
Starter Contactor Accessories

Starter contactor accessories enhance the functionality and protection of starter contactor products. These accessories are designed to meet the specific needs of motor control applications, providing additional features and capabilities. One commonly used accessory is auxiliary contacts, which allow for remote indication, monitoring, and control of the contactor operation. These auxiliary contacts can be used to provide feedback signals or trigger other devices in the circuit based on the status of the main contacts.
In addition to auxiliary contacts, overload relays are offered as accessories for starter contactors. Overload relays play a critical role in protecting motors from excessive current or overload conditions. By connecting the overload relay in series with the motor, it can detect and respond to abnormal current levels, tripping and de-energizing the contactor to prevent motor damage. Overload relays are designed with reliable and accurate trip characteristics to ensure optimal motor protection.
Another important accessory is surge suppressors or surge protection devices (SPDs). These accessories safeguard starter contactors and other electrical equipment from voltage surges and transient overvoltages. By diverting excess voltage to ground, surge suppressors help prevent damage to sensitive electronic components and ensure the reliable operation of the contactor. Surge suppressors are designed to provide high-quality surge protection and help maintain the integrity of motor control systems.
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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.