PIC contactor, relay and inductive load

I'm working on a PIC controlled contactor for multiple inductive loads, consisting of a 240V AC high current transformers and motors with a total power draw around 1.9-2kW.

Since the required maximum number of cycles is limited to about 5000, what would the highest current draw be that a single relay like this could handle, and is it at all suited?
http://www.te.com/catalog/pn/en/6-1393211-2?RQPN=T92P7A22-240

I've studied the datasheet and the Contact Ratings table for AgCdO but figured it wise to ask someone knowledgeable since I mostly do low-power DC projects.

Safety and reliability comes first, especially with something like this!

I am not an expert in the area but here are a few thoughts.

Do you plan to open and close this relay while the inductive load is energized. If so you will want to make sure that the V=L di/dt doesn't exceed the voltage breakdown of the insulation. I attached the specs.

If you are concerned with safety I would suggest that you plan not to push a device to its maximum specification. But in this case the amount of current that you are requiring seems to be well within the acceptable range.

I once worked with a team that was concerned about the signal quality of relays over the period of use. In the end the decision was made to build a test card and switch the relays over a period of time and findout when they failed. You might consider a lab experiment if you have the time and resources.

Hi Max,

I'm not a relay expert either, but you used the word "contactor" in your description and I believe that is a type of relay specifically made to switch inductive loads (maybe you knew that and that's why you said it).

I don't know if this helps or not, but the Digi-Key search lets you filter by the "contactor" type of relay from within the power relay category (see attached picture).

You could then filter by rated voltage, current, etc. with the other parametric parameters.

Hope that helps.

I suppose that "a direct link":http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Cat=1049447 would be even more convenient for you.

Max this sounds like a contactor application.
The reason for making the jump from a relay to a contactor has many factors but the main one is the arcing of the contacts. While they are electrically the same, Contactors have very large contacts which like a relay are degraded evey time the contacts make and break. High power load breaks can quickly eat up the small contacts in a relay. A contactor has this problem concideration designed in with things like faster and more positive mechanical action and if large enough some extras like arc shoots. I can't tell you how many times over the years I have had to replace a small contact device like a relay or switch with a more suitable load braking device like a contactor.
Some key things to concider:
1.Prevent unnecessary cycling in your design. Use a good sized deadband for control.
2.Use the correct size for the load. This will achieve your safety and relibility concerns.
3.Fail Safe Fail Safe Fail Safe
Now you can just concern yourself with controlling the coil in your PIC circuit.
If you are too limited by a deadband control schema and your needing finer control like a PID, then your going to have to go silicon and fork out some extra dough for a VFD or another SCR equivilent.
Good Luck Max