AC Motor On/Off Controls | Automation Notes
AC Motors and ControlsEquipment SafetyLearning ResourcesMotor ControlsOnline BlogOnline OnlyProduct

AC Motor On/Off Controls | Automation Notes

Most control systems have to make things move, and that usually involves motors. Lifting, pumping, robotics, conveyors, fans – pretty much everything uses a motor of some kind. General purpose one- or three-phase AC motors are great for simple on/off systems; Inverter-duty motors are specifically designed for operation with variable frequency drives or VFDs. General…
Specifying and Sizing Motor Starters
+Tech TopicseBookeBook Landing PagesLearning ResourcesMotor ControlsOnline OnlyProduct

Specifying and Sizing Motor Starters

There are four basic motor control options available: Basic contactors, traditional starters, manual motor starters, or combination starters. A basic contactor is a special purpose relay that is used to control large electrical currents. Similarly, a traditional starter utilizes overload relays, auxiliary and alarm contacts, and mechanical interlocks to create a reversing unit. On the other…
Upgrading Pump Stations with PLCs
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookFeature StoryIssue 20 – 2011Learning ResourcesMotor ControlsNotebook IssuePLCProcess ControlProductProgrammable Control

Upgrading Pump Stations with PLCs

When relays and timer circuits get old, they cause problems. Replacing them with PLCs keeps pumps running smoothly. One of the most important jobs of a water distribution system is to reliably deliver water to its customers. At our water district in California, we had pumping stations (Figure 1) with relay-based controls that were more…
Semiconductor Breakthroughs Promise Smaller, Faster Chips
Automation NotebookIssue 9 – 2007Learning ResourcesMotor ControlsNotebook IssueProductTechnology Brief

Semiconductor Breakthroughs Promise Smaller, Faster Chips

Computer chips are always getting smaller and faster – right? Historically, this has been the trend. This trend was first observed by Intel co-founder Gordon Moore in 1965, and the term “Moore’s Law” was coined several years later. For over forty years this “law” has held, chips have gotten more complex, and transistors have shrunk…