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Comparision of Direct-on-line (DOL) and Star-delta Motor

Starting
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Comparision of Direct-on-line (DOL) and Star-delta Motor Starting (photo credit: ukworkshop.co.uk)

Motor starting methods //

Direct-on-line (DOL) starting

Advantages
Drawbacks

Star-delta starting

Advantages
Drawbacks

Comparision of DOL and Star-delta starting

Direct-on-line starting (DOL)

As the name suggests, direct-on-line starting means that the motor is started by connecting it directly to the
supply at rated voltage. Direct-on-line starting, (DOL), is suitable for stable supplies and mechanically stiff and
well-dimensioned shaft systems – and pumps qualify as examples of such systems.

Where:

K1 – Main contactor
MV1 – Overload relay

Go back to Methods ↑

Advantages of DOL

DOL starting is the simplest, cheapest and most

common starting method. Furthermore it
actually gives the lowest temperature rise within
the motor during start up of all the starting
methods.

It is the obvious choice wherever the supply

authority’s current limiting restrictions allow for its
use.

Power plants may have varying rules and

regulations in different countries. For example: Line diagram for Direct-on-line motor starting

Three-phase motors with locked-rotor currents

above 60 A must not use direct-on-line starting in Denmark. In such cases, it will obviously be necessary to
select another starting method.

Motors that start and stop frequently often have some kind of control system, which consist of a contactor and
overload protection such as a thermal relay.

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Drawbacks of DOL

Small motors which do not start and stop frequently

need only very simple starting equipment, often
in the form of a hand-operated motor protection
circuit breaker.

Full voltage is switched directly onto the motor

terminals. For small motors, the starting torque will
be 150% to 300% of the full-load value, while the
starting current will be 300% to 800% of the full-
load current or even higher.

DOL curve – Synchronous speed / Full-load torque

Go back to Methods ↑
Star-delta starting

The objective of this starting method, which is used with

three-phase induction motors, is to reduce the starting
current.

In starting position, current supply to the stator windings is

connected in star (Y) for starting. In the running position,
current supply is reconnected to the windings in delta (∆)
once the motor has gained speed.

DOL curve – Synchronous speed / Full-load current

Line diagram for star-delta motor starter

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Advantages of Y-Δ

Normally, low-voltage motors over 3 kW will be dimensioned to run at either 400 V in delta (∆) connection or at
690 V in star (Y) connection. The flexibility provided by this design can also be used to start the motor with a
lower voltage. Star-delta connections give a low starting current of only about one third of that found with direct-
on-line starting.

Star-delta starters are particularly suited for high inertias, where the load are initiated after full load speed.
Go back to Methods ↑

Drawbacks of of Y-Δ

But they also reduce the starting torque to about 33%.

The motor is started in Y-connection and accelerated and
switched to the star-delta connection. This method can
only be used with induction motors that are delta
connected to the supply voltage.

If the changeover from star to delta takes place at too low

a speed, this can cause a current surge which rises
almost as high as the corresponding DOL value. During
the even small period of switch over from start to delta
connection the motor looses speed very rapidly, which
also calls for higher current pulse after connection to
Start-delta starter curve – Synchronous speed / Full-load torque
delta.

The two illustrations to the right show two features which should be taken into consideration when using star-delta
starting. The starter first connects the motor in star (contactor K1 and K3). After a time period – which depends on
individual needs – it connects the motor in delta contactor K3 open and contactor K2 close.

Starting torque and current are considerably lower at star-

delta starting than at direct-on-line starting: one third of the
equivalent DOL value.

Mismatching of motor torque speed curve and load torque

speed curve. In the example shown here, the motor would
slowly accelerate up to approximately 50 per cent rated
speed.

Go back to Methods ↑

Comparision of DOL and Star-delta starting Star-delta starter curve – Synchronous speed / Full-load current

The following graphs illustrate currents for a Grundfos CR

pump started with a Grundfos MG 7.5 kW motor by means of DOL and star-delta starting, respectively. As you
will see, the DOL starting method features a very high locked-rotor current which eventually flattens and
becomes constant.

The star-delta starting method features a lower locked-rotor current, but peaks during the starting process as
the changeover from star to delta is made.

When starting in star (t = 0.3 s), the current is reduced.

 Mismatching of motor torque speed curve and load torque speed

However, when switching over from star to delta (at t =

1 .7 s), the current pulse reaches the same level as the
locked-rotor current seen with direct-on-line starting. The
current pulse can even get higher, because the motor
during the switching period is un-powered which means it
reduce speed before the full voltage (delta voltage) are
supplied.

Go back to Methods ↑

Reference // The Motor Book – Grundfos ( Download)

curve

Direct-on-line starting of a Grundfos 7.5 kW motor installed on a Grundfos CR pump

Star-delta starting of a 7.5 kW Grundfos motor installed on a Grundfos CR pump