INSTRUCTIONS ALTERNATING-CURRENT DIACTOR* VOLTAGE REGULATOR Types GDA-29, GDA-30, GDA-31, GDA-32, GDA-33, GDA-34 Information contained herein is proprietary information of the General Electric Company. ‘The dissemination, use, or duplication of this information for any purpose other than that GEH-1095 1 Sind CORIORS cept by express pern ‘The Type GDA Diactor* voltage regulator controls the voltage of an alternating-current generator by working directly in the shunt field circuit of the ex citer. By properly controlling the exciter excitation, the alternator voltage is maintained at the correct value, ‘The Diactor regulator may be used for the control of system voltage or for power-factor control by regulating the excitation of a synchronous machine in a predetermined manner, For such applications only a small change is re quired in the Diactor regulator as indicated on a com plete system wiring diagram furnished with the equipment. GENERAL DESCRIPTION ‘The Diactor regulator consists of two parts: The Diactor regulator proper and the auxiliary box. The regulator is composed of: a mounting base, a theostatic element, a magnetic voltage sensitive ele ment, an adjustable mechanical link between the theostatic element and the voltage sensitive element, a voltage adjusting rheostat, and an enclosing case, Reg US. Pat. OF, for which the information is provided is prohil ted by the General Electric The auxiliary box is composed of: a steel base, @ voltage regulator stabilizer, a metallic rectifier, a fixed resistor for the voltage control circuit, a stabiliz ing adjusting cheostat, a compensating rheostat (used only when parallel regulator operation is required), a srminal board and a ventilated steel cover ‘The assembly of two rheostatic elements and a pair of rheostatic plates with spacers are shown in Fig. 2. The rheostatic elements of the Diactor regulators are made of two or more stacks. Each stack is com posed of a number of resistance plates stacked vertical ly. The resistance plates are separated at the center by a metal contact plate having fins that fit into slots in the resistance plates. The fins in the metal plate and the slots in the resistance plate lock the two parts together. The back end of the resistance plates are separated by thin insulating spacers which fit into slots plate, Extending slightly be yond the surface of the top and bottom of each resistance plate and near the front there is a silver button, The metal plates separate the resistance plates by a distance great enough to leave an air gap between each silver button when the stacks are tilted backward. This is the high resistance position, Fig. 2. Dioetor generator-voliage regulators Temp forthe porches pg Tparwchans donot prpo To cove” al eas or aro supnent eo provide er wey : ee ieee ean be heintanarce, Sheld farther itormetian be desad or should porter preblant aria whch 0° fol cove mato far Tot Cae GENERAL @@ ELECTRIC mmpany ex-GEH-1095 Acc Diactor Voltage Regulotor, Type GDA = is 1 = 19 ——20 2 E 0 = i 22 4 23 24 ~ 25 26 "0 smenocen 5 é <8] — —;}— 27 8 28 ° 29 10- id i 30 le 31 2a a< 32 BS une 13 oa Hi Mea Cae ae 34 a8 Fg, 20. Schemotic diagram showing rheostotic element ‘ond magnetic voltage sensitive element of Types GDA-29,, 30, -31, ond -32 As the stacks are tilted forward the silver buttons are brought into contact one at a time, thus decreasing the resistance of the rheostatic element, When the stack is in the maximum forward position, the stack resist ance is practically zero. Between the two extreme positions (backward and forward) a smooth resistance change is made as the stacks are tilted, VOLTAGE SENSITIVE ELEMENT The stacks of the Diactor regulator are tilted by the magnetic voltage sensitive element shown in Fig. 2a, The voltage sensitive element is made of a “U" magnet which has a properly shaped armature ‘operating in the open end of the “U.” The armature is supported by a light arm which is free to move in a vertical plane but cannot move in a horizontal plane. The moving armature and its arm are hinged to a stationary bracket by two vertical and two horizontal flat springs. These springs are arranged so that they offer very little resistance to vertical movement of the armature and a maximum resistance to side pull exerted on the armature by the two pole pieces of the “U" magnet. The magnet receives direct current from a metallic rectifier. There are two coils, one on each leg of the “U,” which furnish excitation for the ‘magnet. With current flowing in the coils there is a force exerted to pull the armature down between the ‘open end of the magnet. Most of this force is balanced.Acc Diactor Voltage Regulator, Type GDA GEH-1095 bby a long helical spring. The remainder of the force is utilized in operating the rheostatic elements; that is, tilting the rheostatic elements forward or back. ward to vary the resistance in the exciter shunt Feld circuit. This force is transmitted by an adjustable mechanical link. ‘The clamp (item 18 Fig. 2a) which is attached to the retaining spring holds the harness in place and alsoprevents the plates from vibration or are: ing, The retaining spring has a slot go that the downward pressure of the clamp may be increased ordecreased. For the best adjustment there should ‘be no binding between the harness and the retaining spring. ‘Small changes of current in the coil of the control magnet are sufficient to cause the magnetic voltage sensitive element to control the exciter over its entire range covering all conditions of voltage and load on the a-c generator. A temperature compensator is used with Diactor- type voltage regulators. It operates to correct for the effects of regulator self-heating and changes in am- bient temperature. As shown in Fig. 2a, this tempera. ture compensator consists of a U-shaped, slotted, bimetal strip attached to an adjusting screw. The temperature compensation can be increased by sliding the adjusting clamp away from the helical spring, thus bringing more of the bimetal strip into active duty. After moving and tightening the slider, it may be necessary to readjust the tension on the helical spring to bring the value of regulated voltage to normal. The amount of compensation required de- pends somewhat upon the characteristics of the ex- citer, but once properly set, further adjustment is not required. NOTE: Temperature compensation is not effective when the cover is removed ‘The Diactor regulators shown in Fig. 1 are com. pletely enclosed in metal cases, The case may be removed by loosening two thumbscrews on the front of the cover. A knob for controlling the value of the regulated voltage is attached to a shaft extending through the front of the cover, and this knob may be turned for raising or lowering voltage as indicated on the nameplate directly above the knob. There are slots cut in both the top and bottom of the cover to allow cooling of the rheostatic elements. AUXILIARY BOX With the exception of the potential transformer all the other equipment necessary for a complete Diactor regulator installation is located in the auxiliary box ‘The voltage regulator stabilizer with its stabilizing adjusting rheostat are mounted in the auxiliary box. This box also contains the metallic rectifier, the main series resistor, and the compensating rheostat. Both the compensating rheostat and the stabilizing adjust. ing rheostat have screwdriver adjustments which may be made with the cover in place. An auxiliary box with the cover in place and with the cover re. moved is shown in Fig. 4 POTENTIAL TRANSFORMER Where the ac generator voltage is greater than 125 volts, it is necessary to use a potential transformer. Its secondary voltage should be 115 volts and its primary voltage should conform with the machine voltage and frequency. ‘The potential transformers for the GDA-29, -30, and -31 regulators should have a 50-volt-ampere ther- mal rating and for the GDA-32, -33, and -34 should have a 100-volt-ampere thermal rating, INSTALLATION ‘The regulator should be mounted in a vertical posi- tion and upon a foundation free from excessive vibra. tion. Fig. 5 shows front-of-board mounting, bracket, and flush mounting. The auxiliary box may be mounted behind the switchboard or in any convenient location, Outline dimensions of all surface mounted Di- actor regulators areshown in Fig.6 and the outline dimensions for theauxiliary boxes are shown in Fig.7. After mounting the Diactor regulator, remove the cover and take all packing from the rheostatic element and the magnetic voltage sensitive element. No oil or grease should be used on any part of the Diactor regulator. After the equipment has been mounted, it should bbe wired in accordance with Fig. 8, unless the Diactor regulator installation requires some unusual features: if so, then wire in accordance with the diagram fur. nished with the Diactor regulator, Do not open the d-c coil circuit of the Diactor reg- ulator with a-c voltage applied to the circuit. If this ‘cuit is opened, fall a-c voltage is applied on the metallic rectifier and it will be destroyed. This is especially important because the coil circuit is con, nected to the metallic rectifier by leads between the Diactor regulator and the auxiliary box. It is, there. fore, especially important that the connections be. tween the coils of the Diactor regulator and the rectifier in the auxiliary box be made before placing ac voltage on the circuit and that this circuit never be th a-c voltage on the Diactor regulator and. its auxiliary box broken * Be certain that no foreign matter falls into the air gaps around the armature.