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An OEM contactor is made by, or for, the brand whose name is on the original device. An aftermarket contactor is made by a different manufacturer as a replacement for a specific OEM part number. Either can be the right choice. What decides it is whether the replacement matches the original’s ratings, coil voltage, auxiliary contacts and mounting, and whether it meets any certification, specification or warranty condition that applies to your equipment.
This guide explains the terms, lists the checks that apply whichever way you go, and states plainly what BRAH Electric’s aftermarket contactors are, so you can judge them on the same basis.
OEM vs aftermarket contactors at a glance
- OEM means the original brand. Aftermarket means a replacement built by another manufacturer for the same part number.
- The technical checks are identical for both: part number, rating, poles, coil voltage, auxiliary contacts and fit.
- Choose OEM where a warranty, a specification or a certified assembly requires the original brand.
- Ask any supplier the same questions: is the part new, who made it, what is the warranty, and what are the return terms.
- BRAH Electric is an aftermarket manufacturer. Its contactors are new, cross-referenced to OEM numbers and carry a 2-year warranty. It is not an authorized distributor of the OEM brands.
What “OEM” and “aftermarket” mean for a contactor
OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer. For a contactor, an OEM part is one that carries the original brand and part number, bought new through that brand’s own sales channel or an authorized distributor.
An aftermarket contactor is designed and built by a company other than the original brand, to take the place of a named OEM part. It has its own part number and its own nameplate, and it is sold on the basis of a cross-reference: this part replaces that OEM number.
Two other kinds of part are sometimes offered alongside these, and they are not the same thing:
- New surplus. An original-brand part that has never been installed, sold outside the brand’s authorized channel.
- Reconditioned or used. An original-brand part that has been in service, with or without cleaning, repair and testing by the reseller.
When you compare quotes, establish which of the four you are being offered. The label “replacement” is used for all of them.
What to verify on any replacement contactor
A contactor is defined by a short list of characteristics. A replacement from any source has to match the original on each of them. The table is the checklist.
| What to check | Why it matters | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Full part number | Variants of one contactor differ in coil, auxiliary contacts or poles, and the difference is in the last characters of the number. | Nameplate of the installed contactor |
| Current and horsepower rating at your voltage | The contactor must be rated for the load it switches. | Contactor nameplate, motor nameplate, product page |
| Number of poles | 3-pole and 4-pole versions are separate parts. | Nameplate, product page |
| Coil voltage, AC or DC, and frequency | The coil must match the control circuit, which is often not the motor voltage. | Marking on the coil, control drawing |
| Auxiliary contacts | Holding circuits, interlocks and status signals depend on them. | Nameplate, wiring diagram, product page |
| Mounting and terminal layout | A different layout means drilling, adapters or re-terminating conductors. | Compare the installed device with the product page |
| Fit of the overload relay and accessories | Relays and add-on blocks are made for particular contactor sizes. | Part numbers on the relay and accessories |
| Certification required by your site | A listed assembly, an insurer or an inspector may require specific marks on components. | Your specification, the label on the part, the certifier’s directory |
| Condition and warranty | New, new surplus, reconditioned and used parts carry different terms. | Supplier’s written terms |
| Return terms | A wrong coil voltage is the common ordering error, and returns may carry a charge. | Supplier’s returns policy |
The standard that defines how contactor ratings are stated is IEC 60947-4-1. Ratings are given for a utilization category, which describes the kind of load and switching duty, and a rating for one category is not interchangeable with a rating for another. That is one reason to compare a replacement against the nameplate and the motor data, not against a number read out of the part name.
When the original brand is the right call
- The equipment is under warranty or a service agreement. Read the terms, or ask the equipment builder in writing, before fitting any part that is not the one they specify.
- A specification names the brand. Some customer, corporate or project specifications require like-for-like original parts.
- The contactor is part of a certified assembly. A listed control panel is built from components chosen under the panel builder’s procedure. Ask the panel builder or your inspection authority what a component change requires.
- The application has a formal approval. Where a third party has approved the equipment as built, a change of component may need their agreement.
These are questions about your equipment and your obligations, not about the parts themselves. In US workplaces, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.303 sets the general requirements for electrical equipment, including that it be approved and that listed or labeled equipment be installed and used in line with its listing or labeling. If you are unsure how that applies to a component change, ask the person responsible for electrical safety at your site.
When an aftermarket contactor fits
- The equipment is out of warranty and no specification ties you to the original brand.
- You want a new part with a stated warranty, and the supplier can show which OEM number it replaces.
- The replacement matches every line of the checklist above.
- You have confirmed any certification requirement for the exact part number you are ordering.
The guide to dealing with obsolete electrical parts covers the wider question of keeping older equipment in service.
What BRAH Electric aftermarket contactors are
BRAH Electric is an aftermarket manufacturer. It designs its parts in-house and tests them at its Carlsbad, California facility. The contactors it sells are factory new. Each one is cross-referenced to the OEM part number it replaces, and the product page names that number. BRAH is not an authorized distributor of ABB, Siemens, Telemecanique or any other OEM brand.
Contactors carry a 2-year warranty from the date of invoice. Returns are accepted within 30 days of shipment with an RMA and are subject to a restocking charge of 25 to 50 percent. In-stock orders placed before 3:00 PM Pacific ship the same business day, and shipping is calculated at checkout.
The table shows the contactor families in the BRAH catalogue. All listings are rated 600V. The full range is under replacement contactors, with definite purpose contactors listed separately.
| OEM brand | Family | OEM types covered | Example OEM number | BRAH replacement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABB | A-Line | A9 to A300 | A26-30-10 | BA26-30-10 |
| ABB | EH Series | EH | EH-80 | BEH-80 |
| Siemens | World Series | 3TF, 3TB, 3TH | 3TF46 | B3TF46 |
| Siemens | Sirius | 3RT | 3RT1015 | B3RT1015 |
| Telemecanique | TeSys D | LC1D, LC2D, LP1D | LC1D0910 | BLC1D0910 |
| Telemecanique | TeSys K | LC1K, LC2K, LP1K, LP2K | LC1K0910 | BLC1K0910 |
| Telemecanique | TeSys F | LC1F, LC2F | LC1F115 | BLC1F115 |
Each product page gives the catalogue amperage, horsepower, poles, coil voltage and auxiliary contacts of that part. Match them to the nameplate of your contactor. In most cases the BRAH part number is the OEM number with a B in front, and you can search the site by either number. For anything not in the table, call (855) 355-2724 with the part number.
For certification, go by the individual part. If your site requires a particular mark on a component, check the product page and the label of that exact part number and ask for documentation before you order. Where a certification mark is claimed for any product, from any supplier, the certifier’s online directory lets you look it up.
Questions to ask any contactor supplier
- Is the part new, new surplus, reconditioned or used?
- Who manufactured it, and which OEM part number does it replace?
- What ratings are on its nameplate, and do they match mine?
- What is the warranty period, and when does it start?
- What are the return terms if the coil voltage or the fit turns out to be wrong?
Related parts follow the same logic. If only the coil or the contacts have failed, a replacement coil or a contact kit may be the smaller repair. Family guides with part-by-part tables include Siemens 3TF contactor replacements and the ABB A26-30-10 replacement.
Safety when fitting either kind of contactor
Whoever made the part, it is installed the same way: with the equipment de-energized, lockout/tagout applied to the power and control sources, and absence of voltage verified, by qualified personnel. Install the replacement according to the instructions and markings supplied with it.
OEM vs aftermarket contactor FAQs
Are aftermarket contactors safe to use in industrial panels?
A contactor is suitable when it is correctly rated for the load, matches the control circuit, is installed to its instructions and meets the certification requirements of the installation. Those conditions apply to a part from any source. Check them for the exact part number you intend to fit.
Will an aftermarket contactor void my equipment warranty?
That depends on the terms of the warranty. Read them, or ask the equipment manufacturer, before you fit a non-original part to equipment that is still covered.
Do aftermarket contactors need special installation?
A replacement built for a specific OEM number is intended to be installed in its place. Compare mounting and terminal positions before you start, and follow the instructions and markings on the part you receive.
How do I verify that an aftermarket part matches my OEM contactor?
Work through the checklist table: full part number, rating, poles, coil voltage, auxiliary contacts, mounting and accessories. To have a BRAH cross-reference checked, call (855) 355-2724, Monday to Friday, 6AM to 5PM Pacific.
Is a BRAH contactor an OEM part?
No. BRAH Electric is an aftermarket manufacturer and is not an authorized distributor of the OEM brands. Its contactors are new parts that it designs in-house, tests in Carlsbad, California, and cross-references to OEM numbers.
What warranty comes with a BRAH contactor?
Two years from the date of invoice.
References
- IEC 60947-4-1, Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear: contactors and motor-starters. Defines contactor ratings and utilization categories.
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.303, General requirements for electrical equipment, including approval and the use of listed or labeled equipment.
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147, The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout).