IMO Controls CR44C – 40A 2-Pole Modular Contactor for Heating & Lighting, 230V AC Coil, DIN Rail Mount (HC40-20230)

This is the IMO Controls CR44C – a 40A 2-Pole Modular Contactor for Heating & Lighting, 230V AC Coil, DIN Rail Mount (HC40-20230) available at SparksDirect for the best price. Purchase this item with confidence at Sparks today.

The IMO Controls CR44C is a 40A 2-pole modular contactor designed specifically for heating and lighting control applications. It is part of IMO's HC Modular Contactor range, which is suitable for single and three-phase applications including control of lamps, heating, air conditioning, and motor control. With a 230V AC coil and Normally Open (N/O) contact configuration, it fits neatly onto standard DIN rail and occupies just 2 modules of rail space, making it an ideal choice for installation inside consumer units, distribution boards, and electrical enclosures where space is at a premium. Unlike industrial motor contactors in the IMO range, the CR44C is not paired with a thermal overload relay — it is an AC1-rated switching device for resistive loads such as heaters and lighting circuits, not AC3-rated motor loads. If motor control is required, IMO's separate MC-series contactors with matching OL-series overload relays should be used instead.  + 3

The HC40-20230 (CR44C) is a robust industrial automation component engineered for reliable performance in control panels and industrial systems, offering easy DIN-rail mounting and proven IMO reliability. It is widely used in commercial buildings, schools, warehouses, factories, and residential developments where large heating loads or banks of lighting need to be switched automatically — typically via a time switch, building management system (BMS), or thermostat. The HC range is UL Certified and built to IEC 60947-4-1 and VDE 0660-5-1 standards, giving specifiers and installers confidence in its compliance for both UK and international projects. LED Controls

Technical Specifications

• Manufacturer Part Number: CR44C / HC40-20230
• Contact Configuration: 2-pole, Normally Open (N/O)
• AC1 Current Rating: 40A
• Rated Operational Voltage (Ue): 440V AC
• Rated Insulation Voltage (Ui): 440V AC
• Coil Voltage: 230V AC, 50/60Hz
• Coil Operating Range: 0.85 × to 1.1 × of supply voltage (−40°C to +40°C)
• Number of Poles: 2
• Module Width: 2 modules (approx. 35.6mm on DIN rail)
• Mounting: Standard 35mm DIN rail
• Housing Material: Plastic
• Maximum Ambient Temperature (open): −40°C to +40°C
• Maximum Ambient Temperature (enclosed): −40°C to +40°C (spacer required above 40°C)
• Frequency of Operations: 600 operations/hour (AC1)
• Mechanical Life: 1 × 10⁶ operations
• Contact Life: 0.1 × 10⁶ operations
• Coil Power Consumption (inrush/sealed): 5–7 VA / (sealed)
• Main Cable Cross-Section: 2.5–25mm² (solid/stranded); 2.5–16mm² (flexible)
• Control Coil Cable Cross-Section: 0.75–2.5mm²
• Short-Circuit Current (Iq): 10kA
• Max. Fuse (Coordination Type 1): 35A gL/gG
• Standards: IEC 60947-4-1, IEC 60947-5-1, VDE 0660-5-1, UL Certified
• Optional Accessory: HCA11 auxiliary contact block (1NO+1NC, side-mounting)

What Do People Want to Know?

Q: Can the CR44C be used to switch a heating circuit directly from a standard thermostat or time switch?

Yes — the CR44C is designed exactly for this purpose. The 230V AC coil connects directly to a standard thermostat, time switch, or BMS output operating at 230V. When the control device closes its output, the coil energises and the two main contacts close, switching the heating load. The low sealed coil power consumption means most thermostats and programmers can drive it without issue.

Q: Is the CR44C suitable for motor control, and does it need an overload relay?

No — the CR44C is rated AC1, which means it is designed for resistive and mildly inductive loads such as heaters and lighting, not AC3 motor loads. For three-phase motor switching, IMO offers 4-pole HC-series variants with AC3 ratings, and for full motor starter duty their separate MC-series contactors paired with OL-series thermal overload relays should be used. Installing the CR44C on a motor circuit without an overload relay would be inappropriate and potentially unsafe. 

Q: Will the CR44C fit inside a standard consumer unit or distribution board?

Yes — the CR44C mounts on standard DIN rail and occupies 2 modules of space, the same footprint as two standard MCBs. This makes it straightforward to install inside a consumer unit, metal enclosure, or distribution board alongside MCBs and RCDs, as long as there are two spare module spaces available. SparksDirect.co.uk

Who Can Install It?

The IMO Controls CR44C must be installed by a qualified electrician or approved electrical contractor. In the UK, any work on a fixed electrical installation — including fitting a contactor inside a consumer unit or distribution board — falls under Part P of the Building Regulations and must be carried out or certified by a competent person registered with a scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA. The contactor operates at 230V AC mains voltage and is wired directly into the distribution board, meaning incorrect installation creates serious risk of electric shock, fire, or equipment damage. Heating engineers and building services contractors may also fit these as part of larger heating control panel builds, but only if they hold the appropriate electrical qualifications. It is not a DIY product — end users should not attempt installation themselves.

What Is It Used For?

The CR44C is an electrically-operated switch designed to allow a low-power control signal to switch a much heavier electrical load on and off — without the need for the control device itself to carry the full current. In practice, it is most commonly used in:

• Commercial and industrial heating control — switching large electric heating loads (underfloor heating, storage heaters, industrial process heaters) on and off via a thermostat, time switch, or BMS
• Lighting control in large buildings — enabling automated on/off control of banks of lights in offices, warehouses, car parks, and schools from a central controller or timer
• Off-peak / Economy 7 circuits — used historically and still today to switch heating loads during cheaper overnight tariff periods
• Building Management Systems (BMS) — the BMS output signal triggers the contactor coil, and the contactor then switches the load circuit; this avoids running heavy-current cables to the BMS panel itself
• Air conditioning and HVAC plant — switching single-phase fan heaters or auxiliary plant within larger HVAC systems
• Single and three-phase applications where lamps, heating, or air conditioning loads need reliable, repeatable switching 

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