Understanding Combination Motor Starters: A Quick Guide

An Introduction to Combination Motor Starters

What is a motor starter? These electrical devices safely start and stop electric motors while providing protection against electrical faults. A combination motor starter takes this idea further, integrating multiple components into a single unit to streamline motor control. This typically includes a:

• Motor starter
• Disconnect switch
• Protective components

This combination system provides extra convenience and safety for operators and equipment. Having all of these in one unit simplifies wiring and reduces installation time. It also improves coordination between components.

How Combination Motor Starters Work

Primarily, combination motor starters control the electrical power flow to motors along with several layers of protection. When the starter is activated, a contactor closes, which allows current to flow to the motor. At the same time, an overload relay checks to ensure that the motor's current draw is within an acceptable range, shutting off the power if dangerous overload conditions are detected.

The combination of a motor starter and a disconnect switch into one unit eliminates complexity.

Types of Combination Motor Starters

You'll find several types of motor controllers under the combination starter category:

• Manual motor controller units require an operator to physically start the motor. They're simple but cost-effective for smaller applications.
• Magnetic combination starters use electromagnetic components on the contactors so they can be activated remotely.
• Soft start combination motors are designed to reduce inrush current. They gradually ramp up the power flow for a smoother start.
• Reversing starters can reverse the polarity of the current flow, allowing the motor to spin either backwards or forwards.

How Combination Motor Starters Differ from Other Types of Motor Starters

The combination of components provides some major practical advantages over the traditional separate-component approach. With traditional motor starters, the disconnect switches, motor starters, and protective devices are all contained in separate enclosures. This increases wiring complexity, installation time, labor costs, and the required panel space.

Combination motor starters combine all of these elements into one unit. Beyond the obvious space and complexity gains, this also allows the components to work better together. The individual components are all pre-engineered to work reliably together. The fact that they come preconnected in a single housing also eliminates installation errors that could lead to undesired motor behavior.

Why Combination Motor Starters Are an Important Tool in Industrial Applications

The stakes are high in industrial facilities. Motor control solutions must minimize downtime and maintenance requirements as much as possible. Combination motor starters are excellent at this, providing comprehensive protection with simplified installation and maintenance.

Industrial environments must also frequently work in space-constrained areas. Combination starter motors are always more space-efficient than traditional systems because everything is combined in one system. Some options put extra focus on delivering a small footprint, making them ideal for areas with space limitations.

These systems also provide increased safety and reliability. Operators and maintenance personnel have a singular interface to work with, making training and operation simpler. The integration of the motor starter and disconnect switch also increases the effectiveness of lockout/tagout procedures.

Get the Right Combination Motor Starter Solution from Teal Electric Company

As a trusted Siemens motor control distributor, Teal Electric Company offers a wide selection of Siemens motor starters. In our inventory, you'll find their entire line of Siemens Sirius products, including Siemens IEC motor starters (sizes S00 to S12), NEMA motor starters (sizes 00 to 8 up to 900 HP), and configurable combination motor starter solutions.

Our decades of experience with Siemens products give us the knowledge to help you select the right combination of motor controllers for your specific application requirements. To learn more about the products we carry, contact us today.

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