Every device in the Sandbox and on a real control panel — what it is, how it behaves, and where you'd use it. Keep this open while you build.
The origin of all current in the circuit. Provides a hot leg (or legs) and a return. Everything else just makes or breaks the path between them.
A load that lights when its circuit completes. A pilot light is the panel version — used for status, not illumination (green = running, red = stopped/fault, amber = warning).
The thing that does the mechanical work. Rated for a specific voltage and phase. Over-voltage faults it (🔥); under-voltage means it won't run properly.
An electromagnet. When its circuit completes, it energizes and pulls in every contact and contactor that shares its letter. The heart of relay logic.
A heavy-duty relay built to switch motor-level power. Three main poles (L1/L2/L3 → T1/T2/T3) slam closed together when its matching coil energizes.
Steps voltage down (e.g. 480V → 120V). Primary (H1/H2) takes the high voltage; secondary (X1/X2) becomes a new source at the lower voltage to power the control circuit.
NOOpen at rest; closes only while you hold it, springs back when released. Passes current only while pressed.
NCClosed at rest; opens while you hold it. Passes current until pressed.
NCNOOne button operating two contact blocks at once. Press it and the NC block opens while the NO block closes — simultaneously.
A simple on/off switch that holds its state. Open or closed until you flip it.
A single-pole, double-throw switch: a common terminal that connects to one of two travelers. Flipping it moves the connection from one traveler to the other.
A crossover switch with two inputs and two outputs. It either passes the travelers straight through or crosses them, swapping the path.
A maintained rotary switch. A common terminal routes to one of two outputs (HAND or AUTO) or to neither (OFF).
These are switches operated by a physical condition instead of a hand. Each can be wired NO or NC depending on what you want it to do.
Trips when a moving machine part physically contacts its lever or plunger. Tells the circuit "something reached this position."
Operated by a liquid level via a float. Changes state as the level rises or falls.
Detects a nearby object without touching it (inductive for metal, capacitive for most materials). No moving parts to wear out.
Closes or opens at a set pressure. (Wire a maintained switch in the Sandbox to represent it.)
Changes state at a set temperature.
NOAn auxiliary contact controlled by a coil, not by hand. Open until its coil energizes, then it closes. Assign it the coil's letter.
NCClosed until its coil energizes, then it opens. Assign it the coil's letter.
Senses motor current through heaters in the power circuit. On a sustained overcurrent it trips, opening its NC auxiliary contact in the control circuit to drop the coil and stop the motor.
Opens the circuit on a fault or short. A fuse is one-time (replace it); a breaker resets.