Starters for Three Phase Induction Motors

Starters for Three Phase Induction Motors

Why do you need a starter for a motor?
 Starters for Three Phase Induction Motors

To Start the Motor?
 Starters for Three Phase Induction Motors

What do you mean by

starting the motor?
 Starters for Three Phase Induction Motors

Starting is a process in which a 
motor’s rotor is brought from zero 
speed to rated speed.
 Starters for Three Phase Induction Motors

What is the speed 
equation of an 
Induction Motor?
Starters for Three Phase Induction Motors

120f/P?
 Starters for Three Phase Induction Motors

Where is voltage in this equation?
 Starters for Three Phase Induction Motors

Then why should one apply voltage to the 
motor for the motor to start and run?
 Starters for Three Phase Induction Motors

Where is the mistake?
 Starters for Three Phase Induction Motors
120f/P is the equation for the synchronous speed
of the motor (i.e.) the speed of the rotating
magnetic field, which is imaginary.

But, for rotating the rotor which is a body with a 
mass, one needs to apply a force. Remember… 
Newton’s Laws of Inertia?  

“A body at rest will not change its position
unless an external force acts upon it.”
 Starters for Three Phase Induction Motors

A rotor is a body with a mass. So, to lift that

mass against gravity and to keep it in
motion, one needs to apply a force. If it is
linear movement, it is called force and in the
case of angular movement, as in the case of
a motor, it is called Torque.
 Starters for Three Phase Induction Motors
As the starting torque is proportional to the square
of the applied voltage, the more voltage that is
applied to the motor, the better will be the starting
torque. It is for this reason that rated voltage is
applied to the motor.

Now, we know that for a motor to start, a certain

voltage and a certain frequency have to be applied
to the motor.
 Starters for Three Phase Induction Motors

Apply full rated voltage at rated frequency, at the

time of starting itself. Isn’t it?

This method is called “Full Voltage Starting” or

“Across the Line Starting” or “Direct‐on‐Line or
D.O.L. Starting”.

We will see the schematics of this starter now.

R Y B
Direct-On-Line
Starter – Power
SDF Unit
Schematic Diagram

Contactor

Overload Relay

MOTOR
 Direct-On-Line
Starter – Control
Schematic Diagram
MCB

Phase Overload Relay

95

STOP Push Button

Control Supply

96
53
K START Push Button
54
94

a1
K Contactor Coil (240V AC)
a2

Neutral
 Direct‐On‐Line Starter
Now, what are the advantages and 
disadvantages of this starter?

Advantages: 

 Most Economical Starter
 Simple to establish, operate and maintain
 Simple Control Circuitry
 Easy to understand and trouble‐shoot
 Direct‐On‐Line Starter
Disadvantages: 

 Very High Starting Current (Typically 6 to 8 times the full 
load current of the motor).  Why?
 Thermal Stress on the motor, thereby reducing its life.
 Voltage drop in the system, affecting other customers
connected to the same lines.
 Unnecessary high starting torque, even when not 
required by the load, thereby increased mechanical   
stress on the mechanical systems such as rotor shaft,  
bearings, gearbox, coupling, chain drive, connected 
equipments, etc. leading to premature failure and plant 
downtimes.
 Starters for Three Phase Induction Motors
So, some method of starting current reduction has
to be adopted. We know that the current is high
either as the voltage is high or as the resistance is
low (I = V/R). So, to reduce starting current, one
either has to reduce the voltage applied to the
motor or to increase the resistance of the motor.

The first method is adopted for squirrel cage

induction motors and the second method for slip
ring induction motors.
 Starters for Three Phase Induction Motors
Reduced Voltage Starters for Squirrel Cage 
Induction Motors:
 Stator Resistance Starter
 Auto Transformer Starter
 Star Delta Starter
 Manual Star Delta Starter
 Semi‐automatic Star Delta Starter
 Fully automatic Star Delta Starter
 Closed Transition
 Using Pneumatic Timer
 Using Thermal Timer
 Using Electronic On‐delay timer
 Open Transition
 Using a special electronic star‐delta timer
 Starters for Three Phase Induction Motors
SDF A2

K1 OLR MOTOR
B2

R C2
A1
Y B1
C1
B
K3

K2

POWER SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF STAR-DELTA STARTER