{"id":89,"date":"2020-01-13T14:47:03","date_gmt":"2020-01-13T19:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/basicmotorcontrol\/?post_type=chapter&p=89"},"modified":"2020-08-14T18:28:59","modified_gmt":"2020-08-14T22:28:59","slug":"magnetic-motor-starters","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/basicmotorcontrol\/chapter\/magnetic-motor-starters\/","title":{"raw":"Magnetic-Motor Starters","rendered":"Magnetic-Motor Starters"},"content":{"raw":"For the control of three-phase motors, magnetic contactors are used to open and close the power contacts in line with the motor. This allows for separation of the [pb_glossary id=\"796\"]control circuit<\/strong>[\/pb_glossary] from the [pb_glossary id=\"798\"]power circuit<\/strong>[\/pb_glossary], providing greater safety for the operator and ease and convenience of wiring for the installer. Magnetic contactors also provide [pb_glossary id=\"705\"]low-voltage protection (LVP)<\/strong>[\/pb_glossary] in the case of a power outage.\r\n\r\nMagnetic contactors must also have built-in overload protection if they are to be used to control motors. The most common controllers for three-phase motors are the across-the-line magnetic starter, meaning that the motor is started with full line voltage.\r\n

NEMA vs. IEC<\/h1>\r\nThe difference between NEMA and IEC contactors is in their certifications and ratings. NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) is recognized in North America.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_373\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]\"\" NEMA motor starter[\/caption]\r\n\r\nIEC (International electrotechnical commission) is recognized in both North America and Europe.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_372\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]\"\" IEC motor starter with overload relay[\/caption]\r\n\r\nAs a general rule, NEMA equipment is more expensive and robust than IEC equipment, but IEC equipment is more versatile. And because is often cheaper, IEC equipment is more commonly seen in modern installations.\r\n

Contactor Construction and Operation<\/h1>\r\nA magnetic [pb_glossary id=\"738\"]motor starter<\/strong>[\/pb_glossary] has two basic parts: the magnetic contactor and an [pb_glossary id=\"787\"]overload relay<\/strong>[\/pb_glossary].\r\n\r\nThe magnetic contactor is a solenoid relay consisting of stationary contacts that are wired in [pb_glossary id=\"977\"]series<\/strong>[\/pb_glossary] with the lines to the motor, an inductive coil wrapped around a magnetic core and a movable [pb_glossary id=\"862\"]armature<\/strong>[\/pb_glossary] attached to moveable contacts. When an electric current is passed through the coil of wire, a magnetic field is created. This field, in turn, draws the armature towards it, causing the movable contacts to bridge the gap of the stationary contacts and thus energizing the motor. A spring is constantly trying to open the contacts but as long as there is a [pb_glossary id=\"718\"]voltage<\/strong>[\/pb_glossary] present at the coil, magnetic forces will overcome the strength of this spring.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_227\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]\"\" Contactor coil de-energized[\/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_228\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]\"\" Contactor coil energized[\/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen there is a power outage, however, and the current through the coil drops below a threshold, the spring will push open the contacts. If power is restored, the motor load will not re-energize but will instead require further input from the operator. This type of control is called three-wire control and it provides low-voltage protection (LVP).\r\n\r\nFor the control of three-phase motors, contactors are built with three sets of [pb_glossary id=\"756\"]horsepower-rated contacts<\/strong>[\/pb_glossary]. Additional [pb_glossary id=\"854\"]auxiliary contacts<\/strong>[\/pb_glossary] can be included as well. Relay contacts are usually silver-plated to improve their conductivity and although single-break contacts are used, most industrial quality relays use double-break contacts to improve their interrupting capability.\r\n\r\nCoils are generally designed to activate at approximately 85% of their rated voltage and will not deactivate until the voltage falls below approximately 85% of the rated value. Usually a coil can withstand an overvoltage of up to 10% without damage to the coil.\r\n
\r\n\r\nQuestion:<\/strong> If magnetic coils are power by AC, why don\u2019t their contacts open and close 120 times per second?\r\n\r\nAnswer:<\/strong> Sometimes they do! If a magnetic contactor is making an unnatural \u201cchattering\u201d sound, it may be caused by a loose or faulty shading coil. Shading coils are simple closed loops of conductive material that, when exposed to the changing magnetic field of an AC circuit, creates its own magnetic field with a slight delay in period. This allows for a constant magnetic attraction between the moveable armature and the coil of the contactor. If a contactor is \u201cchattering,\u201d it may need its shading coils repaired or replaced.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nThe overload relay (OLR) is similar in design to that used in manual motor starters. The key difference is that the [pb_glossary id=\"744\"]normally closed contacts<\/strong>[\/pb_glossary] of the OLR are wired in series with the current that flows through the armature of the contactor coil. This ensures that if an [pb_glossary id=\"690\"]overload<\/strong>[\/pb_glossary] occurs in any of the three power lines supplying the motor, the normally closed contacts of the OLR will open, and the contactor supplying power to the motor is disconnected from the circuit.\r\n\r\nThe key utility comes in separating the control circuit from the power circuit. Magnetic-motor starters, for example, can allow the control of a 50 horsepower 600 V three-phase motor (the power circuit) by simply energizing a 120V, 1A load.\r\n\r\nThis concept of motor starters as a load that controls other larger loads is key to our further understanding of basic motor control.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_376\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"199\"]\"\" Combination starter[\/caption]\r\n

Combination Starters<\/h1>\r\nA combination starter refers to a simplified modular device that contains three-phase disconnects, [pb_glossary id=\"692\"]overcurrent<\/strong>[\/pb_glossary] protection, magnetic contactor and overload relays.","rendered":"

For the control of three-phase motors, magnetic contactors are used to open and close the power contacts in line with the motor. This allows for separation of the control circuit<\/strong><\/a> from the power circuit<\/strong><\/a>, providing greater safety for the operator and ease and convenience of wiring for the installer. Magnetic contactors also provide low-voltage protection (LVP)<\/strong><\/a> in the case of a power outage.<\/p>\n

Magnetic contactors must also have built-in overload protection if they are to be used to control motors. The most common controllers for three-phase motors are the across-the-line magnetic starter, meaning that the motor is started with full line voltage.<\/p>\n

NEMA vs. IEC<\/h1>\n

The difference between NEMA and IEC contactors is in their certifications and ratings. NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) is recognized in North America.<\/p>\n

\"\"
NEMA motor starter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

IEC (International electrotechnical commission) is recognized in both North America and Europe.<\/p>\n

\"\"
IEC motor starter with overload relay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As a general rule, NEMA equipment is more expensive and robust than IEC equipment, but IEC equipment is more versatile. And because is often cheaper, IEC equipment is more commonly seen in modern installations.<\/p>\n

Contactor Construction and Operation<\/h1>\n

A magnetic motor starter<\/strong><\/a> has two basic parts: the magnetic contactor and an overload relay<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The magnetic contactor is a solenoid relay consisting of stationary contacts that are wired in series<\/strong><\/a> with the lines to the motor, an inductive coil wrapped around a magnetic core and a movable armature<\/strong><\/a> attached to moveable contacts. When an electric current is passed through the coil of wire, a magnetic field is created. This field, in turn, draws the armature towards it, causing the movable contacts to bridge the gap of the stationary contacts and thus energizing the motor. A spring is constantly trying to open the contacts but as long as there is a voltage<\/strong><\/a> present at the coil, magnetic forces will overcome the strength of this spring.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Contactor coil de-energized<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Contactor coil energized<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When there is a power outage, however, and the current through the coil drops below a threshold, the spring will push open the contacts. If power is restored, the motor load will not re-energize but will instead require further input from the operator. This type of control is called three-wire control and it provides low-voltage protection (LVP).<\/p>\n

For the control of three-phase motors, contactors are built with three sets of horsepower-rated contacts<\/strong><\/a>. Additional auxiliary contacts<\/strong><\/a> can be included as well. Relay contacts are usually silver-plated to improve their conductivity and although single-break contacts are used, most industrial quality relays use double-break contacts to improve their interrupting capability.<\/p>\n

Coils are generally designed to activate at approximately 85% of their rated voltage and will not deactivate until the voltage falls below approximately 85% of the rated value. Usually a coil can withstand an overvoltage of up to 10% without damage to the coil.<\/p>\n

\n

Question:<\/strong> If magnetic coils are power by AC, why don\u2019t their contacts open and close 120 times per second?<\/p>\n

Answer:<\/strong> Sometimes they do! If a magnetic contactor is making an unnatural \u201cchattering\u201d sound, it may be caused by a loose or faulty shading coil. Shading coils are simple closed loops of conductive material that, when exposed to the changing magnetic field of an AC circuit, creates its own magnetic field with a slight delay in period. This allows for a constant magnetic attraction between the moveable armature and the coil of the contactor. If a contactor is \u201cchattering,\u201d it may need its shading coils repaired or replaced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The overload relay (OLR) is similar in design to that used in manual motor starters. The key difference is that the normally closed contacts<\/strong><\/a> of the OLR are wired in series with the current that flows through the armature of the contactor coil. This ensures that if an overload<\/strong><\/a> occurs in any of the three power lines supplying the motor, the normally closed contacts of the OLR will open, and the contactor supplying power to the motor is disconnected from the circuit.<\/p>\n

The key utility comes in separating the control circuit from the power circuit. Magnetic-motor starters, for example, can allow the control of a 50 horsepower 600 V three-phase motor (the power circuit) by simply energizing a 120V, 1A load.<\/p>\n

This concept of motor starters as a load that controls other larger loads is key to our further understanding of basic motor control.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Combination starter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Combination Starters<\/h1>\n

A combination starter refers to a simplified modular device that contains three-phase disconnects, overcurrent<\/strong><\/a> protection, magnetic contactor and overload relays.<\/p>\n

definition<\/span>