INTERPRETATION SHEET 1
This interpretation sheet has been prepared by subcommittee 121A: Low-voltage switchgear
and controlgear, of IEC technical committee 121: Switchgear and controlgear and their
assemblies for low voltage.
The text of this interpretation sheet is based on the following documents:
DISH Report on voting
121A/336/DISH 121A/342/RVDISH
Full information on the voting for the approval of this interpretation sheet can be found in the
report on voting indicated in the above table.

___________
Interpretation of the first paragraph of 6.2
The reference to 5.2 of IEC 60947-1:2007, IEC 60947-1:2007/AMD1:2010 is intended to cover
the whole subclause where its first paragraph can be discarded.
In particular, the third paragraph of this Subclause 5.2 requiring the marking on the equipment
of manufacturer's name or trademark and type designation or serial number is covering items
a) and b) of 6.1.1 of IEC 60947-4-1:2018.
n o
and of Table 7
Interpretation of footnotes
The standard making conditions for the utilization category AC-3e are defined by the ratio
o
I / I equal to 12 with the corresponding value of Cos ϕ in footnote .
e
n
Footnote provides the possibility to select an alternate value of the ratio I / I between 12
e
and 13, and gives the corresponding equations to determine the value of Cos ϕ.
ICS 29.120.99; 29.130.20
– 2 – IEC 60947-4-1:2018/ISH1:2020
 IEC 2020
Interpretation of the rated operational current of Table 13 and Table 14
Tables 13 and 14 are intended to be used for contactors and starters specified for motor
loads. If the contactor or starter is specified with more than one motor load utilization category
(AC-2, AC-3, AC-3e or AC-4), the rated operational current I corresponding to the utilization
e
category AC-3 is preferred for determining the prospective current “r” for the test.
The utilization category AC-3 is considered as the most representative use case and is
deemed to cover the other motor utilization categories.

– 2 – IEC 60947-4-1:2018 © IEC 2018
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 10
INTRODUCTION . 13
1 Scope . 14
2 Normative references . 15
3 Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviated terms . 16
3.1 General . 16
3.2 Alphabetical index of terms . 16
3.3 Terms and definitions concerning contactors . 18
3.4 Terms and definitions concerning starters . 19
3.5 Terms and definitions concerning characteristic quantities . 25
3.6 Terms and definitions concerning safety aspects . 26
3.7 Symbols and abbreviated terms . 27
4 Classification . 28
5 Characteristics of contactors and starters . 28
5.1 Summary of characteristics . 28
5.2 Type of equipment . 29
5.2.1 Kind of equipment . 29
5.2.2 Number of poles . 29
5.2.3 Kind of current (AC or DC) . 29
5.2.4 Interrupting medium (air, oil, gas, vacuum, etc.) . 29
5.2.5 Operating conditions of the equipment . 29
5.3 Rated and limiting values for main circuits . 29
5.3.1 Rated voltages . 29
5.3.2 Currents or powers . 31
5.3.3 Rated frequency . 32
5.3.4 Rated duties . 32
5.3.5 Normal load and overload characteristics . 33
5.3.6 Short-circuit characteristics . 35
5.3.7 Pole impedance of a contactor (Z) . 36
5.4 Utilization category . 36
5.4.1 General . 36
5.4.2 Assignment of utilization categories based on the results of tests . 36
5.5 Control circuits . 38
5.6 Auxiliary circuits . 39
5.7 Characteristics of relay and release of overload relays and motor protective
switching device (MPSD) . 39
5.7.1 Summary of characteristics . 39
5.7.2 Types of relay or release . 39
5.7.3 Characteristic values . 39
5.7.4 Designation and current settings of overload relays . 41
5.7.5 Time-current characteristics of overload relays . 41
5.7.6 Influence of ambient air temperature. 42
5.8 Co-ordination with short-circuit protective devices . 42
5.9 Void . 42
5.10 Types and characteristics of automatic change-over devices and automatic
acceleration control devices . 42

5.10.1 Types .
...