Direct On Line (DOL) Motor Starter

Pos ted A PR 22 2012 b y JI GU PAR MA R in M AI NT EN A N C E , MOT OR w ith 2 C OM ME NT S

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Direct Online Motor Starter - Square D

Different starting methods are employed for starting induction motors because Induction Motor draws
more starting current during starting. To prevent damage to the windings due to the high starting current
flow, we employ different types of starters.
The simplest form of motor starter for the induction motor is the Direct On Line starter. The Direct On
Line Motor Starter (DOL) consist a MCCB or Circuit Breaker, Contactor and an overload relay for
protection. Electromagnetic contactor which can be opened by the thermal overload relay under fault
conditions.
Typically, the contactor will be controlled by separate start and stop buttons, and an auxiliary contact on
the contactor is used, across the start button, as a hold in contact. I.e. the contactor is electrically
latched closed while the motor is operating.

Principle of Direct On Line Starter (DOL)

Control of Induction Motors (Engineering)

To start, the contactor is closed, applying full line voltage to the motor windings. The motor will draw a
very high inrush current for a very short time, the magnetic field in the iron, and then the current will be
limited to the Locked Rotor Current of the motor. The motor will develop Locked Rotor Torque and begin
to accelerate towards full speed.
As the motor accelerates, the current will begin to drop, but will not drop significantly until the motor is
at a high speed, typically about 85% of synchronous speed. The actual starting current curve is a
function of the motor design, and the terminal voltage, and is totally independent of the motor load.
The motor load will affect the time taken for the motor to accelerate to full speed and therefore the
duration of the high starting current, but not the magnitude of the starting current.
Provided the torque developed by the motor exceeds the load torque at all speeds during the start
cycle, the motor will reach full speed. If the torque delivered by the motor is less than the torque of the
load at any speed during the start cycle, the motor will stops accelerating. If the starting torque with a
DOL starter is insufficient for the load, the motor must be replaced with a motor which can develop a
higher starting torque.
The acceleration torque is the torque developed by the motor minus the load torque, and will change as
the motor accelerates due to the motor speed torque curve and the load speed torque curve. The start
time is dependent on the acceleration torque and the load inertia.
DOL starting have a maximum start current and maximum start torque.
This may cause an electrical problem with the supply, or it may cause a mechanical problem with the
driven load. So this will be inconvenient for the users of the supply line, always experience a voltage
drop when starting a motor. But if this motor is not a high power one it does not affect much.

Parts of DOL Starters

Contactors & Coil

DOL part -Contactor

Magnetic contactors are electromagnetically operated switches that provide a safe and convenient
means for connecting and interrupting branch circuits.
Magnetic motor controllers use electromagnetic energy for closing switches. The electromagnet
consists of a coil of wire placed on an iron core. When a current flow through the coil, the iron of the
magnet becomes magnetized, attracting an iron bar called the armature. An interruption of the current
flow through the coil of wire causes the armature to drop out due to the presence of an air gap in the
magnetic circuit.
Line-voltage magnetic motor starters are electromechanical devices that provide a safe, convenient,
and economical means of starting and stopping motors, and have the advantage of being controlled
remotely. The great bulk of motor controllers sold are of this type.
Contactors are mainly used to control machinery which uses electric motors. It consists of a coil which
connects to a voltage source. Very often for Single phase Motors, 230V coils are used and for three
phase motors, 415V coils are used. The contactor has three main NO contacts and lesser power rated
contacts named as Auxiliary Contacts [NO and NC] used for the control circuit. A contact is conducting
metal parts which completes or interrupt an electrical circuit.

NO-normally open
NC-normally closed

Over Load Relay (Overload protection)

Overload protection for an electric motor is necessary to prevent burnout and to ensure maximum
operating life.
Under any condition of overload, a motor draws excessive current that causes overheating. Since motor
winding insulation deteriorates due to overheating, there are established limits on motor operating
temperatures to protect a motor from overheating. Overload relays are employed on a motor control to
limit the amount of current drawn.

The overload relay does not provide short circuit protection. This is the function of over current
protective equipment like fuses and circuit breakers, generally located in the disconnecting
switch enclosure.
The ideal and easiest way for overload protection for a motor is an element with current-sensing
properties very similar to the heating curve of the motor which would act to open the motor circuit when
full-load current is exceeded. The operation of the protective device should be such that the motor is
allowed to carry harmless over-loads but is quickly removed from the line when an overload has
persisted too long.

DOL part - Termal Overload Relay

Normally fuses are not designed to provide overload protection. Fuse is protecting against short circuits
(over current protection). Motors draw a high inrush current when starting and conventional fuses have
no way of distinguishing between this temporary and harmless inrush current and a damaging overload.
Selection of Fuse is depend on motor full-load current, would blow every time the motor is started. On
the other hand, if a fuse were chosen large enough to pass the starting or inrush current, it would not
protect the motor against small, harmful overloads that might occur later.
The overload relay is the heart of motor protection. It has inverse-trip-time characteristics, permitting it
to hold in during the accelerating period (when inrush current is drawn), yet providing protection on
small overloads above the full-load current when the motor is running. Overload relays are renewable
and can withstand repeated trip and reset cycles without need of replacement. Overload relays cannot,
however, take the place of over current protection equipment.
The overload relay consists of a current-sensing unit connected in the line to the motor, plus a
mechanism, actuated by the sensing unit, which serves, directly or indirectly, to break the circuit.
Overload relays can be classified as being thermal, magnetic, or electronic:
1. Thermal Relay: As the name implies, thermal overload relays rely on the rising temperatures
caused by the overload current to trip the overload mechanism. Thermal overload relays can
be further subdivided into two types: melting alloy and bimetallic.
2. Magnetic Relay: Magnetic overload relays react only to current excesses and are not affected
by temperature.

3.

Electronic Relay: Electronic or solid-state overload relays, provide the combination of highspeed trip, adjustability, and ease of installation. They can be ideal in many precise applications.

Wiring of DOL Starter

1. Main Contact

Contactor is connecting among Supply Voltage, Relay Coil and Thermal Overload Relay.
L1 of Contactor Connect (NO) to R Phase through MCCB
L2 of Contactor Connect (NO) to Y Phase through MCCB
L3 of Contactor Connect (NO) to B Phase through MCCB.

NO Contact (-||-):

(13-14 or 53-54) is a normally Open NO contact (closes when the relay energizes)
Contactor Point 53 is connecting to Start Button Point (94) and 54 Point of Contactor is
connected to Common wire of Start/Stop Button.

NC Contact (-|/|-):

(95-96) is a normally closed NC contact (opens when the thermal overloads trip if associated
with the overload block)

2. Relay Coil Connection

A1 of Relay Coil is connecting to any one Supply Phase and A2 is connecting to Thermal over
Load Relays NC Connection (95).

3. Thermal Overload Relay Connection:

T1,T2,T3 are connect to Thermal Overload Relay

Overload Relay is Connecting between Main Contactor and Motor
NC Connection (95-96) of Thermal Overload Relay is connecting to Stop Button and Common
Connection of Start/Stop Button.

Wiring Diagram of DOL Starter

Direct On Line Starter - Wiring Diagram

Working principle of DOL Starter

The main heart of DOL starter is Relay Coil. Normally it gets one phase constant from incoming supply
Voltage (A1).when Coil gets second Phase relay coil energizes and Magnet of Contactor produce
electromagnetic field and due to this Plunger of Contactor will move and Main Contactor of starter will
closed and Auxiliary will change its position NO become NC and NC become (shown Red Line in
Diagram) .

Pushing Start Button

When We Push the start Button Relay Coil will get second phase from Supply Phase-Main contactor(5)Auxiliary Contact(53)-Start button-Stop button-96-95-To Relay Coil (A2).Now Coil energizes and
Magnetic field produce by Magnet and Plunger of Contactor move. Main Contactor closes and Motor
gets supply at the same time Auxiliary contact become (53-54) from NO to NC .

Release Start Button

Relay coil gets supply even though we release Start button. When We release Start Push Button Relay
Coil gets Supply phase from Main contactor (5)-Auxiliary contactor (53) Auxiliary contactor (54)-Stop
Button-96-95-Relay coil (shown Red / Blue Lines in Diagram).
In Overload Condition of Motor will be stopped by intermission of Control circuit at Point 96-95.

Pushing Stop Button

When we push Stop Button Control circuit of Starter will be break at stop button and Supply of Relay
coil is broken, Plunger moves and close contact of Main Contactor becomes Open, Supply of Motor is
disconnected.

DOL - Wiring scheme

Motor Starting Characteristics on DOL Starter

Available starting current:

Peak starting current:
Peak starting torque:

100%.
6 to 8 Full Load Current.
100%

Advantages of DOL Starter

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Most Economical and Cheapest Starter

Simple to establish, operate and maintain
Simple Control Circuitry
Easy to understand and trouble shoot.
It provides 100% torque at the time of starting.
Only one set of cable is required from starter to motor.

7.

Motor is connected in delta at motor terminals.

Disadvantages of DOL Starter

1.
2.

It does not reduce the starting current of the motor.

High Starting Current: Very High Starting Current (Typically 6 to 8 times the FLC of the

motor).
3. Mechanically Harsh: Thermal Stress on the motor, thereby reducing its life.
4. Voltage Dip: There is a big voltage dip in the electrical installation because of high in-rush
current affecting other customers connected to the same lines and therefore not suitable for
higher size squirrel cage motors
5. High starting Torque: Unnecessary high starting torque, even when not required by the load,
thereby increased mechanical stress on the mechanical systems such as rotor shaft, bearings,
gearbox, coupling, chain drive, connected equipments, etc. leading to premature failure and
plant downtimes.

Features of DOL starting

For low- and medium-power three-phase motors

Three connection lines (circuit layout: star or delta)
High starting torque
Very high mechanical load
High current peaks
Voltage dips
Simple switching devices

Direct On Line Motor Starter (DOL) is suitable for:

A direct on line starter can be used if the high inrush current of the motor does not cause
excessive voltage drop in the supply circuit. The maximum size of a motor allowed on a direct on
line starter may be limited by the supply utility for this reason. For example, a utility may require
rural customers to use reduced-voltage starters for motors larger than 10 kW.
DOL starting is sometimes used to start small water pumps, compressors, fans and conveyor
belts.

Direct On Line Motor Starter (DOL) is NOT suitable for:

The peak starting current would result in a serious voltage drop on the supply system

The equipment being driven cannot tolerate the effects of very high peak torque loadings
The safety or comfort of those using the equipment may be compromised by sudden starting
as, for example, with escalators and lifts.