Schneider Electric Motor Starters
Schneider Electric motor starters are intended to control and protect motors in a variety of industrial and commercial applications and to do so reliably and efficiently. They carry out motor starting and stopping functions and provide protection and control of motors in a variety of conditions. Schneider Electric's motor starters include direct-on-line starters, reduced voltage or soft starters, and reversing starters, covering a range of needs when it comes to controlling motors.
With sophisticated attributes like overload relays and thermal protection, the motor starters from Schneider Electric make sure that the motors are safe. They are the go-to choice in industrial applications for manufacturing, precise control of HVAC, the delicate business of water treatment, and the potentially explosive world of material handling, where operational efficiency is king.
More Information about Schneider Electric Motor Starters
The motor starters from Schneider Electric are compact. Thus, they are easy to install in control panels with limited space. Their interfaces are straightforward; their configuration options, intuitive. Many models also integrate easily into automation systems—use them if you want to control things remotely—and that's a nice aspect when you consider that all of this is supposed to work together with minimal space, effort, and downtime.
Schneider Electric motor starters are well known for their toughness and adaptability. They stand up to the rigors of the industrial environment and perform reliably and durably. Whether we are dealing with small motors or large motor-controlled systems, Schneider Electric starters ensure that the motors operate in a safe, efficient, and effective manner for the long term.
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.