Monday, December 31, 2012

Friday, December 21, 2012

Motor starters

Star-delta starter   This is the most popular and commonly used starting method for motor ratings > 4 kW (400 V).   • Electronic motor starter (EMS) and soft starter These enable the soft and low-noise starting of the motor. This eliminates interference producing current peaks and jerks during switching. The startup and deceleration phase...

Direct on line starter

Direct-on-line starter   In the simplest case the motor is connected directly with a contactor. The combination of motor protection and cable protection (fuse) is called a motor starter (MSC = Motor Starter Combination). By applying the full mains voltage to the motor windings, DOL starting may produce large starting currents which may result in troublesome...

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Standards

CE The CE conformity marking shall indicate conformity to all the obligations imposed on the manufacturer, as regards his products, by virtue of the European Community directives providing for the affixing of the CE marking.   When the CE marking is affixed on a product, it represents a declaration of the manufacturer or of his authorized representative that the product...

Standards

“Low Voltage” Directive 2006/95/CE The Low Voltage Directive refers to any electrical equipment designed for use at a rated voltage from 50 to 1000 V for alternating current and from 75 to 1500 V for direct current. In particular, it is applicable to any apparatus used for production, conversion, transmission, distribution and use of electrical power, such as machines, transformers,...

Friday, August 10, 2012

Control Circuits

Control Circuits Control  Control components are used in a wide variety of applications with varying degrees of complexity. One example of a simple control circuit is a circuit that turns a light on and off. In this circuit, the control component is often a single-pole switch.  ...

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Pollution Degree

The level of pollution in the environment in which the Assembly is intended to be installed. Four categories are defined in the Standard as follows:   Pollution degree 1 : No pollution or only dry, non-conductive pollution occurs. Pollution degree 2 : Normally, only non-conductive pollution occurs. Occasionally, however, a temporary                             ...

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

ROUTINE TESTS

These tests have a totally different function to Type Tests, BS EN 60439-1, states:   ‘Routine tests are intended to detect faults in materials and workmanship. They are carried out on every ASSEMBLY after its assembly or on each transport unit. Another routine test at the place of installation is not required.’   Hence, Routine Tests on Assemblies are normally undertaken...

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

PARTIALLY TYPE TESTED ASSEMBLY (PTTA)

IEC 60439-1, defines a PTTA as: ‘A low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assembly, containing both type-tested and nontype- tested arrangements provided the latter are derived (e.g. by calculation) from type tested arrangements which have complied with the relevant tests’.   This means: • The assembly will be derived from a Type Tested Assembly. • Deviations...

TYPE TESTED ASSEMBLY (TTA)

IEC 60439-1, defines a TTA as:   ‘A low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assembly conforming to an established type or system without deviations likely to significantly influence the performance, from the typical ASSEMBLY verified to be in accordance with this standard.’   This means: • The generic design of the Assembly including all the various elements...

Monday, July 30, 2012

Current ratings

Rated current (In)   value of current, declared by the ASSEMBLY manufacturer taking into consideration the ratings of the components, their disposition and application, which can be carried without the temperature-rise of various parts of the ASSEMBLY exceeding specified limits under specified conditions   Rated peak withstand current (Ipk) value of peak short-circuit...

Friday, July 27, 2012

Voltage ratings

Rated voltage (Un) (of the ASSEMBLY) The ASSEMBLY manufacturer shall state the rated voltage(s) necessary for correct functioning of the ASSEMBLY.   Rated operational voltage (Ue) (of a circuit of an ASSEMBLY)   If different from the rated voltage of the ASSEMBLY, the ASSEMBLY manufacturer shall state the appropriate rated operational voltage of the circuit....

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Electrical checks

Functional tests consist in checking the correct functioning of all the circuits (electrical and electromechanical) by simulating, as far as possible, the different service conditions of the assembly. For example, tests on current and voltage circuits can be carried out by supplying the secondary circuits of the CTs and VTs, without disconnecting the CTs from the circuit....

Mechanical checks

They shall be carried out complying with the relevant documents, making reference to the following specifications: - correct assembling of the equipment (connections and, on a random basis, proper tightening of the connections); - positioning and tightening of nuts and bolts; - mechanical locks and controls (rack-in locking devices, mechanical interlocks, key interlocks...

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Further checks during testing

Visual inspections They are carried out visually taking into account: a) compliance of the assembly with diagrams, designations, drawings and type of enclosures, number and characteristics of equipment, cross-sectional area of conductors and presence of identification marks on cables and devices (initialing, inscriptions on plates, etc.); b) presence of components...

Routine verifications in compliance with

Routine verifications represent the final technical intervention of the assembly manufacturer before the delivery of the switchgear assembly completed and before invoicing and shipment to the customer. The Standard describes the verifications in the following order: - Degree of protection IP provided by an assembly enclosure It represents the first routine test prescribed...

Protection against direct contact

Protection against direct contact can be obtained both by means of the assembly construction itself as well as by means of complementary measures to be used during installation. The protective measures against direct contact are: - Protection by insulation of live parts Live parts shall be completely covered with an insulation which can only be removed by destruction....

Classification of assemblies

Assemblies may be classified according to different Factors : by the constructional typology, by the external design, by the installation conditions, by the function carried out.   Open-type and enclosed assemblies   According to the constructional typology the Standard IEC 61439-1 distinguishes between open-type and enclosed assemblies. -  Enclosed...

UL Standards (Electrical enclosures)

Industrial Control Panel Enclosures Products Listed under this category include enclosures that are intended to house open type industrial control panels. The basic standards used to investigate this category is UL 508A, the Standard of Safety for Industrial Control Panels, UL 508, the Standard of Safety for Industrial Control Equipment, and UL 50, the Standard of Safety for Enclosures for Electrical...