Motor starters run up to 90kW

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Dec 10, 2007

The benefits of Moeller Electric's groundbreaking xStart system are not confined to simple unidirectional DOL starters.

Ease of use, economy and efficiency are among the key benefits of Moeller Electric's latest xStart range of control gear that now offers compact and dependable motor starting solutions for motors up to 90kW.

The comprehensive xStart range includes convenient MSC motor starter combinations that need only a single mounting point, PKZ motor protective circuit breakers with enhanced short circuit capacity, compact DIL E mini contactors, long-life DIL M contactors with electronic coil control, and reversing contactor pairs with mechanical interlocks that occupy no additional panel space.

In addition, starters in the xStart range with ratings up to 15kW can optionally be used with Moeller Electric's innovative SmartWire system.

Essentially a fieldbus system optimised for use within the panel, SmartWire uses convenient prefabricated plug-in leads to link the starters to a PLC or intelligent relay, thereby greatly reducing wiring time, and virtually eliminating the risk of wiring errors.

Offering a compact and economical solution for the control of small motors up to 4kW, DIL E mini contactors can be combined with ZE overload relays or PKZM0 motor-protective circuit breakers.

They are three-pole devices with an integral auxiliary and, for added versatility, they can be fitted with additional two- or four-pole auxiliary contact blocks.

For larger applications, MSC motor starter combinations are available in sizes up to 15kW.

They comprise a PKZM motor protective circuit breaker and DIL M contactor linked by a tool-less plug connector, which can be mounted on a single top-hat rail.

This combines both electrical and mechanical connections which reduces fitting costs and eliminates wiring faults.

Suitable for use on their own as manually operated motor starters, or in combination with DIL M contactors for automatic starting applications, PKZ motor protective circuit breakers now offer short circuit capacities of 150kA for types rated at up to 10A, and 50kA for those rated up to 32A.

These high breaking capacities simplify starter design and enhance safety, while also making additional current limiters almost obsolete.

DIL M contactors in the xStart range cover all applications up to 90kW (170A) with just four compact frame sises.

In addition, contactors for use with AC and DC control supplies have identical dimensions making panel design easier and more convenient.

The space saving is achieved not just by the reduced component dimensions, but also due to lower heat dissipation that, particularly with DC contactors, helps keep the panel or enclosure sise down.

The DC contactors, from 17 up to 72A, have a sealing power of only 0.5W and even those at 170A only use 2.1W.

The electronic coil control system featured by DC-operated contactors allows direct operation from low-power PLC outputs.

This means that no interfacing relays are needed, greatly reducing control panel cost and complexity.

The benefits of Moeller Electric's groundbreaking xStart system are not confined to simple unidirectional DOL starters.

The availability of mechanically and electrically interlocked contactor pairs allows reversing and star-delta starters to be fabricated quickly and with a minimum of wiring.

As a further aid to speedy fabrication, plug-in links are available for use with contactors rated at up to 15.5A, which eliminate 21 of the connections which would otherwise be needed in a star-delta starter, and which allow the starter to be completely assembled without the use of tools.