Hybrid Motor Starters
Hybrid motor starters use solid-state semiconductor switches to start and stop motors. Because the semiconductor switches are non-mechanical, they can achieve up to ten times as many switching operations as their mechanical counterparts.
Non-reversing motor starters are a 3-phase motor controller with one motor contactor. The contactor opens and closes the power circuit to turn the motor on or off. Reversing motor starters are a 3-phase motor controller with two motor contactors. The motor can be reversed using forward and reverse motor contactors.
Phoenix Contact Hybrid Motor Starters replace conventional reversing contactors and the motor protection with a single device. The hybrid motor starter can be used wherever 3-phase asynchronous motors need to be reversed and protected. The product range consists of direct and reversing starters, which are available with various functions such as: fieldbus connection with suitable gateway, group shutdown via DIN rail connectors after an emergency stop with an upstream safety relay and feedback on the status of the motor via optional relay module.
FAQs
Does a hybrid motor starter feature adjustable overload shutdown, emergency stop functions, high system availability and a push in connection?
Yes, a hybrid motor starter features adjustable overload shutdown, an emergency stop function, high system availability, and a push-in connection for efficient and reliable motor control.
Do hybrid motor starters provide simple safety integration with AC motors?
Yes, hybrid motor starters provide simple safety integration with AC motors, offering efficient control solutions for enhanced system reliability.
Motor Control Basics
Motor control allows operational control of electrical motors in various environments.
Motor control circuits provide a safe way to operate electrical motors. Back when motor control circuits were in their infancy, it would have been common to see a simple disconnect switch that would be used to turn on and off a motor. Depending on the size of the motor and how much voltage was required, operating this disconnect would have been dangerous, with a very high possibility of arcing or electrocution. Not to mention that when the disconnect was actuated, the large amount of inrush current would have damaged the motor over time.
In today's motor control circuits, there are a few common pieces of hardware.
A circuit breaker is used to protect the motor and any hardware downstream. A contactor and an overload relay are connected together and function in tandem to allow for remote and safe operation of the motor. The contactor functions much like a relay, allowing for a smaller electrical circuit to remotely close the motor contacts, starting the motor. The overload relay is designed to protect the motor in the case of a prolonged overcurrent event. These two devices are wired in series, so that if the overload relay detects an overcurrent event, the contactor will open the motor contacts, shutting off power to the motor.
The other two most common types of motor control hardware are a soft starter and a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD).
Both of these devices function in a similar way to the motor circuit with some added functions. The soft starter is designed to reduce large inrush current to the motor upon startup. This “soft starting” of the motor will prolong its life and allow for safer operation. The VFD performs the soft start functions, but also allows for speed control of the motor. This speed control is critical in many different environments and has made VFDs one of the most common and safe to use motor control circuits today.