
Fractional HP Motors

Fractional HP (Horsepower) motors are electric motors that have a power rating of less than one horsepower (1 HP). They are commonly used in a wide range of applications where high power is not required. These motors are smaller in size and typically have lower power consumption and reduced energy costs compared to larger motors. Fractional HP motors are used in many industrial applications, including conveyors, pumps, compressors, fans, blowers, and small machines such as lathes, grinders, and milling machines. They can also be found in HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems in commercial and residential buildings.
Baldor-Reliance Fractional HP DC motors include both permanent magnet and wound field designs. Permanent magnet designs are available through 5 HP and wound field designs through 3 HP. All are designed for adjustable speed operation from SCR controls. Most designs are constructed so a tachometer may be added for closed loop applications and are offered with 90 or 180 VDC armatures and 20:1 constant torque speed range.
Products
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. Theadvantages 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.