ELECTRICAL MACHINES

Three Point Starter

Three point starter:
Construction:

figure shows the schematic diagram of a three point starter for a shunt
motor. It is so called because it has three terminals L, F and A. the starter
consist of starting resistance divided into several sections and connected in
series with the armature. The tapping points of the starting resistance are
brought out to a number of studs. The three terminal L, F and A of the starter
are connected respectively to the positive line terminal, shunt field terminal
and armature terminal. The other terminal of the armature and shunt field
windings are connected to the negative terminal of the supply .the no volt
coil is connected in the shunt field circuit. One end of the handle is

connected to the terminal L through the over load release coil. The other end
of the handle moves against a spiral spring and make contact with each stud
during starting operation cutting out more and more starting resistance as it
passes over each stud in clockwise direction.

Working of three point starter:

1)

Initially when a DC supply is switched ON with handle in the OFF

position.
2)

The handle is now moved clockwise to the first stud, the shunt field

winding is directly connected across the supply while the whole starting
resistance is inserted in series with the armature circuit.
3)

As the handle is gradually moved over to the final stud, the starting

resistance is cut out of the armature circuit in steps. The handle is now held
magnetically by the no volt release coil which is energized by shunt field
current.
4)

If the supply voltage is suddenly interrupted or if the field excitation is

accidently cut, the no volt release coil is demagnetized and the handle goes
back to the OFF position under the pull of the spring. If no volt coil were not
used, then in case of failure of supply. The handle would remain on the final
stud. If then supply is restored, the motor will be directly connected across
the supply, resulting in an excessive armature current.
5)

If the motor is overloaded (or any fault occurs) it will draw excessive

current from the supply. This current will increase the ampere turns of the
overload release coil and pull the armature, thus short circuited the no volt
release coil. The no volt coil is demagnetized and the handle is pulled to the
OFF position by the spring .thus the motor is automatically disconnected
from the supply

Limitations of the three point starter:

Unnecessary tripping of starter if a field regulator is connected in series with
the field windings for speed control operation. This combination and
magnetizing coil will carry same current if more and more resistance is
added in field regulator then current in magnetizing coil is unable to hold the
arm in attracted position and unnecessarily the arm will be released even if
there is no over loading .this is avoided in four point starter.

ELECTRICAL MACHINES

Four Point Starter

Four point starter:

In four point starters, the hold on coil is connected directly across the supply
line through a protective resistance R. when the armature touches stud no
1.the line current divides into three parts i) armature starting resistance and
overload release. ii) a variable resistance and shunt field winding. Iii) Holding
coil and current limiting resistance.
The basic difference between three point and four point starters is
the manner in which the hold on coil is connected. The unnecessary tripping
of starter can be stopped by connecting separately or parallel both

magnetizing and field coil. They are connected in such a way that both
should carry their individual current. Thus voltage drop in one coil will not
affect the voltage in other coil. However, the working of the two starters is
the same. It may be noted that the three- point starter also provides
protection against an open- field circuit. This protection is not provided by
the four-point starter.
Disadvantages of four coil starter:
The only limitation of the four point starter is that it does not provide high
speed protection to the motor. If under running condition field gets opened;
the field current reduces to zero. As there is some residual flux present and
speed (N) is directly proportional to flux () the motor will tries to run with
dangerously high speed .this is called high speed action of motor. In three
point starter as no volt coil is directly connected to across the supply; its
current is maintained irrespective of the current through the field winding
.hence it always maintain the handle in run position as long as supply is
there .and thus it doesnt protect the motor from field failure conditions
which returns into high speeding of the motor.