Maxjax MX6 Switch Contactor trouble

[grtpumpkin]

Anyone with a Maxjax ever have trouble with the contactor switch on the motor? Mine just started to flutter and not want to engage. Sometimes it will engage after a couple seconds and some times it won't. It also makes a lot of arcing. Assuming the electromagnet is going bad. Cleaning the contacts did not help. I can manually close it to make it work but it just seems odd. It's only 3 years old and doesn't get a lot use. Looking to replace the contactor. Any recommendations on a decent brand?

 

[will335i]

Sorry I can't offer any assistance. How are you liking the Maxjax otherwise? Do you wish you would have gone with a more traditional two post?

Any pictures of the part that is giving you problems? I work with some Electrical Engineers that might have some advice.

 

[grtpumpkin]

I like the Maxjax. Havent had any real issues with it till now. Just the occasional uneven lifting which is sometimes a pain to get them back in sync. For sure a more conventional lift would be best but I just don't have the ceiling height for one.

I found the exact replacement on amazon, although I question the quality and durability.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E3F2GFY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I couldnt find it locally at electrical supply houses so I think ill just order off amazon. Cheap enough.

 

[RTM]

If your contactor is chattering, its usually a bad coil, or a bad feed to the coil itself. Without a car on the lift, you can bypass all the switches and safeties feeding the coil, and see if it still chatters when you run direct appropriate voltage to the coil. Since the coil is 110V, just a power cord jumped to the coil terminals (A1 and A2 on top)

Also, just pushing in the blue bar, which the coil pulls in, should also see if its chattering. If you push it in, and still get chattering, you could have failing contacts.

 

[Jagmandave]

Your MaxJax runs on three phase?

 

[grtpumpkin]

Single phase. If I hold down the blue bar on the contactor it works fine, no chattering or arcing. I jumped the wires across the momentary switch and same problem. It only operates normally by pushing down and holding the blue bar on contactor. To me this would indicate a bad coil. I sprayed electrical cleaner and inspected and tightened all wire connections and found no issues. Still no worksy

 

[DeeKay]

Single phase. If I hold down the blue bar on the contactor it works fine, no chattering or arcing. I jumped the wires across the momentary switch and same problem. It only operates normally by pushing down and holding the blue bar on contactor. To me this would indicate a bad coil. I sprayed electrical cleaner and inspected and tightened all wire connections and found no issues. Still no worksy

What is your voltage at going to the coil when it's trying to pull in?
+1 for wiring a suicide cord directly to the coil to check.

Do you have a wiring diagram?

 

[Xcursion88]

Single phase. If I hold down the blue bar on the contactor it works fine, no chattering or arcing. I jumped the wires across the momentary switch and same problem. It only operates normally by pushing down and holding the blue bar on contactor. To me this would indicate a bad coil. I sprayed electrical cleaner and inspected and tightened all wire connections and found no issues. Still no worksy

The part you listed is for 3 phase i believe.?.

 

[seber]

The part you listed is for 3 phase i believe.?.

It is irrelevant. The only difference is there will be one contact left unused.

 

[RTM]

Single phase. If I hold down the blue bar on the contactor it works fine, no chattering or arcing. I jumped the wires across the momentary switch and same problem. It only operates normally by pushing down and holding the blue bar on contactor.

Could be wiring after the momentary switch, thus the suggestion to go straight to the coil. But since you check for loose connections, I am leaning towards bad coil too.

 

[grtpumpkin]

Appreciate all the input. So here's where I'm at. I pulled the contactor out and performed the lamp cord bench test. I hooked a household corded plug to A1 and A2. It works flawlessy. Contacts pull in incredibly strong and hold. Next I wired the momentary switch in series with A1 and A2, just to rule out the momentary switch, it works the same with no issues. So I have to assume it must be the contacts. I can't get the entire contactor apart to get a good look at the contacts, but from what I can visibly see, they do have some brown discoloration. Or possibly there is a problem with the wiring? This has a lot of wires, I think 6 plus 3 jumpers. Is it possible there is enough resistance at some of these connections to allow a current drop to cause the coil to kick in and out.? Just a thought. I found no loose connections but all the wires have a strange looking, dark in color solder, to all the strands. I may cut and re-strip all the wires and try that just out of curiosity. I've since ordered the replacement on amazon so waiting on that.

Rich.

 

[RTM]

Unfortunately, I don’t recall how to take a contactor apart. My AB experience may not help anyway.

I’d use an ohm meter, and measure resistance across the legs you are using, and see if it bounces when energized w your lamp cord. Maybe your spare left is still good, and move the wires over one. It should be 0 ohms resistance w good contacts. Might be a good spot for an analog meter.

 

[DeeKay]

Appreciate all the input. So here's where I'm at. I pulled the contactor out and performed the lamp cord bench test. I hooked a household corded plug to A1 and A2. It works flawlessy. Contacts pull in incredibly strong and hold. Next I wired the momentary switch in series with A1 and A2, just to rule out the momentary switch, it works the same with no issues. So I have to assume it must be the contacts. I can't get the entire contactor apart to get a good look at the contacts, but from what I can visibly see, they do have some brown discoloration. Or possibly there is a problem with the wiring? This has a lot of wires, I think 6 plus 3 jumpers. Is it possible there is enough resistance at some of these connections to allow a current drop to cause the coil to kick in and out.? Just a thought. I found no loose connections but all the wires have a strange looking, dark in color solder, to all the strands. I may cut and re-strip all the wires and try that just out of curiosity. I've since ordered the replacement on amazon so waiting on that.

Rich.

If it pulls in fine with the suicide cord, I would be willing to bet your problem isn't the contactor or its contacts. That's an IEC contactor, generally they're not serviceable. It sounds like a problem in the wiring somewhere.
Post up a wiring diagram so we know what's in the circuit.

 

[grtpumpkin]

Update.
Basically I'm an idiot. Turns out I was using the wrong size extension cord. Thank you "DeeKay" for mentioning the wiring. When you mentioned wiring problem" I immediately realized I had used a different extension cord. I was in a rush this past weekend and I grabbed the nearest extension cord laying around. Never gave it a second thought. I put the original contactor back together and used my dedicated short 12 gage extension cord and all is well. Just for giggles I tried the, sized too small 100 foot extension cord, and the problem was barely there again. Out of curiosity I plugged in the lift to my amp meter and noted the motor draws 10 amps with no load on it other than the lift arms. Go figure. I'm trying to look at the positive of this snafu. At least I learned how my contactor all works.
This got me wondering. What would one do if they had a vehicle on the lift with all the weight on the safety locks, and suddenly the electric motor craps out? How could you get the car down with no way of unloading the weight off the safety locks?
Things that make me go Hmm?
Rich

 

[dscheidt]

This got me wondering. What would one do if they had a vehicle on the lift with all the weight on the safety locks, and suddenly the electric motor craps out? How could you get the car down with no way of unloading the weight off the safety locks?
Things that make me go Hmm?
Rich

you lift it with a jack or a forklift or whatever you can arrange. It happens with fullsize lifts, too.