What is Direct Online Starter (DOL)?

Working Principle, Wiring Diagram,

Applications
There are different types of methods used to start induction
motor as these motors utilize more power for starting. 

When the flow of current through windings is high then there

will be a chance to damage the motor. To overcome this
problem, different kinds of starter techniques are used.

The simple type of starter method is DOL (Direct on Line

Starter).  The Direct Online starter includes a circuit breaker or
MCCB, overload relay and contactor for the protection of motor.

The unlocking of an electromagnetic contactor can be done

through the thermal overload relay under the fault conditions.

Usually, the controlling of contactor can be done by using

separate buttons like start and stop.

An auxiliary contact is used on the contactor across the start

button because the contactor is electrically latched while the
working of an induction motor.
 What is Direct Online Starter or DOL?

The most fundamental, economical, as well as an easy method

for running a three-phase induction motor is named as the DOL
starter.

This starter joints three phase motors straight across the supply

of three phases. The attractiveness of this kind of starter is, it can
be connected straightly to the motor, and it doesn’t affect the
induction motor.

The Direct Online Starter consists of a protective device as well

as main contacts.

DOL Starter
 Construction of DOL Starter

The DOL starter consists of two switches namely Green and Red
where the green switch is used to start and red switch is used to
stop the motor.

The DOL starter comprises a circuit breaker (or)

MCCB, overload relay & contactor for protecting the motor.

The two switches of the motor control the contacts. The motor

can be started when we shut the contact by pressing the green
switch, and the full-line voltage comes out to the induction
motor.

Generally, the contactors are 3-poles contactors or 4-pole

contactors. For instance, a 4-pole type contactor consists of three
normally open contacts and one is auxiliary or holds on contact.

The three NO contacts are used to connect the induction motor

to supply lines whereas the auxiliary contact is used to boost the
contactor coil when the start button is opened.
Construction of DOL Starter
 Construction of DOL Starter
If any error takes place, then holds on contactor gets deactivated.
Therefore, the DOL starter separates the induction motor from
the mains supply.

DOL Starter Wiring

The wiring or connections of DOL starter includes mainly four

parts such as main contact, normally open contacts, normally
closed contacts, and connections of relay coil as well as thermal
overload relay.
 The connection of Main Contact

The connection of the main contact can be done by using the

following steps.

● The Contactor can be connected between relay coil, thermal

overload relay, and voltage supply
● The L1 contactor is connected to R-phase using MCCB
● The L2 contactor is connected to Y-phase using MCCB
● The L3 contactor is connected to B-phase using MCCB

The connection of NO Contact

Normally Closed Contact

The Connection of Relay Coil

The Relay Coil (A1) is connecting to any supply segment & A2

relay coil is connected to the NC Connection of the thermal
overload relay.

The connection of Thermal Overload

Relay
The connection of thermal overload relay can be done by using
the following steps.

● The T1, T2, and T3 are connected to the relay

● This relay is connected among motor as well as main contactor
● The normally closed connection of this relay is connected to
stop switch as well as the mutual connection of start or stop
switch.

DOL Starter Working

The DOL starter joints the 3 phase main wiring with the
induction motor namely L1, L2 and L3 when the start switch is
pressed.

Generally, the Direct Online starter working can be done in two

different stages namely DOL starter control circuit and DOL
starter power circuit.
The control circuit is attached to any two of the phases and
activated from the two phases only. Whenever we push the start
switch, then the current will flows through the control circuit as
well as contactor wind also.
The contactor coil can be boosted by the current to make the
contacts close, and thus three phase supply becomes obtainable
for the induction motor.

When we push the stop button, then the flow of current through
the contact will be stopped, therefore power supply to the
induction motor will not be accessible, as well as the same thing
will occur while overload relay works.

As the motor supply breaks, then the machine will move toward
to relax. The contactor coil gets power supply even though we
open start switch because it will obtain supply from the main
contacts as demonstrated in the above Direct Online starter
circuit diagram.

Advantages & Disadvantages

The advantages of this starter include the following.

● The Direct Online starter is an inexpensive starter.

● It gives almost complete starting torque at the beginning.

 ● The designing, operating and controlling this starter is very
easy.

● Understanding and troubleshooting are very easy.

The disadvantages of this starter include the following.

● Starting current is very high.

● This starter causes an important dip in voltage, therefore

appropriate only for small motors.

● The lifespan of the machine can be reduced.

● It is hard mechanically.

● Needless high opening torque.

Applications of DOL Starter

The applications of this starter include the following.

These starters are very useful in motors when the 3-phase

induction motor is at low rating as well as the input is very low
(5V) then that will function at low speeds & lower rating.
These starters are used where maximum currents do not cause
any damage such as to run small compressors, conveyor belts,
water pumps, fans, etc.

Thus, this is all about Direct Online Starter (DOL), and the main
features of this DOL include three phase connection, High
starting torques, voltage dips, mechanical load, current peaks,
and very easy switching devices.