Scribd
Upload
104 views4 pages

3-Wire Control

Uploaded by

dannymtuan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as RTF, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
104 views4 pages

3-Wire Control

Uploaded by

dannymtuan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as RTF, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

The three-wire control circuit is

the most widely used motor


control circuit. This circuit is
similar to the two-wire circuit
except it has an extra set of
contacts that is connected in
parallel around one of the
original pilot switches to seal it
in. The extra set of parallel
contacts provides the third wire,
which also gives this circuit its
name. Learn to recognize this
circuit when it's shown as a
ladder diagram and as a wiring
diagram. In this way you will be
able to understand the
operation of the circuit wherever
it appears.

Right: Fig. 1(a) A typical three-


wire control system. This control
circuit gets its name because of
the auxiliary contacts that are
connected in parallel with the
start button. The auxiliary
contacts seal in the circuit to
keep the coil energized after the
start push button is released.
(b) Ladder diagram of a three
wire control circuit.
One variation of the three-wire
circuit is shown in Figure 1. In
this figure, stop and start push
buttons are used as the pilot
devices for control. Figure 1a
shows the wiring diagram for
the three-wire circuit, and
Figure 1b shows the ladder
diagram for the three-wire
control circuit. In the ladder
diagram notice that the stop
push button is wired NC. When
the start push button is
depressed, voltage will flow
through its contacts to energize
the motor starter coil. When the
coil becomes energized, it pulls
its main contacts closed to
cause the motor to become
energized, and it also pulls its
NO auxiliary contacts that are
connected across the start push
button to their closed position.
When the auxiliary contacts
close, they provide an alternate
route for voltage to travel
around the start push button
contacts, which will return to
their NO position when the
switch is no longer depressed.
The auxiliary contacts are called
the seal-in circuit or in some
cases the memory circuit. If the
auxiliary contacts are not used,
you would need to keep your
finger on the start button to
keep the circuit energized.
Notice in the three-wire circuit
that the stop button is used to
unseal the circuit and de-
energize the motor starter coil.
Anytime the stop button is
depressed, the coil will become
de-energized and the seal-in
circuit will drop out. That is, the
start push button must be
depressed again to energize the
circuit.
It's also important to understand
in the three-wire circuit that the
stop push button traditionally is
always the first switch in the
circuit. Most people assume this
has something to do with safety.
In reality, it has to do with
economics. When you look at a
motor starter, you will notice
that the auxiliary contacts are
physically located near the coil.
If the start button is connected
in the circuit next to the coil, the
wire that is connected to the
auxiliary contact on the right
side (terminal 3) can actually be
a short jumper wire that is
connected directly to the left
side of the coil. If the start
button is not located next to the
coil, the wires that connect the
auxiliary contacts in parallel with
the start push button will need
to be as long as the distance
between the start push button
and the motor starter. This may
be a distance of several
hundred feet. This jumper wire
is shown in the wiring diagram
of the three-wire control circuit.

You might also like