Eaton Motor Starters
An indispensable part of motor control systems, Eaton motor starters guarantee the reliable operation necessary for starting, stopping, and generally protecting motors in various kinds of industrial applications. Eaton offers the most complete line of manual motor starters in the industry.These life-savers protect motors from a variety of electrical maladies, including overloads and short circuits. What's more, these starters also feature integrated control functions, which help ensure safe and smooth operation of motors in complex electrical systems.
Eaton provides numerous types of motor starters. These include non-reversing, reversing, and reduced voltage configurations. This variety makes them suitable for an extensive range of applications, from uncomplicated operations where the motor simply starts and stops to more involved tasks where the motor needs to change directions or be controlled in its acceleration (or deceleration). Control and protection features that come with the starter offer the user more or less complete command over what the motor does, with a good degree of assurance that the starter will prevent any harmful conditions from affecting the motor itself.
FAQs
Do Eaton motor starters offer disconnect switches and overload protection?
Yes, Eaton motor starters offer disconnect switches and overload protection to ensure safe and reliable motor control and operation.
Can motor starters control electrical loads and monitor for overcurrent, voltage and phase changes in an oil and gas industry?
Yes, motor starters can control electrical loads and monitor for overcurrent, voltage, and phase changes in the oil and gas industry, ensuring safe and efficient motor operation in demanding environments.
Motor Starters, Soft Starters and VFDs
Motor Starters
Motor starters safely start and stop a motor in industrial applications. They are designed with a contactor, overload and circuit protection. They are used when basic motor control is required, where torque on the motor is not a concern and speed control is not needed. The advantages of motor starters include: lower cost, allows for remote operation, allows for monitoring of motor state (with the use of auxiliary contacts) and they are safe and efficient. The disadvantages include: high inrush current that can cause fuses to blow and breakers to trip if the inrush is too high, and the starter will allow a full torque to start the motor which can cause the motor to ramp up to full speed very quickly potentially causing the motor to wear and degrade prematurely.
Soft Starters
Soft starters protect motors from inrush current by gently ramping up the motor to full speed. They provide all of the same functions as a traditional motor starter. The advantages of soft starters include: they are less expensive than a VFD when only startup control is needed, they are a smaller system than a VFD where space is a concern and they prevent unwanted torque upon startup, prolonging the life of the motor. The disadvantages include: they are more expensive than a traditional motor starter and they do not allow for full speed control.
VFDs
Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) allow for the slow ramp up of a motor during startup and the slowing down of the motor during shutdown. They also allow for full speed control during the entire run cycle of the motor. VFDs provide the same functions as both the traditional motor starters and soft starters. The advantages of VFDs include: full speed control (start, stop and in-between), more custom control and monitoring, energy savings due to efficient motor usage and less wear and tear on the motors. The disadvantages include: they are more expensive and larger than other motor control options and they generate heat that may require fans or AC units.