CONTACTOR 16 WAY (2 AUX)

Description

CONTACTOR 16 WAY (2 AUX) is the heavy-duty 16-way electrical contactor that enables centralised, safe switching of up to sixteen independent high-inrush load circuits from a single control signal in large commercial UK grow room installations. We have been recommending this 16-way contactor to UK growers since 2017 as the correct infrastructure for commercial grow rooms where centralised lighting and equipment control is essential for operational efficiency and equipment protection.

Why a 16-Way Contactor Is the Correct Solution for Large Commercial Grow Rooms

Commercial grow rooms running twelve, fourteen, or sixteen HID lights represent a substantial electrical installation that benefits enormously from centralised switching infrastructure. Without a contactor, each lighting circuit requires its own timer connection — creating a multiplicity of control points, complex wiring, and numerous failure points. The 16-way contactor consolidates all circuit switching into a single heavy-duty unit: a single low-current control signal (from a timer or environmental controller) energises the coil, simultaneously closing sixteen main contacts that each switch a high-current load circuit. This arrangement protects the control equipment from the high inrush currents generated by HID lamp and ballast start-up events, centralises fault-finding by providing a single point where all circuit switching is managed, and enables entire room lighting to be controlled from one schedule. The two auxiliary contacts provide the feedback and interlocking signals needed for environmental controller integration and monitoring.

Load Ratings, DIN Rail Mounting, and Professional Installation

The 16-way contactor is rated for repeated switching of inductive and resistive loads across all sixteen ways simultaneously. Ensure total load current across the installation is within the contactor’s combined rating and that supply cabling and circuit protection is appropriately sized for the full connected load. DIN rail mounting format suits standard electrical distribution enclosures — professional installation in a properly rated enclosure with appropriate circuit protection is strongly recommended at this scale. Connect the coil to the 230V AC timer output (confirm coil voltage compatibility) and wire load circuits through the main contacts from appropriately fused supplies. For the largest UK commercial grow rooms, the 16-way contactor is the professional-grade switching infrastructure that the installation demands. Browse our full range of contactors, environmental controllers, and grow room electrical accessories.