AUTOMATIC STATERS

DC MOTOR STARTER
Starter using Voltage Sensing Relays

The back emf or speed serves as a signal for operation of contactors which are used to decrease
or switch off the starting resistance step-by-step. The armature or back emf provides the speed
signal. Fig. 1 shows the power and control circuits describing the principle of starting dc shunt
motors as a function of speed.

When the start push button is pressed, the relay M is energized closing the contactor M. The
motor starts with resistance R1, R2 and R3 in the armature circuit. The back emf increases and
armature current decreases. As the lower limit of starting current I2 is reached, the relay 1AR
picks up at a voltage, V1A = Cω1 + I2 (Ra + R1 + R2+ R3). The starting coil 1A is energized
closing its contactor 1A. The resistance R1 is short circuited. Instantaneously, the armature
current rises to the upper limit of the starting current and then decreases exponentially to its
lower limit I2, when the relay 2AR picks up at a voltage, V2A = Cω2 + I2 (Ra + R2+ R3). The
resistance R2 is then short circuited. Similarly, R3 is short circuited, when the relay 3AR picks up
at a voltage V3A = Cω3 + I2 (Ra + R3). It may be noted that ω3 > ω2 > ω1. V2A and V3A are
approximately equal. Though the accelerating relays have the same pick up voltages, they are
actually speed sensitive.

Fig. 1: DC Shunt motor starter using voltage sensing relay

Starter using Current Sensing Relays:

During starting of dc motor, the current varies between two limits depending upon the number of
steps, the load torque and the rate of acceleration required. Based on this principle, the starting
resistance is short circuited step-by-step. As the armature current drops to its lower value at any
step, the relay acts to short circuit the particular sectional resistance (fig. 2). At the beginning of
a step, the armature current rises to the upper peak value and then exponentially decreases. At the
upper peak value of current, the concerned accelerating relay contact opens. At the lower limit of
current, the accelerating relay releases and the corresponding section of the starting resistance is
short circuited. IR is the interlocking relay. Its operating time is greater than that of the
accelerating relay. The contacts, 1A, 2A and 3A close in turn, short circuiting the resistance, R1,
R2 and R3 in sequence.

Fig. 2: DC Shunt motor starter using current sensing relay

Starter using Time Delay Relay:

The starting resistance can also be cut off at specific intervals of time by using time delay relays
(timers). Normally, off relay timers are used. These timers pick up almost instantaneously on
energization, but release with time delay, which is preset.

Fig. 3: DC Shunt motor starter using time delay relays

As soon as the push button is pressed, the coil M is energized and the timer 1AR is de-energized.
The motor starts with full resistance in the armature circuit. The contact 1AR drops out with
elapse of its delay time. The coil 1A is energized closing its normally open contact 1A and
simultaneously, the timer 2A is energized closing its contact 2A. The timer 3AR is now de-
energized and similarly the contact 3A is closed. Thus, the starting resistance is short circuited
step-by-step irrespective of the speed and current of the armature.

Electronic times are used for automatic control of the starting cycle. A wide range of time delay
starting from a few milliseconds to a few seconds can be obtained. Prolonged operation of the
motor at a speed below normal is avoided in this method

Wound Rotor Induction Motor Starters by Variation of Rotor Resistance

Wound rotor (slip ring) induction motors with rheostatic speed control are used when these
motors drive intermittent duty loads such as crane, wagon tripler, skip hoist, mine hoist, lift etc.

Starter using Time Delay relay:

Initially the off delay timers, 1TR, 2TR and 3TR are all energized and the coils 1A, 2A, 3A and M
are all de-energized (fig. 4). As soon as the start push button is pressed, the coil M is energized.
The line contacts M are closed, thus supplying the voltages to the stator windings. He motor
accelerates with full resistance in the rotor circuit.

Fig. 4: Wound rotor Induction Motor starter using time delay relays

The blocking of starting push button is effected by a contact (NO) of M, which also switches the
supply to the relay circuits at the same time. The contact (NC) of M in the timer circuit opens.
The timer, 1TR drops out after its preset time relay. The coil 1A is energized, thus closing 1A
contacts in the rotor circuit. On the other hand, 1A contact in the timer circuit is opened at the
same time. When the timer 2AR is de-energized after preset time delay, the coil 2A is energized,
thus closing the contact 2A in the rotor circuit. Thereafter, the contacts 3A are closed in the rotor
circuit after elapse of the delay time of 3TR. In this way, the starting resistance is short circuited
in the rotor circuit in sequence.

Starter using Frequency Sensing Relays:

The other types of relays rotor frequency or current sensing can be used instead of time delay
relays. The scheme using frequency sensing relays is described in fig. 5.

When the start push button is pressed, the line contactor M is energized closing its M contacts
(NO) and starting the motor. Two of contacts (NO) block the start push button after its release
and this also energizes the main relay circuits.

Fig. 5: Wound rotor Induction Motor Stater using frequency sensing relay

As the rotor speeds up, its voltage and frequency drop. At a preset value corresponding to a
particular rotor speed, the first frequency relay 1FR drops out, when its contact 1FR closes. This
causes the contactor 1A to pick up and thus, the first set of rotor resistance is short circuited.
Then the second frequency relay drops out closing its contact 2FR. This causes the relay 2A to
pick up. Consequently, its contacts 2A in the rotor circuit short circuit the second set of rotor
resistance. This process continues, until the last set of rotor resistance is short circuited. At any
instant, when the motor is running, if the stop push button is pressed, the coil M is de-energized,
thus switching off the motor supply.

DOL Starter with Provision for Speed Reversal:

The direct-on-line (DOL) starter (fig. 6) with provision for speed reversal is described. The
forward push button FOR is pressed. The forward contactors F pick up providing proper supply
to the induction motor, which rotates in the forward direction.
 Fig. 6: Direct-on-line (DOL) starter for Induction Motor with provision for speed reversal

When the rotation is required in the reverse direction, the reverse push button REV is pressed.
The reverse contactors R pick up giving supply to the motor in the opposite phase sequence
through R contactors. When the motor is to be stopped, the push button STOP is pressed.

Auto-transformer Starter:

The Auto-transformer Starter is described in fig. 7. The link K2 is directly connected to the
common terminals of the contactors (U, V, W), Timer (T) and indicating lamp (IL). The circuit
works on 415 Volt ac supply through control fuses F1 and F2.

Fig. 7: Auto-transformer Starter for Induction Motors

When the start push button is pressed, the timer T is energized though contact (NC) of W. The
auto-transformer is connected in star by the operation of contactor, V through the off delay
contact (NC) of timer T, which closes instantaneously and then opens after the preset time delay.
The contactor U is also energized through another off delay contact of timer T. When U is de-
energized after the preset time delay of timer T, the contactor W is energized and the contact
(NC) of U opens. The NO and NC contacts of W close and open respectively. The timer T is de-
energized. The indicating lamp IL glows. During the moment of close condition of V and W,
smooth transition from auto-transformer to direct-on-line (DOL) takes place. The start push
button is locked through the contact (NO), W and also the contact (NC), U. This is continuous
running condition only, the contactor W remains energized and the indicating lamp glows.