[dras]

I am going to be replacing the main AC contactors in my home heat pump unit along with the one in my parents' unit due to pitted contacts. My parents' unit has a single pole contactor in it. Is there some good reason to replace a single pole contactor with another single pole, or can I use a double pole in it's place. I would think it would be better to use the double pole to break both sides of the circuit. Along the same lines, mine has a 2 pole contactor now, is there any reason it could not be replaced with a 3 pole contactor, and just use 2 of the poles? I've seen 3 pole contactors that are actually less expensive than the 2 pole of the same amperage rating, coil voltage, etc.

Thanks,
D.