Contactors and Protection Relays
What is a motor starter? A motor starter is a combination of electromechanical devices, connecting an electric motor to its power-supplying source, and providing: On/off control of the motor, optionally with direction reversing, or Star Delta soft starting Protection of the motor, its supplying cables, and its controlling devices, as requested by standards and regulations, mainly from overloads, short circuits, supply phase failures, and unbalances. Additional devices can provide additional protections, depending on the usage of the motor and the risk it implies, for instance from protracted starting time, locked rotor, reversed phases, supply voltage deviations, etc. Depending on the application requirements, the motor starter can be made of: 1 to 3 contactors, delivering power to the motor, upon manual or automatically controlled request. 1 motor protection circuit-breaker, protecting short-circuits, or from short-circuits and overloads together. 1 motor protection overload relay, when the circuit-breaker protects from short circuits only. 1 advanced motor protection relay offers a large selection of additional protections. The most common configuration combines a thermal magnetic circuit breaker (protection from overloads and short circuits) and a contactor for simple on-off control. TeSys Ultra combines all functions in one single device, with a large choice of options and digital connections. Motor starter combinations are preassembled starters, ready to connect and commission, optionally including their housing suitable for loose installation.
What is a digitized motor starter? It is a motor starter leveraging the power of digital computing and connectivity, to enhance control monitoring protection and maintenance of electric motors.
TeSys Ultra is an all-in-one direct or reversing starter, for motors up to 18 kW, offering a wealth of options like advanced protections, pre-alarming, fault diagnosis, motor load reporting, and connection to various digital protocols. TeSys Island makes it easy to coordinate the various motor starters of a machine or a process, under the supervision of a programmable logic controller (PLC). Each starter is pre-configured to deliver the ultimate mix of monitoring, controlling, protecting and maintaining functions, suitable for each motor usage (e.g. pumping, conveying.) TeSys T is the smartest motor starting option on the market, experienced in monitoring controlling, and protecting the most process-critical and powerful electric motors (up to 500 kW), under the control of the most performing process management software.
What is a motor protection circuit breaker? A motor protection circuit-breaker is an electric switching device that turns power off as soon as an overheating danger is suspected.
Magnetic-only circuit breakers switch off when a short-circuit arises in the motor, or somewhere in its supplying and controlling chain. Thermal-magnetic circuit breakers switch off in case of a short-circuit, and also when the motor is mechanically overloaded, or when the supplying line is electrically overloaded (for instance in case one of the three phases is accidentally disconnected).
To mitigate the main electrical risks of fire and burns, regulations in force make mandatory dedicated protection for every electric motor with rated power 500 W and above, which is achieved:
Either by a thermal-magnetic circuit breaker. Or by a magnetic circuit breaker (or a fuse carrier) combined with a motor protection overload relay or an advanced motor protection relay.
To mitigate the main electrical risks of fire and burns, regulations in force make mandatory dedicated protection for every electric motor with rated power 500 W and above, which is achieved:
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What is an industrial contactor? A contactor is an electric switching device, that transmits the on-off instructions from an operator (push buttons or control switches) or from an automatic controller to a load consuming a significant amount of power. The loads most commonly controlled by contactors are electric motors, subassemblies of industrial processes, industrial lighting sets, or low-priority outgoers in power distribution switchboards (load-shedding function).
TeSys industrial contactors deliver reliability in making and breaking current up to 800 A for a variety of applications, which translates into high electrical and mechanical endurance, even in harsh industrial environments. TeSys range fulfills the requirements of both IEC and Nema (North America) standards. It offers a complete line of additional blocks to dialogue with automation systems and a wealth of accessories for seamless installation and connection.
TeSys industrial contactors deliver reliability in making and breaking current up to 800 A for a variety of applications, which translates into high electrical and mechanical endurance, even in harsh industrial environments. TeSys range fulfills the requirements of both IEC and Nema (North America) standards. It offers a complete line of additional blocks to dialogue with automation systems and a wealth of accessories for seamless installation and connection.
EcoStruxure Motor Control Configurator
Build your complete motor control solution in 3 easy steps.
Thermal overload relays are essential components of electric motors. They protect motors from excessive current, which can lead to overheating and costly damage. By sensing temperature rises, they automatically trip the circuit, ensuring motor longevity and preventing downtime. This proactive safeguard is vital for maintaining the efficiency and safety of industrial operations.
How it works
Overload relays protect electric motors by monitoring current flow and disconnecting the circuit when it exceeds safe operating limits. This prevents overheating, winding damage, and costly downtime. Types include:
- Thermal: Use heat-sensitive elements to mimic motor heating.
- Magnetic: Offer rapid response to sudden current spikes.
- Electronic: Provide precise, microprocessor-based monitoring.
The benefits include extended motor lifespan, enhanced safety, and significant cost savings by avoiding repairs and operational disruptions.
What is an advanced motor protection relay? These are electronic devices providing additional protections, to the mandatory protections from overloads and short-circuits. As so they are always combined with motor protection circuit breakers, and configured to protect against several damageable events among supply phase failure, slight overload, locked or jammed rotor, protracted starting time, jogging or inching, under- or overvoltage, reversed phases, insulation and ground faults, underloaded motor, etc.
Like the motor protection overload relays, in case of such a fault, they deliver a powering-off instruction, either to the contactor, to the motor protection circuit-breaker, or merely a notification to the operator, or the automatic control of the industrial process.
Like the motor protection overload relays, in case of such a fault, they deliver a powering-off instruction, either to the contactor, to the motor protection circuit-breaker, or merely a notification to the operator, or the automatic control of the industrial process.
What is a motor switch-disconnector? It is an electromechanical device dedicated to manually de-energize one or several motors, their power supply, and their controlling devices, and isolating them from the voltage source, so that maintenance can be carried out, without risk for the operator (electrical shock, motor restarting, etc.), as required by the safety standards. As so, all the motor switch-disconnectors can be harnessed with padlocks when in the disconnecting position.
TeSys offers a broad selection of motor switch disconnectors, a number of them equipped with motor protection fuses, hence embedding the protection from short-circuits required by the standards, on top of the manual isolation function.
TeSys offers a broad selection of motor switch disconnectors, a number of them equipped with motor protection fuses, hence embedding the protection from short-circuits required by the standards, on top of the manual isolation function.
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What is a motor starter combination? It is a pre-assembled motor starter, delivered ready to install, connect, and commission. It comes either as the assembly of a circuit breaker and a contactor, to be fitted inside a control panel, or as the same inside a dedicated enclosure, with push-buttons on the front (and possibly disconnector), for loose installation on a wall or any vertical plane of a machine.
Easy TeSys is a key part of the Easy Series, offering essential control and protection for both building and industrial application segments. Designed to be cost-effective and affordable, the range includes contactors, motor protection devices, and a comprehensive portfolio of auxiliaries and accessories, ensuring reliable performance for simple, standard, and non-critical motor management and power switching needs.
Why Choose Easy TeSys?
- High value solution for essential motor control applications
- Certified for high-efficiency motor AC-3E applications, ideal for IE3/IE4 motor management
- Certified for electro-domestic and HVAC applications
- Worldwide availability with multi-standard certification
- Easy selection and convenient installation
