‫‪Experiment title:‬‬

‫‪The Use of Contactors in Motor Starter‬‬

‫احمد محمد عبد الكريم‬ ‫االسم‬

‫نقل وتوزيع القدرة‬ ‫المادة‬

‫رابع محطات القدرة‬ ‫المرحلة‬

‫‪Group –A-‬‬
Object:
To become familiar with the contactor operation and to use the contactor in the
motor starter.

Theory:
Contactors are electric switches that are very widely used in the
industry for controlling the operation of induction motors. The
contactor operates on the principle of electromagnetic induction. It
consists of a core from laminated steel, a coil, and a set of contacts.
The contacts are of two types:
a- Main contacts: these are intended and used for motor mains
current. The capacity of these contacts can range from a few amps to
hundreds of amps.
b- Auxiliary contacts: these are used in the control circuit and
designed for relatively low current values (less than one amp.).The
auxiliary contacts are of two types: normally open (NO) and
normally closed (NC).

Procedure Part A (Operate and Release Voltage)

 Connect the circuit shown in fig.1 to a variable AC supply. Set
the voltmeter range to 200 V. Increase the supply slowly from
zero until the contactor operates (the indicating lamp is ON).
Make a record of the operating voltage.
 Reduce the voltage gradually until the contactor is disengaged
(the indicating lamp is OFF). Make a record of the release
voltage.
 Repeat the procedure in 1 and 2 above three times and
determine the average value of operation and release voltages
of the contactor.
 Repeat the procedure in 1, 2, and 3 above after replacing the
variable AC supply with a variable DC supply. The voltmeter
range should be switched to the 200 volt DC range.
Procedure Part B (Motor Starter)
 Connect the main motor circuit as shown in fig.2.
 Connect the control circuit shown in fig.3 in steps and for each
step observe its operation.
 Operate the ON and OFF buttons several times and check the
circuit operation.
 Switch OFF the supply and disconnect the circuit