# What is the difference between contacor and relay?

**URL:** <https://forumautomation.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-contacor-and-relay/862>\
**Category:** Industrial Automation\
**Created:** [March 15, 2016, 4:17am UTC](https://forumautomation.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-contacor-and-relay/862 "2016-03-15T04:17:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![denizen](https://forumautomation.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@denizen](https://forumautomation.com/u/denizen)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2016, 4:17am UTC](https://forumautomation.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-contacor-and-relay/862/1 "2016-03-15T04:17:09Z")

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**Relay**

Single phase application

Consist of a COIL,NO,NC and Common

When Coil get energized common switches from NC to NO

Thus O/P connected with NO works.

![relay](https://cdn.forumautomation.com/original/1X/c36f71d2d8c2487a87a4c629b876a80f68309e67.jpg)

**Contactor**

Three phase application

Consist of a COIL and 3 NO

When coil get energized 3 PHASES (R, Y and B) will switch to o/p.

![contactor](https://cdn.forumautomation.com/original/1X/0a5ac987858814742dcafdc32e01c6b468b2bee9.jpg)

* * *

**What is NC contact ?**

Normally Closed contact - Basically normally closed switching is used were it requires to break or OFF a circuit.

**What is NO contact ?**

Normally Open Contact - Basically normally open switching is used were it required to ON a circuit.