Quote:
Originally Posted by TurnNBurn
So what I'm gathering is the contactor is the same function as the key switch except it's built for more volts and more amps.
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The contactor connects to the key switch, it is your main disconnect, your emergency shut off, your anti-theft device as well as keeping your high voltage, high current switching away from your hands and allowing you to keep high current wiring much shorter.
The key switch can handle maybe amps, basically it can handle the power to turn the headlight on and off, a 200 amp contactor can often open up even if it has 1000 amps going threw it, at that point your key switch would be lit up like a light bulb.
Even people who install a big red "kill" button, often wire it to a contactor, because those kill buttons can't handle as much current as a good contactor can.