Ship Fabrication: Electrical and Automation: Learning Objective

Ship Fabrication:
Electrical and Automation
Motor Starters
Learning Objective
This module is intended to enhance the awareness
of the participant with ABS Rules requirements
pertinent to the certification of motor starters
Motor Starters
Motor Starters
The most basic type of AC motor control involves
turning the motor on and off
This is often accomplished by using a motor starter
A starter is made up of a contactor and an overload
protection
Contactors control the electric current to the motor. Their

function is to repeatedly establish and interrupt an
electrical power circuit
Overload protection protects motors from drawing too

much current and overheating
Motor Starter
Motor Starter
Motor Contactor
Contactors are used for electrical equipment that is
frequently turned on and off
In addition to motors, contactors are used to control
lighting and heating circuits
Most motor applications
require the use of
remote control devices
to start and stop the
motor
Magnetic contactors
are commonly used
Magnetic Contactor
A magnetic contactor is operated electro-magnetically
There are two circuits involved in the operation of a

contactor:
The control circuit: connected to the coil of an electromagnet
The power circuit: connected to the stationary contacts
When power is supplied to the coil from the control

circuit, a magnetic field is produced, magnetizing the
electro-magnet. The magnetic field attracts the
armature to the magnet which in turn closes the
contacts.
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Magnetic Contactor
With the contacts closed, current flows through the
power circuit from the line to the load
When current no longer flows through the power circuit,
the electro-magnets coil is de-energized, the magnetic
field collapses and
the movable
contacts open
under spring
pressure
Magnetic Contactor
When SW1 is closed the electromagnetic coil is energized
closing the M contacts and applying power to the motor
Opening SW1 de-energizes the coil, opening the M
contacts and removing power from the motor
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Overload Protection
Overload protection prevents an electric motor from
drawing too much current, overheating and burning out
A motor at rest draws no current and the circuit is open
When a motor is started it draws a very large current;

as much as 6-8 times the running current
This large initial current can cause the fuse or circuit
breaker to immediately trip. The circuit breaker is
intended to handle the normal running current.
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Overload Protection
Will sizing of the fuse or circuit breaker for the initial
current solve the problem?
No, once the motor was running only the most extreme
overload would open the circuit
Smaller overloads would not trip the breakers and the

motor would burn out
An overload protection device is required that does not

open the circuit while the motor is starting but opens the
circuit if the motor gets overloaded
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Bimetal Overload Relay

Overload protection can be accomplished with the use of a
bimetal overload relay
This component consists of a small heater element wired in
series with the motor and a bimetallic strip acting as a trip lever
Bimetallic strip = two dissimilar
metals bonded together
Under normal operating conditions
the heat generated by the heater
element is to be insufficient to
cause the bimetal strip to bend
enough to trip the overload relay
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Bimetal Overload Relay

In an overload condition the strip will stop the motor
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Electronic Overload Relay

Electronic overload relays are another option for motor
protection
The features and benefits of electronic overload relays
vary, but there are a few common traits
One advantage offered by electronic overload relays is
a heaterless design, reducing installation cost and the
need to stock a variety of heaters to match motor
ratings
Heaterless design also allows the electronic relay to be
insensitive to the ambient temperature, minimizing
nuisance tripping
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Electronic Overload Relay

Electronic relays also offer phase loss protection. If a
power phase is lost, motor windings can burn out very
quickly. Electronic overload relays can detect a phase
loss and disconnect the motor
from the power source.
Phase loss
protection is not
available on
mechanical types
of overload relays
16
Combination Starters
Combination
starters are
devices that
incorporate a
motor starter,
short circuit
protection and a
means of safely
disconnecting
power
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ABS Rules for Motor Circuits

Overload and short-circuit protection is to be provided
for each motor circuit (there are some exceptions)
Overload protection is to be set between 100% and
125% of the motor rated current
Where the motor branch circuit is protected with a circuit
breaker fitted with instantaneous (short circuit) trip only,
the instantaneous setting will be greater than the motor
starting current
See SVR 4-3-2/9.17
18
Undervoltage Protection & Undervoltage Release

Undervoltage protection is to be provided for motors
having power rating exceeding 0.5 kW to prevent undesired
restarting after a stoppage due to a low voltage or failure
condition
Undervoltage release is to be provided on controllers for

essential and emergency services where the automatic
restart after a restoration of the normal voltage is not
hazardous. The use of controllers of the undervoltage
release type is to be limited to avoid excessive starting
current when a group of motors with undervoltage release
controllers are restarted automatically upon restoration of
the normal voltage, unless a sequential starting is provided
to limit excessive starting current.
See SVR 4-8-2/9.17.3 and 9.17.4
19
Means of Disconnection
A circuit-disconnecting device is to be provided for each
branch circuit of motor rated 0.5 kW or above so that the
motor and the controller may be isolated from the power
supply for maintenance purposes
However, for a pre-assembled or ski-mounted unit having
two or more motors (e.g., fuel oil blender), a single
disconnecting device in its feeder may be accepted in lieu
of individual disconnecting devices for the motors,
provided that the full load current of each motor is less
than 6A
The circuit-disconnecting device is to be operable
externally
See SVR 4-8-3/5.7.2 and 4-8-4/9.3
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10
Location of the Disconnecting Device

The disconnecting device may be in the same enclosure
with the controller, in which case it is to be externally
operable
The branch-circuit circuit breaker on the power-distribution
panel or switchboard may serve as the disconnect device if
it is located in the same compartment as the controller
In any case, if the disconnecting device is not within sight
of both the motor and the controller, or if it is more than
15 m (50 ft) from either, it is to be arranged for locking in
the open position
The disconnect switch, if not adjacent to the controller, is to
be provided with an identification plate
See SVR 4-8-4/9.3.2
21
Shipboard Installation
Motor control
centers are to be
located in a dry
place with working
space provided to
enable doors to be
fully opened and
equipment removed
for maintenance
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11
www.absacademy.org
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Ship Fabrication:

Electrical and Automation

Contactors control the electric current to the motor. Their

Overload protection protects motors from drawing too

There are two circuits involved in the operation of a

The control circuit: connected to the coil of an electromagnet

The power circuit: connected to the stationary contacts

When power is supplied to the coil from the control

When a motor is started it draws a very large current;

Smaller overloads would not trip the breakers and the

An overload protection device is required that does not

Bimetal Overload Relay

Bimetal Overload Relay

Electronic Overload Relay

Electronic Overload Relay

ABS Rules for Motor Circuits

Undervoltage Protection & Undervoltage Release

Undervoltage release is to be provided on controllers for

Location of the Disconnecting Device

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