What is a motor starter? How does a motor starter work?

What is a motor starter? How does a motor starter work?

Motor Starters are electrical devices that are used to start and stop a motor safely. They are similar to relays and switch powers ON/OFF – although, unlike a relay, it also provides a low voltage and overcurrent protection.

Motor Starters serve the functions of safely starting/stopping a motor, reversing the motor’s direction, or protecting the motor from low voltage and overcurrent. A motor starter comprises two main components that complement each other to control and protect the motor. These are,

– Electrical Contractor: This contractor switches the power supply of a motor ON/OFF by making/breaking the contact terminals.

– Overload Protection Circuit: This circuit protects the motor from potential harm due to overload conditions. A huge current through the rotor may damage the winding as well as other appliances connected to the supply. It senses the current and breaks the power supply.

There are different types of motor starters, such as,

– Wye-delta open transmission is a somewhat standard electromagnetic starter system designed to safely reduce the voltage in the operation of major commercial equipment. The system is suitable for and often implanted in the operation of air compressors and pumps.

– Soft-start solid-state, often used in most major commercial equipment – a soft start motor starter is a reduced voltage starter that performs its function via the use of fluid, magnetic forces, or steel shot to lower startup current and control torque. Soft-start motor starters are frequently used in generators, conveyor systems, and other general-purpose functions.

– Wye-delta starter OEM, a system that features sub-panel mounting, 120-volt coils, and a starter wye-delta timer for control systems that initially refrain from incorporating timer functions.

Importance of Motor Starters

Motor starters are one of the major inventions for motor control applications. As the name may imply, a starter is an electrical device that controls the electrical power needed to start a motor. These electrical devices are also used to stop, reverse, and protect electric motors.

A motor starter is also very important for starting an induction motor. This is due to its low rotor impedance, which depends on the slip of the induction motor, which is the relative speed between the rotor and stator. Induction motors have a high inrush current that is 5 to 8 times the normal rated full load current. Such volumes of current can easily damage or burn the windings of the motor rendering the machines useless. It can also cause a huge dip in the supply voltage, which leads to damaging other appliances connected to the same particular line.

In order to protect the motor from such huge volumes of currents, motor starters are used to limit the initial current for shorter durations at startup, and once the motor attains a certain speed, the normal power supply to the motor is resumed.

How do Motor Starters Work?

Motor starters usually consist of two devices, a contractor that completes the circuit to the motor and an overload relay that monitors the current the motor draws. This overload shielding device is set to a pre-determined maximum load that the motor can safely handle. When a condition occurs that causes the motor to surpass the maximum load, the device opens the motor starter control circuit, and then the motor is turned off.

FAQ

What is a motor starter and how does it work?

Motor Starters serve the functions of safely starting/stopping a motor, reversing the motor’s direction, or protecting the motor from low voltage and overcurrent. A motor starter comprises two main components that complement each other to control and protect the motor

How does a starter work what does it do?

With the starter solenoid engaged, a lever pushes the rod out so the pinion gear will meet with the flywheel gear. The starter motor is then able to spin the engine over to activate its running sequence (crankshaft turns, pistons go up and down, air/fuel mixture is released into each cylinder, spark plugs fire, etc.)

What is the use of a starter?

Starters are devices that control the use of electrical power to equipment. As the name implies, starters “start” motors. They can also stop, reverse, accelerate and protect them. Starters are made from two building blocks: contactors and overloads

Why does a starter work?

The Starter Meshes With The Engine’s Flywheel
The starter has a small starting gear that, when you turn the key or press the engine start button, engages the engine’s flywheel. Then it delivers power, getting the engine rotating

How does a motor work?

The basic operating principle of a motor is as follows. Around a permanent magnet having a rotational axis: ① When the outer magnets rotate (referred to as a rotating magnetic field),② The N and S poles attract and repel each other, ③ Causing the magnet with the rotational axis (center) to turn

How to make a starter work?

1. Check battery cables and connections.
2. Clean battery poles and terminals.
3. Electrically secure connection between starters.
4. Connect battery and ground.
5. Measure battery voltage.
6. Check battery, if necessary charge or replace.
7. Check alternator