ELECTRICAL CONTROLS

ELECTRICAL CONTROLS
by
by
Engr
Engr
. Alexis T.
. Alexis T.
Belonio
Belonio
Department of Agricultural Engineering
Department of Agricultural Engineering
and Environmental Management
and Environmental Management
College of Agriculture
College of Agriculture
Central Philippine University
Central Philippine University
Iloilo City
Iloilo City
atbelonio@yahoo.com
atbelonio@yahoo.com
Introduction
Introduction

The success of any electrical application

The success of any electrical application
highly depends upon the proper selection
highly depends upon the proper selection
of a control mechanism in operating the
of a control mechanism in operating the
equipment.
equipment.
Electric Brooder
Dehumidifier
Freezer
Air Conditioner
Food Dehydrator
Vacuum Fryer
Oven
Electric Motor
Classifications of Electrical
Classifications of Electrical
Control Mechanism
Control Mechanism

Manually Operated Controls Manually Operated Controls

Switches Switches
AC Relays AC Relays
Pushbuttons Pushbuttons
Motor Starting Switch Motor Starting Switch
Magnetic Starting Switch Magnetic Starting Switch
Reduce Voltage Starters Reduce Voltage Starters
Solenoid Valve Solenoid Valve

Automatically Operated Controls Automatically Operated Controls

Thermostat Thermostat
Time Float Switch Time Float Switch
Pressure Switch Pressure Switch
Limit Switch Limit Switch
Switches
Switches

It is the most basic electrical control

It is the most basic electrical control
mechanism.
mechanism.

It is used to open and close the

It is used to open and close the
circuit.
circuit.

Its contact must open and close

Its contact must open and close
quickly snap
quickly snap
-
-
action the circuit.
action the circuit.
Nomenclature for Switches
Nomenclature for Switches

Single
Single
-
-
pole single
pole single
-
-
throw
throw

Double
Double
-
-
pole, single
pole, single
-
-
throw
throw

Triple
Triple
-
-
pole, single
pole, single
-
-
throw
throw

Single
Single
-
-
pole, double
pole, double
-
-
throw
throw

Double
Double
-
-
pole, double
pole, double
-
-
throw
throw

Triple
Triple
-
-
pole, double
pole, double
-
-
throw
throw
Single Pole Double
Throw
Single Pole
Single Throw
AC Relays
AC Relays

It is a type of switch having contacts which are

It is a type of switch having contacts which are
operated by magnetism which allows the current
operated by magnetism which allows the current
to pass through a coil of the wire. Magnetism is
to pass through a coil of the wire. Magnetism is
removed once the the flow of current through the
removed once the the flow of current through the
coil is stopped.
coil is stopped.

The electrical input to the appliance is controlled

The electrical input to the appliance is controlled
by the relay contacts.
by the relay contacts.

The current rating of the contacts is very

The current rating of the contacts is very
important, and the proper selection depends
important, and the proper selection depends
upon the current flow to the appliance which is
upon the current flow to the appliance which is
to be controlled.
to be controlled.
Solid State Relay

The main advantage in using the relay is

The main advantage in using the relay is
that the switch and wires which control
that the switch and wires which control
the current flow to the relay coil do not
the current flow to the relay coil do not
conduct the current to the appliance.
conduct the current to the appliance.

Relays are adapted for controlling

Relays are adapted for controlling
motors, heaters, and large lighting loads
motors, heaters, and large lighting loads
for remotely located small
for remotely located small
-
-
size switches.
size switches.
Pushbuttons
Pushbuttons

It is a manually operated type of switch for

It is a manually operated type of switch for
starting and stopping electric motors
starting and stopping electric motors

It is also used for operating the electric

It is also used for operating the electric
relay type of circuit.
relay type of circuit.
Motor Starting Switch
Motor Starting Switch

It is used to control and protects the

It is used to control and protects the
electric motor.
electric motor.

It has a built
It has a built
-
-
in overload device that
in overload device that
automatically trips the switch in case there
automatically trips the switch in case there
is too much current flowing into the motor.
is too much current flowing into the motor.
Magnetic Starting Switch
Magnetic Starting Switch

It is used primarily for starting 1

It is used primarily for starting 1
-
-
hp and larger
hp and larger
size motor.
size motor.

It can also be used for connecting large heating

It can also be used for connecting large heating
or lighting loads to the source of power.
or lighting loads to the source of power.

This switch incorporates into one complete unit

This switch incorporates into one complete unit
the principle of relay coil, the overhead stripper,
the principle of relay coil, the overhead stripper,
and the push button control.
and the push button control.
Reduce Voltage Starters
Reduce Voltage Starters

It is used to apply the reduce voltage to the

It is used to apply the reduce voltage to the
motor when the motor is starting and then
motor when the motor is starting and then
apply full voltage after the motor has gained
apply full voltage after the motor has gained
sufficient speed. This allows the motor to
sufficient speed. This allows the motor to
start without requiring excessively large
start without requiring excessively large
current values.
current values.

The cost of the control is a disadvantage

The cost of the control is a disadvantage
since its cost is to of the cost of the
since its cost is to of the cost of the
motor.
motor.
Solenoid Valve
Solenoid Valve

It is operated by electricity but the valve itself does

It is operated by electricity but the valve itself does
not control the flow of the electricity. Instead it
not control the flow of the electricity. Instead it
controls the flow of water, oil, or gas.
controls the flow of water, oil, or gas.

It is useful for fuel supply line, refrigeration system,

It is useful for fuel supply line, refrigeration system,
humidifier, water supply line, etc.
humidifier, water supply line, etc.

The only electric power required for this control is

The only electric power required for this control is
about 7 watts hence the cost is negligible.
about 7 watts hence the cost is negligible.

The switch maybe manually or automatically

The switch maybe manually or automatically
operated. When current flow the coil, it causes the
operated. When current flow the coil, it causes the
metal plunger by magnetism to be drawn up into the
metal plunger by magnetism to be drawn up into the
coil.
coil.
Solenoid Valve
Automatic Ball Valves
Mass Flow Controller
Flow Switch
Thermostat
Thermostat

It is a special kind of switch wherein it s contact

It is a special kind of switch wherein it s contact
open and close automatically in response to
open and close automatically in response to
changes in temperature.
changes in temperature.

It is an automatic switch which is used for

It is an automatic switch which is used for
temperature control.
temperature control.

Classifications are:
Classifications are:

Bellow Thermostat
Bellow Thermostat

Bimetallic Thermostat
Bimetallic Thermostat

Wafer Thermostat
Wafer Thermostat
Temperature Controller
Thermostat
Air Temperature
Switch
Temperature and Humidity
Switch
Line Voltage
Thermostat
Time Switch
Time Switch

It is an electric clock that automatically

It is an electric clock that automatically
operates switch contacts at definite time
operates switch contacts at definite time
intervals.
intervals.

The general purpose time switch is designed

The general purpose time switch is designed
automatically to close the switch contact two
automatically to close the switch contact two
times and open them two times during any 24
times and open them two times during any 24
hour period.
hour period.

Usually they are use to switch ON and OFF

Usually they are use to switch ON and OFF
lighting facility for farm houses, automatic
lighting facility for farm houses, automatic
feeders, cooling systems, hay curing, grain
feeders, cooling systems, hay curing, grain
drying, and heating systems
drying, and heating systems
Float Switch
Float Switch

It is an automatic control that operates according

It is an automatic control that operates according
to some predetermined liquid level.
to some predetermined liquid level.

Float are usually hollow copper ball or cylinder

Float are usually hollow copper ball or cylinder
and is connected to the float switch by a rod or
and is connected to the float switch by a rod or
chain.
chain.

Operation is based on the up and down motion

Operation is based on the up and down motion
of the float as the liquid level rises and fall.
of the float as the liquid level rises and fall.
Float
Paddle Level Switch
Float Switch
Pressure Switch
Pressure Switch

It is an automatic control having a switch contacts which

It is an automatic control having a switch contacts which
are operated according to variations in liquid or gas
are operated according to variations in liquid or gas
pressure.
pressure.

The gas, vapor, or liquid passes through the control, and

The gas, vapor, or liquid passes through the control, and
the pressure of the gas or liquid expands the metal
the pressure of the gas or liquid expands the metal
bellows against the force of a spring.
bellows against the force of a spring.

Common application of this type of switch is the pressure

Common application of this type of switch is the pressure
tank run by electric pump for domestic water supply.
tank run by electric pump for domestic water supply.
Differential Pressure
Switch
Pressure
Switch
Pressure Switch
Vacuum Pressure Switch
Gas Pressure Switch
Bourdon Pressure
Switch
Limit Switch
Limit Switch

It is an electric switch which is operated

It is an electric switch which is operated
automatically by the movement of some other
automatically by the movement of some other
piece of material or machine.
piece of material or machine.

The switch mechanism is frequently tripped by a

The switch mechanism is frequently tripped by a
knot in a rope, a metal stop fastened to a chin, a
knot in a rope, a metal stop fastened to a chin, a
cam, or some similar specially rigged
cam, or some similar specially rigged
arrangement.
arrangement.

Switch contact are normally returned to their

Switch contact are normally returned to their
normal position by the action of spring.
normal position by the action of spring.
Reference
Reference

Brown, R. 1956. Farm Electrification. McGraw

Brown, R. 1956. Farm Electrification. McGraw
-
-
Hill
Hill
Book Company. New York. 367pp.
Book Company. New York. 367pp.