ELECTRICAL MACHINERY & CONTROL

UNIT 11

ELECTRIC MOTOR
CONTROLLER (PART II)

OBJECTIVES

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

To know the concept of motor protection

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

At the end of this unit, you would be able to:

 define the over current protection
 define the under-voltage protection
 recall IEE rules
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INPUT

11.0 INTRODUCTION TO MOTOR PROTECTION

Emmm….. What is a
PROTECTION????

rotection as used in the electrical industry is no different to that in everyday

use. People protect themselves against personal or financial loss by means of
insurance and from injury or discomfort by the use of the correct protective
clothing. They further protect their property by the installation of security measures such
as locks and alarm systems. In the same way, electrical systems need the following; (1) to
be protected against mechanical damage, the effects of the environment and electrical
over currents, (2) to be installed in such a fashion that a person and/or livestock are
protected from the dangers that such an electrical installation may create. Despite all
these, we should know the over current protection and under voltage protection (Figure
11.1) to protect the motor.
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9.1 OVER CURRENT PROTECTION

An over current is a current greater than the rated current of the circuit it may occur in
two ways:
(a) as an overloads current
(b) as a short circuit or fault current
Because of these, each motor must have an over load and short circuit protections.

Overload Protection
Figure 11.1: A typical across the line starter for an induction motor
(Source: Electrical Machinery Fundamentals (3rd edition) Stephen J. Chapman)

11.1.1 Over Load Protection

Over load protection for the motor is provided by devices labeled OL in the Figure 11.1.
These overload protection devices consist of two parts, an overload heater element and
overload contacts.

Under normal conditions, overload contacts are shut. However when the temperature of
the heater elements rises far enough, the OL contacts open, deenergizing the M relay,
which in turn opens normally open M contacts and removes power from motor.
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11.1.2 Short Circuit Protection

Short circuit protection for the motor is

provided by using fuses F1, F2 and F3. If a
sudden short circuit develops within the
motor and causes a current flow many times Devices for protection motor???

larger than the rated current, these fuses will

blow, disconnecting the motor from the
power supply and preventing it from
burning up.

However, these fuses must not burn up

during normal motor starting, so they are Typical rewireable fuse assembly
designed to require currents many times
greater than the full load current before they
open the circuit. This means that short
circuits through a high resistance and/or
excessive motor loads will not be cleared by
the fuses.

internal arrangement of single phase

isolator

HRC fuse Cartridge fuse

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ACTIVITY 11 A

Test your UNDERSTANDING

before you continue to the
next input

11.1 Define the protection in electrical by using the words given below.

mechanical damage environment electrical over current

person livestock dangers
installation

11.2 Label each part of picture below

(i) ……………... (ii) ……………...

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FEEDBACK TO ACTIVITY 11 A

11.1 to be protected against mechanical damage, the effects of the environment and
electrical over currents, to be installed in such a fashion that person and/or
livestock are protected from the dangers that such an electrical installation may
create.

11.2
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INPUT

11.2 UNDER VOLTAGE PROTECTION

The basic concept for under voltage

protection is the hold-on circuit (Figure
11.2). When the start button is pushed,
the coil becomes energized and its
normally open (N/O) contacts close.
When the start button is released the coil
remains energized via its own N/O
contacts. These are known as the hold-on Figure 11.2: Hold-on Circuit
contacts. The coil can be only de-energized by opening the circuit by the used of the stop
button or by a considerable reduction or loss of voltage. When this happens, the N/O
contacts open, and even if the voltage is restored or the circuit is made complete again,
the coil will remain de-energized until the start button is pushed again.

Notice from the Figure 11.1 that the control power for the M relay comes from directly
across the line to the motor. If the voltage applied to the motor falls too much, the voltage
applied to the M relay will also fall and the relay de-energized. The M contacts then
open, removing power from the motor terminals.
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ACTIVITY 11 B

Test your UNDERSTANDING

before you continue to the
next input

11.3 Based on the circuit given, explain the operation of the circuit.

11.4 What is the device used to protect the system from under voltage fault.
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FEEDBACK TO ACTIVITY 11 B

11.3 When the start button is pushed, the coil becomes energized and its normally open
(N/O) contacts close. When the start button is released the coil remains energized
via its own N/O contacts. These are known as the hold-on contacts. The coil can
be only de-energized by opening the circuit by the used of the stop button or by a
considerable reduction or loss of voltage. When this happens, the N/O contacts
open, and even if the voltage is restored or the circuit is made complete again, the
coil will remain de-energized until the start button is pushed again.

11.4 isolator
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INPUT

11.3 IEE RULES

1. Every consumer’s installation must incorporate means of over current protection

which should comprise either a fuse or circuit breaker inserted in each phase
conductor of the supply.

2. Every method of over current protection should be based on the prospective short
circuit current.

3. Fuses and circuit breaker must be arranged in an installation discrimination is

ensured.

Protective devices must be inserted only in the

4. phase conductor of two wire system in which one
wire is connected to earth (i.e neutral is earthed
at the supply transformer).

5. Every circuit conductor must be protected by a fuse or circuit breaker installed at

the origin of the circuit. The protective device must have a setting not less than
the design current of the circuit (e.g a 5A lighting circuit is protected by no less
than 5A protection). The setting should not exceed the lowest current-carrying
capacity of any conductor in the circuit, and the value at which the protection
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operates must not exceed 1.45 times the lowest current carrying capacity of any
circuit conductor.

6. Effective and accessible means of isolation must be provided at the origin of the
installation to cut off all voltage as may be necessary to prevent danger.

7. When installation serves two or more detached

buildings (i.e house detached garage) means of
isolation must be provided in each building.

8. If the purpose of a switch or circuit breaker is not clear, it should be labeled to

show which apparatus it control.
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ACTIVITY 11 C

Test your UNDERSTANDING

before you continue to the
next input

11.5 Give two IEE rules in protection system.

11.6 What must you do if you want to make installation to two or more detached
buildings?
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FEEDBACK TO ACTIVITY 11 C

11.5 refer notes 11.3

11.6 when installation serves two or more detached buildings (i.e house detached
garage) means of isolation must be provided in each building
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SELF-ASSESMENT

You are approaching success. TRY all the questions ini this self-assessment section and
check your answers with those given in the feedback on Self-Assessment given on the
next page.
If you face any problem,
discuss it with your
lecturer

Question 11-1

A. What are characteristics that show motors are in good condition?

B. How can over current occur in a motor?

C. What is the component used to protect motor from over loaded?

Question 11-2

A. How to protect a system from over current?

Question 11-3

A. If you are an electrical contractor, what must you know about the IEE rules if you
want in installing the power system.
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FEEDBACK TO SELF-ASSESMENT

Question 11-1
Refer from the note 11.1

Question 11-2
Refer from the note 11.2

Question 11-3
Refer from the note 11.3