Terminologies

OVERCURRENT PROTECTION vs OVERLOAD PROTECTION Overcurrent Protection Installed in the power circuit to protect the conductors and may exist in the form of fuses or circuit breakers.

Overload Protection Installed in the circuit to protect the motor windings and may exist in the form of overload relays, heaters, or other elements (time-delay, dual element fuses, or overload heaters and relays of melting alloy type, bi-metallic type, magnetic type, and solid-state type). Three categories of overload devices serve to protect a motor from damage caused by excessive heat. The categories are: those that sense temperature, those that sense current, and those that sense both current and temperature.

Terminologies

WIRING DIAGRAM vs SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM Wiring Diagram A wiring diagram attempts to illustrate the physical location of all components. Coils, contacts, motors and the likes are shown in the actual position that would be found on an installation. A wiring diagram can make it easier to determine the required number of conductors between points in a circuit, but it becomes difficult to trace the circuit. Schematic Diagram a schematic diagram should be used when designing or troubleshooting an installation. Control components are rear-arranged to simplify the tracing of the circuit. Line, ladder or elementary diagram are other terms used in lieu of a schematic.

Terminologies

POWER CIRCUIT vs CONTROL CIRCUIT Power Circuit Power circuit conductors are sized according to the current drawn by the motor and form the power circuit.

Control Circuit Contains the control devices that will initiate the operation of the motor.

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