Starters for electrical

motors
Starter:

 The primary function of a motor starter is to start and stop the

motor to which it is connected.
 At the same time, it also protects the motor from overload or
faults.
 It reduces the starting current for motor and prevent motor from
drawing high current initially.
 Available in different ratings and sizes
Need for starter:

 A stator is needed for an induction motor (three phase type) in

order to limit the starting current.
 The rotor induced emf is proportional to the slip (it is the relative
speed between stator and rotor)
 At starting, the speed of the motor is zero and hence slip is at
maximum. Hence high emf is produced in the rotor and stator
draws 5-8 times the full load current of the motor.
 This huge current at the starting of a motor can damage the motor
windings and also this current can cause a large voltage drop in the
line.
How it works?

 All starter devices are provided with some

overheating protection element to limit high
current during overload. Most of these devices
work on timed overload concept in which
overload current is allowed for a short time (very
few seconds) and then stops the motor if the
current exists for beyond that time.
Types of Motor Starters:

 FULL VOLTAGE TECHNIQUE(below 5hp)

 DIRECT ON LINE STARTER
 REDUCED VOLTAGE TECHNIQUE(above 5 hp)
 STATOR RESISTANCE STARTER
 AUTO TRANSFORMER STARTER AND
 START-DELTA STARTER.
 BIDIRECTIONAL STARTER TECHNIQUE
 MULTISPEED TECHNIQUE
Common types of starters:

1. Stator resistance starter

2. Auto transformer starter
3. Star-delta starter
4. Direct on-line starter
5. Soft Starter
Stator resistance starter:

 reduced voltage is applied to the induction

motor by connecting external resistances in
series with each phase of the stator winding.
 During the start, resistances are kept at
maximum position and reduced voltage is
applied across the motor
 Once the motor picks up the speed, the
resistance connected to each phase is
gradually
 reduced from the stator circuit. When these
resistances are removed from the circuit, a
rated voltage (full voltage) is applied to the
motor and hence it runs at rated speed.
 In this method, it is important to maintain the starting
torque to the motor while minimizing the starting current.
This is because current varies in proportion to the voltage
whereas the torque varies square of the applied voltage.
 Suppose if the applied voltage is reduced by 50 percent,
the current will be reduced to 50 percent while the
torque reduced by 25 percent.
 ADVANTAGES: The construction of this starter is simple
and it is the most economical method than all methods.
 DISADVANTAGES: large power loss takes & reduced
torque at start
Auto Transformer Starter

 a three-phase auto transformer is

connected in series with the motor.
This transformer reduces the voltage
applied to the motor and hence the
current.
 This starter consists of changeover
switch that switches the motor
between reduced voltage and full
voltage conditions.
 When the motor attains 80 percent
of its rated speed, the changeover
switch is connected to RUN position
automatically using relays.
 ADVANTAGES: This stator can be connected to both star and delta
connected three –phase motors.
 DISADVANTAGES: more expensive than stator resistance starter.
Star Delta Starter

 Most commonly used reduced voltage

starter
 These starters are designed to run on
delta connected stator of an induction
motor.
 Uses a TPDT (triple pole double throw)
switch and it connects the stator
winding in star during the starting
condition.
 The applied voltage to the motor is
reduced by the factor 1/√3 during star
connection.
 After attaining the rated speed, TPDT
switch is thrown automatically on the
other side by using relays.
 ADVANTAGES: cheap and maintenance free.
 Disadvantages: suitable only for delta connected motors & 1/√3
cannot be altered.
Direct On-Line Starter

 Small capacity motors (below 5 HP)

doesn’t have very high starting currents &
withstand the starting currents.
 This starter does not reduce the starting
voltage, it provides the protection to the
motor against overloading, single phasing
and low voltage.
 WORKING:
 During start condition, normally open
contact (NO) is pushed for fraction of a
second and this makes the magnetizing
coil becomes energized.
 This magnetic flux produced by the coil attracts the contactor so
that the motor is now connected to the supply.
 The contactor maintains this position while the coil gets supply
from the additional switch.
 When a normally closed (NC) switch is pressed, the coil becomes
de-energized and the contactor get separated by spring
arrangement there by the supply to the motor is removed.
 Under any overload condition, motor draws a heavy current that
causes overheating. This excessive heating operates the thermal
relays.
 Overload contacts then operates to remove the supply to the motor.
 ADVANTAGES: It is the simplest, cheapest and most reliable method
and hence widely used.
 DISADVANTAGES: motor draws a very high current during start for a
short period.
Soft Starter

 Semiconductor power switches are

employed for reducing the starting
current to the induction motor.
 This starter consists of back to back
thyristors or TRIACs in each phase of
the stator winding. By controlling the
firing angle to these thyristors, the
voltage applied to the motor will be
reduced.
 This type of voltage reduction gives a
smoother operation
 ADVANTAGES: absence of torque pulsations and jerking