Validation of the parametric model of a DC contactor using Matlab-Simulink

This article presents a practical session enabling students to model and simulate the dynamic response of DC powered electromechanical contactors. The main goal of this practical session is to introduce students to the topic of simulating the behavior of real devices. Furthermore, the proposed methodology allows students to simulate electrical, magnetic and mechanical magnitudes involved in the contactor dynamics. The results of the simulations are contrasted with experimental data, showing the reliability of the proposed model. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 19: 337–346, 2011