Motor Starter Explained | Motor Starter Types

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⌚Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:43 - Motor starter types
01:39 - 1) FVNR
02:13 - 2) FVR
02:55 - 3) Reduced voltage
03:26 - 4) Multi-speed
03:49 - 1) Manual motor starting
04:10 - 2) Magnetic
04:36 - 3) Auto-transformer
05:20 - 4) Star-delta
05:55 - 5) Soft-starter
06:15 - 6) VFD

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Most digital outputs on control systems operate on 24 volt DC or 120 volt AC. So how do we start and stop three-phase, 480 volt AC industrial motors? The simple answer is by using a motor starter.

All motor controllers are designed to keep the motor from being energized until the controller is told to activate. Once activated, current can pass to the motor, which energizes the motor windings and starts motor rotation.

Motor controllers are also referred to as motor starters. These devices are most often offered in a single unit with circuit disconnecting means, a contactor or other type of motor actuator, circuit overload protection, and motor overload protection.

Motor Controllers can be grouped by starting method and by starter type.

1) Full Voltage, Non-Reversing (FVNR)
The first starting type is the Full Voltage, Non-Reversing motor controller. As the name implies, when the controller’s single contactor actuates, this motor controller type, also known as FVNR, allows the full line voltage to be applied to the motor.

2) Full voltage reversing
In a Full Voltage Reversing motor controller, the controller has two separate actuating states:
– One to operate the motor in the forward direction, and
– One state to allow the motor to operate in the reverse direction.
This is accomplished by adding a second contactor.
– The forward contactor acts the same as in the FVNR, and
– The reverse contactor swaps the position of two of the phases.

3) Reduced voltage
The third type of motor starting method is called reduced voltage starting. Large motors can have a very high starting current that may be harmful to the motor or the motor controller itself.

4) Multi-speed
The last type of motor starting method is multi-speed. Multi-speed motor controllers use solid-state or transforming means to allow motors to be controlled at different speeds. Two of these methods, Variable Speed Drive and 2-speed control will be described later.

Now that we have described the four major categories of the motor controller by starting method, we will now describe the six major motor starter types.

1) Manual
The first is manual motor actuation, which requires an operator to switch the motor on and off.
Due to safety considerations, manual motor starting is limited to the motor of 10 horsepower or less. They can be used on single or three-phase applications.

2) Magnetic
Magnetic motor starters, or direct online starters, are the most common single-speed starter type.
For magnetic starters, a pushbutton or a selector switch connected to a PLC digital input is used to activate a PLC digital output. The PLC output will pull in a coil that magnetically holds the starter contacts closed, allowing current to pass to the motor.
Magnetic motor starters are used with FVNR and full-voltage reversible motor controllers.

3) Auto-transformer
Auto-transformer motor starters are commonly used in reduced-voltage starting applications, especially with large motors.

Star-delta reduced voltage motor starting is related to auto-transformer starting in that three separate contactors are used in the motor control scheme.

5) Soft-starter
Soft-starters are another method used for limiting starting current. Soft-starters use solid-state electronics to limit the startup voltage and current.
A soft-starter allows the voltage to gradually increase during motor startup. This allows the motor to slowly accelerate & gain speed in a controlled fashion.

6) Variable frequency drive (VFD)
A variable frequency drive, or VFD, is similar to a soft-starter but allows the speed of the motor to be varied by varying the frequency of the output to the motor.

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#RealPars #industry #MotorStarter

[MrWaalkman]

Probably the best explanation that I have seen on the various ways of starting a 3 phase motor!

[inothome]

Hahaha, you guys fixed the open main contactor in the star - delta explanation. I caught that yesterday, kudos for the re-upload.

[wrhebet]

Once again you just upload a very helpful video, that can help a lot of technicals Around the globe. Thank you real pars team. 👍🤞🙏

[fernandovillon]

Excellent video! Would also like to watch a series about MCCs: basics, applications and manufacturers' history.

[ahmadjabir]

The World needs more people like you
Thank you so much

[skareeg]

I just want anyone curious to know that the only reason I am watching this is random curiousity at what is apparently a Brookhirst vintage DC motor starter that appears in one of shiey's urban exploration videos. Namely the Mission to Bunker Complex with Power video. I am in gamedev. I have never touched a switchboard, nonetheless anything like this stuff. Thank you for uploading this! I am learning something new at 10PM. Again.

[DinkyDoughnut]

Thanks, Handy to know for my study in motor control.!

[javierferrer]

Excelente vídeo! Thank you for sharing.

[gopalkrishnan]

Thanks for sharing video. Your way of explanation is good like animation of pictures and videos. And also clear explanation about that content....

[molinschado]

better than the other videos, thanks realpars

[kurtg]

Might be the best animation I've ever seen, kind of
curious what software is used to produce such a great animation.

[nimbo]

Thank you for the well detailed video. 👍

As an HVAC Application engineer, i have come across projects where asked to provided motor starter in bypass line of E-bypass vfds. Is this mainly for safety reasons in case of VFD failure? To my knowledge, most E-bypass VFDs already come with embedded motor starters in their bypass line, so i thaught it might be redundant to add an additional motor starter. Please correct me if i am wrong.

[danielteyehuago]

Thanks for your sharing it with us. This is a great tutorial and very informative...
dl

[tristanhubbard]

What is the triangle displayed in between the contactors at 2:54 in the video? Is it a mechanical Interlock?

[joeclark]

I thought it was great, I wish you guys could make a video of you actually installing these systems, while explaining the diagram. I am currently going through my apprenticeship, and I always watch your videos on a subject. Plus Local 26 IBEW JATC uses your videos as training material, and my instructor is very strict about what he shows us on you tube, only the best at Local26

[xWillyHD]

So with a soft-starter, can you simple wire the motor in run (Delta)? instead than power the motor in start(wye) for a few seconds and then change to run(Delta)?, Talking about a 480v single-voltage motor

[bobcocampo]

What is the normal transition time for wye to delta starter

[roseelectronics]

Why was primary resistor method not included in the explanation? Good video though.

[focused]

L2 goes to L2, why do we need a 3rd pole?