Welcome to the Solutions page

Many people ask for assistance in the understanding of theoretical and practical aspects of the indus-
try. I will endeavour to enlighten

Andre asks: Hi, I feel that electrical work forms part of the trade but not much attention is given to this
area. So Grant how about it? What is a Watt? Single phase versus three phase, why? Can you let us
have the basics applicable to air conditioning? This will be of great help, Thanks

Andre, picking up from the previous issue we now look into three phase star delta starting.

When a three-phase motor is started on the Star-Delta method it means that, when the motor is
started, the connection is done in star and once the motor has picked up speed the starter
switches the connection over to a delta connection. In this way a reduced voltage is applied to
all the windings during starting.

In the star connection this is achieved by connecting two windings in series. By doing this the
voltage drop across each winding is only 230 volts.

It must be noted that the motor construction is usually exactly the same as the motor for DOL
starting. However, for this method of starting a 6 terminal motor is absolutely essential. A
motor with only three terminals cannot be started with the star-delta method.

The figures below show the power diagram for Star-Delta starting when the motor is connected
in “Star” and then the power diagram for when the motor is connected in “Delta”

Individual star /delta connections

When connected in star, the combined resistance of the two windings will cause the voltage
drop over each winding to be only 230 volts. Because of the increased resistance and the re-
duced voltage the current flowing will be much less. Therefore the torque will also be much
less.

When connected in delta 400 Volts is applied to each winding and the torque is much higher.
Once started the motor continues to run in delta.

What are the advantages of this method of starting?

The starting power is reduced by approximately 67%, the starting current is also reduced from
by approximately 67%.
In air conditioning and refrigeration applications we use this to our advantage. One example
would be: when we are starting up a large fan connected to the motor using V belts.

Should we start the motor in delta the motor will draw high amperage and produce high torque.
The inertia of the heavy fan on the one side would tend to start slowly whilst the motor has star-
ted with maximum torque on the other. This combination results in the V belts slipping.
Further tightening of the V belts to prevent slipping cause damage to bearings. Damage to the
fan is also a possibility.

We therefore use a soft starter (Star /Delta) starter. The motor now starts slower in star and
when the speed runs up to approximately 80% the delta connection takes over.

An additional advantage is that we now have a lower starting amperage which reduces stain on
electrical components.

Starting the star / delta motor.

In order to start a Star-Delta motor it must be changed over from the star connection to the
delta connection. This change over must happen when the motor has accelerated to approxim-
ately 80 % of its final speed.

The changing over is done by means of three contactors, which in the figure are called C1, C2
and C3.

The diagrams below include both the power and control circuits:

Star / Delta Power and Control Circuits

Andre, lets now look at part wind motors.

Part Wind Motors

To understand part-wind starting you first have to understand what a part-wind motor is.
Well, a part-wind motor is nothing but two motors in one casing.
Both motors are DOL started and, as such, will behave like DOL started motors.

When the first “half” motor is connected to the power supply it starts like a DOL started motor;
being only “half a motor” it will only draw half the starting current of a whole motor started DOL.
The torque produced will also be only half.

For instance, a 22 kW part-wind motor consists of 2 x11 kW DOL started motors.

A 22 kW motor started direct on line draws approximately 44 amps at full load and at start-up
will draw approximately 264 amps.
An 11 kW motor draws 22 amps at full load and approximately 132 amps on start-up.
!

Power diagram for a “PART-WIND” starter.

The time delay between energising the first contactor and the second one is very short, usually
only 0,1 to 0,3 seconds.

Because the part-wind motor has 6 terminals, and looks like the star-delta started motor it is
very often wrongly identified and treated like a star-delta started motor. The result of this is that
the time delay on the starter is set too long. The “half” motor will start but when it comes up to
the speed where the second “half” motor is required, it will stall. When the second contactor is
then energised the “whole” motor will start like a DOL started motor. This means that it will draw
the full starting current and the advantage of part-wind starting is lost.

CHARACTERISTICS OF METHODS OF STARTING.

DOL starting method:

Initial starting current : 4 to 8 times running current

Initial starting torque : 0,6 to 1,5 times running torque

Advantages : simple and inexpensive starter

high starting torque

Disadvantages : very high starting current

: does not permit slow and progressive starting

Typical application : small motors, even starting on full load

Star-Delta starting method.

Initial starting current : 1,3 to 2,6 times running current

Initial starting torque : 0,2 to 0,5 times running torque

Advantages : relatively inexpensive starter

good torque/current performance
Disadvantages : low starting torque (Can be an advantage in some instances)
break in power supply to motor when changing over
6 terminal motor required
6-core cable required

Typical application : motors starting at no / low load, such as fans and

centrifugal pumps

Part-wind starting method.

Initial starting current : * 2 to 4 times running current

Initial starting torque : * 0,3 to 0,75 times running torque

Advantages : * simple
* higher starting torque than star-delta
* no break in power supply to motor during starting

Disadvantages : * special motor

Typical application : suitable for refrigeration compressors

Thanks for the question Andre, hope we could shed some light on the electrical aspects.

Thank you for all your questions. Send your problems (and sometimes your creative solutions) to
acra@netactive.co.za with “Solutions Page” in the subject line. You may include pictures.

References:
SAIRAC
Modern Refrigeration
Merseta Training
ACRA