Prevention and protection are essential to keeping an industrial or commercial firm in excellent functioning. Many gadgets are employed to do this, both to maximize function and to defend against frequent operational complexities and concerns. A motor starters, which PSI Power & Controls provides, is one such tool.
We strongly advise you to continue reading if you are unfamiliar with a motor starter and its different types.
What is a Motor Starter?
Motor starters are electromechanical devices that offer manual or automatic starting and stopping electric motors and overload protection for motor circuits. All critical considerations are the intended use, starting type, and electrical requirements, such as the number of phases, current, voltage, power ratings, and features. Examples are manual, magnetic, soft-starts, multi-speed and full voltage starters. Some motor starters also offer reversing capabilities, torque control, and jogging options.
Types of Motor Starters
Manual Starter
The starter is operated manually and does not require any prior knowledge, as a push-button turns on and off the motor attached to it. A mechanical switch follows the pushing button and cuts or makes the circuit stop or start the motor.
Magnetic Starter
Instead of mechanical latching on/off switches, magnetic motor starters employ electromagnets to shut and retain contractors. They are utilized as lower voltage starters for single- and three-phase motors in across-the-line applications. After a power outage or low voltage situation causes the contactor to turn off, magnetic motor starters that employ momentary-contact pilot devices (switches, relays, etc.) must be restarted.
DOL(Direct-on-Line Starter)
The beginning current of small capacity motors with a rating of less than 5HP is not exceptionally high. These motors can tolerate a high starting current without needing a starter. Lowering the applied voltage to regulate the beginning current is unnecessary. These motors employ a starter that connects the stator directly to the supply lines without any voltage reduction. As a result, the starter is called a Direct-on-Line starter.
Stator Resistance Starter
The stator resistance starter uses the decreased voltage starter approach to start motors. A 3 phase induction motor’s stator has external resistance connected with all phases. The resistor’s purpose is to lower the line voltage linked to the stator, lowering the initial current.
Slip Ring Motor Starter or Rotor Resistance
This motor starter uses the total voltage motor starting technique. Because it only works with a slip ring induction motor, it’s also called a slip ring motor starter.
While boosting torque, these resistors minimize rotor current. The initial stator is lowered. This contributes to the power factor’s improvement.
Autotransformer Starter
During the beginning step, motor starters employ an autotransformer as a step-down transformer to reduce the voltage supplied to the stator. It may be used with motors coupled in both a star and a delta configuration.
Star Delta Starter
The Star-Delta Starting is the most popular low voltage starter since it is the cheapest. In this approach, the induction motor is linked in the star at startup and delta when running at rated speeds.
Soft starters
Like other starters, the Soft Starter uses a voltage reduction method. The voltage and current provided to the induction motor are controlled by a semiconductor switch, such as the TRIAC. The beginning current and voltage allow a gradual rise in torque, so there is no shock, and the motor runs smoothly.
VFD (variable frequency drive)
A Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) may change the voltage and frequency given, similar to a soft starter. A variable frequency drive (VFD) reliant on the supply frequency controls the induction motor’s speed.
Conclusion
Motor starters are a vital component of contemporary motor drives because they ensure that motors run safely and efficiently. There is a motor controller for every application type, whether a full-voltage across-the-line motor controller or a motor controller that allows for safe, efficient and regulated starting.
