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DC Motor Starters

The document discusses different types of DC motor starters used historically: 1) Manual starting rheostats were the first DC motor starters and were operated entirely by hand, taking about 10 seconds for an operator to gradually increase power to start the motor. 2) Three-point starters applied voltage in three steps - first to the field coil, then to a starting resistor and armature to limit current, then shorting out the resistor as the motor sped up. 3) Four-point starters eliminated issues with three-point starters by connecting both sides of the power line, providing better protection by disconnecting the motor if power failed.

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Joko Priyanto
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143 views2 pages

DC Motor Starters

The document discusses different types of DC motor starters used historically: 1) Manual starting rheostats were the first DC motor starters and were operated entirely by hand, taking about 10 seconds for an operator to gradually increase power to start the motor. 2) Three-point starters applied voltage in three steps - first to the field coil, then to a starting resistor and armature to limit current, then shorting out the resistor as the motor sped up. 3) Four-point starters eliminated issues with three-point starters by connecting both sides of the power line, providing better protection by disconnecting the motor if power failed.

Uploaded by

Joko Priyanto
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DC motor starters

The counter-emf aids the armature resistance to limit the current through the armature.
When power is first applied to a motor, the armature does not rotate. At that instant the
counter-emf is zero and the only factor limiting the armature current, is the armature
resistance. Usually the armature resistance of a motor is less than one ohm; therefore the
current through the armature would be very large when the power is applied. This current
can make an excessive voltage drop affecting other equipment in the circuit and even trip
overload protective devices.

 Therefore the need arises for an additional resistance in series with the armature
to limit the current until the motor rotation can build up the counter-emf. As the
motor rotation builds up, the resistance is gradually cut out.

Manual Starting Rheostat

When electrical and DC motor technology was first developed, much of the equipment
was constantly tended by an operator trained in the management of motor systems. The
very first motor management systems were almost completely manual, with an attendant
starting and stopping the motors, cleaning the equipment, repairing any mechanical
failures, and so forth.

The first DC motor-starters were also completely manual, as shown in this image.
Normally it took the operator about ten seconds to slowly advance the rheostat across the
contacts to gradually increase input power up to operating speed. There were two
different classes of these rheostats, one used for starting only, and one for starting and
speed regulation. The starting rheostat was less expensive, but had smaller resistance
elements that would burn out if required to run a motor at a constant reduced speed.

This starter includes a no-voltage magnetic holding feature, which causes the rheostat to
spring to the off position if power is lost, so that the motor does not later attempt to
restart in the full-voltage position. It also has overcurrent protection that trips the lever to
the off position if excessive current flow over a set amount is detected.

(1917) Hawkins Electrical Guide. Theo. Audel & Co., p.664-669. 

Three-point starter
Three point starter

The incoming power is indicated as L1 and L2. The components within the broken lines
form the three-point starter. As the name implies there are only three connections to the
starter. The connections to the armature are indicated as A1 and A2. The ends of the field
(excitement) coil are indicated as F1 and F2. In order to control the speed, A field
rheostat is connected in series with the shunt field. One side of the line is connected to the
arm of the starter (represented by an arrow in the diagram). The arm is spring-loaded so,
it will return to the "Off" position the not held at any other position.

 ON the first step of the arm, full line voltage is applied across the shunt field.
Since the field rheostat is normally set to minimum resistance, the speed of the
motor will not be excessive; additionally, the motor will develop a large starting
torque.
 The starter also connects an electromagnet in series with the shunt field. It will
hold the arm in position when the arm makes contact with the magnet.
 Meanwhile that voltage is applied to the shunt field, and the starting resistance
limits the flow of current to the armature.
 As the motor picks up speed counter-emf is built up, the arm is moved slowly to
short.

Four-point starter

The four-point starter eliminates the drawback of the three-point starter. In addition to the
same three points that were in use with the three-point starter, the other side of the line,
L1, is the fourth point brought to the starter when the arm is moved from the "Off"
position. The coil of the holding magnet is connected across the line. The holding magnet
and starting resistors function identical as in the three-point starter.

 The possibility of accidentally opening the field circuit is quite remote. The four-
point starter provides the no-voltage protection to the motor. If the power fails,
the motor is disconnected from the line.

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