MCC Definitions

1. Freedom 2100 - The newest product line since the Cutler-Hammer-Westinghouse acquisition. This combines the Freedom starter
and the Series 2100 wrapper and breaker. The starter is creme colored with a blue and white label.
2. Advantage - The most advanced starter on the market today. This starter combines a mechanical contactor with a solid state
overload. The starter labels are blue and white.
3. Series 2100 - The oldest product line that we support. The starter labels are white and black with the traditional circle-W symbol.
4. Disconnect - This device shuts off all power to the particular unit or assembly that it feeds.
5. Circuit Breaker - This is an enclosed device with an array of contacts, sensors and armatures that, if a short circuit condition
exists, will “trip” and stop all power from going to the rest of the circuit.
6. HMCP - the most common circuit breaker that we use. This is our standard motor circuit disconnect.
7. Fusible Switch - another form of a disconnect that uses copper “blades”, fuse clips and fuses. Fuses are a much better way of
protecting the components and circuits than a circuit breaker.
8. Starter - a combination of a contactor and an overload. This is the main component of our units.
9. Contactor - this is the device that, when energized, allows power to start the motor.
10. Overload - this device senses when too much current is being drawn by the motor. This overcurrent is “translated “ into heat. As
the heat increases to a particular level, the overload trips as the heater opens and current flow to the motor is stopped until the reset
button is pushed.
11. Heater - this device is placed in series to the output of the starter. There will be three of these per starter, one for each phase. This
is the device inserted into the overload that when heated by an overcurrent condition will open. The Advantage starter does not
require heaters as this function is done by a computer-type chip that electronically senses the current.
12. Lighting Contactor - similar to a contactor, this device is a heavy duty rated contactor used in applications that involve heaters,
lighting or other resistive loads.
13. Transformer - transformers power from a high, supply level to a lower controllable voltage. The size can be from 50vA to many
times larger.
14. CPT - control power transformer. This has the same function as a transformer except is usually located in a starter unit and is
normally 1000vA or smaller.
15. Primary Fuse - these fuses, normally two, protect the primary or input side of the transformer.
16. Secondary Fuse - this fuse, normally one, protects the secondary or output side of the transformer.
17. Separate Source - this type of configuration requires no transformer as the customer will supply power from another source like an
existing transformer or a UPS.
18. Terminal Block - found in practically all wired units, these components are the central point that most control wire in the unit is
eventually routed to for distribution and control of the control voltage for proper operation of the unit.
19. Control Wire - wire that carries only control voltage. Normally it is 120VAC. Red PVC insulation is our standard. SIS is another
type of control wire.
20. Power Wire - wire that carries only power voltage. Normally it is 600VAC. Black PVC insulation is our standard.
21. Wire Harness - multiple strands of either control wire or power wire formed and routed into a neat pattern usually held in place
with wire ties. The wire harness promotes consistency and gives the customer a sense of visual value. It also eases maintenance.
22. Device Panel - also called the device island, this black, plastic component attaches directly to each unit and holds the switches,
pushbuttons, lights, etc. for that unit.
23. Ammeter - used to measure current, in amps. Our standard ammeter mounts on the device panel. It requires an additional
component called a current transformer, or CT.
24. Voltmeter - used to measure voltage, in volts. Our standard voltmeter mounts on the device panel. It also requires additional
components called potential transformers, or PTs.
25. Pushbutton - a device actuated by pushing a button with your finger. Some are momentary and only work while the button is
being pressed and others are maintained and stay in the same position until the operator pushes another button or physically
changes the state of the button. We use red ones for stop and black ones for all others normally. These do come in a variety of
colors.
26. Selector Switch - as the name implies, this device allows the user to select which mode to operate at any specific time. Our most
common is the Hand-Off-Auto.
27. E-Stop - same as the emergency stop.
28. Emergency Stop - this is a type of maintained pushbutton that we use. These usually have a big, red “mushroom” cap on them.
29. Reset Button - used to reset a tripped overload. These are mechanical (plastic rods, mechanical pushbutton and physical
movement) or electrical (solid state with a mechanical pushbutton).

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30. Dual Starter - two complete starter units mounted and wired on a common wrapper. These are normally 18” and save the customer
room in the MCC.
31. Feeder Breaker - a unit that has only a breaker for voltage control, a stab for vertical bus connection, and an op mech (operational
mechanism) for turning the breaker on and off. Customers normally use these to directly power motors or loads that do not require
any other type of control other than on or off. Customers also use feeder breakers to feed custom panels that control a lot of
specialized equipment. Our most common type of feeder breaker is a thermal magnetic breaker.
32. Thermal Magnetic Breaker - a type of circuit breaker that has an extra feature that allows it to act similar to an overload and trip
on a thermal or overload condition.
33. Dual Feeder - two individual feeder breakers mounted in one wrapper.
34. Wrapper - the steel shell that forms the bottom or back and the sides of a unit.
35. Ground Clip - attaches to the upper outer right side of the wrapper. This metal spring is the grounding bridge from the unit to the
structure and indirectly to the ground bus.
36. Ground Screw - this screw is the point that the grounded side of the electrical circuit physically attaches to the wrapper.
37. Coil - basically a big electromagnet that, when energized, pulls the steel plunger down which bridges a gap and allows power to
flow from the line side of the starter/contactor/relay/timer to the load side.
38. Line Side - the input side of a component.
39. L-Lead - the wire connected to the line side of a component.
40. Load Side - the output side of a component.
41. T-Lead - the wire connected to the load side of a component. In our case, this is the customer connection to the motor from our
starter or feeder breaker.
42. Wiremarker - used to identify the individual wires. Our standard is the slip-on type.
43. CT - current transformer.
44. Current Transformer - a type of transformer used in conjunction with an ammeter or IQ Data. This component sends the meter a
“sample” of current for measurement. Sized in ratios - 600:5.
45. Auxiliary Interlock - contacts not required for basic unit function to be used by the customer for other uses.
46. Electrical Interlock - contacts that change state electrically when the component that controls them is either energized or de-
energized.
47. Mechanical Interlock - an interlock that changes state when components energize or de-energize normally without electrical
contacts and typically prevents multiple components from energizing simultaneously.
48. Timer - used to delay the electrical status of a component.
49. Relay - similar to a contactor, these devices can be used to control other device or as auxiliary interlocks.
50. SVM - system voltage monitor. Used to protect an MCC or individual unit from phase loss, phase reversal, undervoltage and phase
unbalance.
51. IQ 220 - an electrical version of an ammeter and voltmeter. The IQ DP4000 is similar except that it has more features and is
considered an upgrade.
52. IQ500 - an electronic add-on version of a solid state overload. We use these with the Freedom 2100 or the Series 2100 contactors.
These do not require heaters.
53. IQ Analyzer - used to analyze the voltage waveform for irregularities. These are normally used on systems that operate sensitive
equipment or areas that have questionable voltage sources.
54. System Protection - a big surge suppressor that protects the MCC from lightning strike surges and power company or other system
surges in voltage.
55. SURPAC - in-house term for system protection.
56. TVSS - transient voltage surge suppression. An upgrade of a surpac.
57. WPONI - device used on the Advantage starter to connect a unit to a communications network.
58. Blue Wire - the blue colored communications wire used to interconnect WPONIs and the WCMU.
59. WACM - Advantage control module. This is the electrical upgrade to standard pushbuttons, selector switches and indicating lights.
This device can only be used on an Advantage starter or contactor.
60. WMETER - similar in looks to a WACM, this device is like a mini IQ Data and can be used as a troubleshooting tool in the field.
61. WCMU - central monitoring unit. This is the central point that all WPONIs are wired back to for customer control. It is also the
point that the customer can “tap in” for PC control of the MCC.
62. Schematic - the electrical representation and relationship of components in an electrical circuit.
63. Power Side - normally all wiring found above the transformer on a schematic.
64. Control Side - normally all wiring found below the transformer on a schematic.
65. Full Voltage Non Reversing - when the starter is energized, all available power is directly transferred to the motor.
66. Full Voltage Reversing -same as the FVNR except with an additional contactor that allows a reversing feature.

67. Part Winding - connects one part of the motor windings then connects the second set.

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68. Two Speed - two stage starting that starts the motor with one starter then after a period of time switches over to the other starter.
69. Reduced Voltage Auto-Transformer - used mainly to start large motors. Applies a stepping method of voltage, in percentages, to
the motor to gradually increase the speed.
70. Easy-Start - A RVSS starter. Can be the ES-100, ES-120, or the ES-Advantage.
71. Reduced Voltage Solid State - an electrical version of the RVAT except with a lot more options.
72. Structure - A steel enclosure that houses any variety of horizontal, vertical, ground and/or neutral bus. Usually 90 inches tall and
20 inches wide and can be 16 or 21 inches deep. The exterior is ANSI-61 Gray and the inside is white.
73. NEMA 1A - our most popular model. Used indoors only.
74. NEMA 2 - dripproof. Prevents liquids poured on the top from running down the front and getting all over the controls.
75. NEMA 3R - outdoor, Rainproof.
76. NEMA 12 - indoor. Dusttight.
77. Horizontal Bus - this is the copper bus in the top of the MCC that carries full current from one end of the MCC to the other.
78. Vertical Bus - these are the vertical equals to the horizontal bus and supply power throughout each vertical section. These can and
normally are sized differently for each vertical section based on combined loads. The incoming line section will always be rated the
same as the horizontal bus.
79. Neutral Bus - used on all 4-wire systems (with some exceptions). Normally rated half the size of the horizontal bus and mounted in
the bottom of the MCC.
80. Ground Bus - used in every structure whether there is any other bus or not. Typically rated 300A and mounted in the top or
bottome of the MCC close to the incoming.
81. Isolation Barrier - a flat piece of red fiberglass (glastic) used as a barrier between the back of the units and the vertical bus. This is
standard on the MCC.
82. Labyrinth Barrier – This is considered an upgarde to the isolation barrier. The vertical bus is sandwiched between two layers of
the glastic material and is much safer. This type of barrier normally has shutters that automatically open and close as units are being
installed or withdrawn.
83. Main Breaker - this is one method that the customer can apply power to the MCC. In this case there is a circuit breaker that acts as
the main disconnect for the entire MCC. The customer connects the power cable from an external source to the terminals on the
main breaker.
84. Main Lug Only - similar to the main breaker except there is no way to turn the power off to the MCC locally. Only terminals exist.
85. MLO - main lugs only.
86. Splice Plates - another form powering an MCC is to connect the horizontal bus of the new MCC to the horizontal of the old MCC.
Splice plates are copper bars or plates that bridge that gap between the two horizontal buses.

Cutler Hammmer, Airdrie, Alberta Canada FILE NO. - 5A11050