Motors & Motor Control

FAQs

What kind of motor speed does a squirrel cage motor produce?

A squirrel cage electric motor typically produces a speed that is slightly less than the synchronous speed of the motor, which is determined by the frequency of the power supply and the number of poles in the motor.

What is the "central nervous system" of a three phase motor?

The "central nervous system" of a three-phase motor is the stator, which houses the windings that create the rotating magnetic field necessary to induce motion in the rotor.

What motor shaft options are there for a three phase induction motor?

For a three-phase induction motor, motor shaft options include keyed shafts, keyless shafts, tapered shafts, splined shafts, and hollow shafts, each designed to accommodate different coupling and mounting requirements.

Motor Starters, Softer Starters & VFDs

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 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. 

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.