Using microcontroller for load control

[saintme]

Using microcontroller for inductive load control

Hi all,

Can anyone please help with this:

I have a 3-phase circuit characterised as follows:
power: 28 KW
ampere: 60 A
voltage: 380 V
Load is inductive

There should be a contractor to switch ON/OFF the circuit. How can I control the contractor with a microcontroller so that I can switch the circuit ON/OFF using my PC through a serial/USB/Ethernet port?

My electrical knowledge is elementary but I have to do this as a part of control project I am working on.

Thanks in advance.

 

[steinar96]

As long as the relay/switch or whatever you are using to ON/OFF the 28kW load can handle inductive loads you can most likely use a microcontroller. The microcontroller will most likely not be able to source the current to turn on the relay/switch so you will most likely need a transistor stage which the microcontroller controls to provide the current to control the relay/switch

 

[saintme]

Thanks Steinar. I am using a contactor to ON/OFF the load. I was thinking of a relay already but haven't come up with a design yet. Would you advise me on which transistor family would be suitable to my situation?

Thanks again.