Sesaimeerecemmerseenss Electric Motor Centrifugal Switch / PTC / PRD ~ How it works to cut-out the motor starting capacitor InspectAPoda oeates no confets oars. Wo ave no rlatonshp wih advertisers, products or Seracee iscussod a tis wansto, ‘This article descrbes the eoctric motor contrualstch or PTCs or PRDS - ll doves used ct the starting capactor out ofthe motor cuit ater the motor has reached 2 Suticnt sped fo overcome eval tang sistance torque We eso prove # more comprehensive INDEX io RELATED ARTICLES fr ifs tpi, bu we tscommend thal you use he page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick wey {ots infomation you ned Define & Explain Electric Motor Centrifugal Switch, PTC or PRD devices lectie motor capactors are dovios that store or accum sale an oiectcal charge tat canbe released a righ votage to got a ‘Scie motor runing at tart. (starting capactors) or tat hap Keep a motor running once & has arte oral, un tapactors) [ALCAPACITOR SIZE DETERMINATION ft ELECTRIC MOTORS, wo axpan hat once a safungcapactr has prowded he fscessary boos! o gel he late mole spinning, order fo avoid elcinc mr Gamage ot damage fo he eapactor fsa Ihe Staring cepacior hes be disconnected fom othe electical cu, leawng tbe motor to run on normal operat cument + the run capactor “Typical one of tee diferent devices, a cantigal switch o possibly & PTC (Pastive Tempers Coeficient devics) ot PRD ‘@otentl Relay Dewce does twsby dopping te sta capactr liom the malo’ elecrcal cx once the mao has 3pUN >. to oporatng spood Electric motor start switch / centrifugal switch ‘A cenifugal sich connects the AIC electrical pomerto the motor tothe start winding onthe tar (andr to the start capactor) ntl the moter has reached a speed {ypc of 75-80% of ul un speed CContfupal sichos relate motors ik tho swich shown above ae sold with te fo poles and are specified as having spacicange of wich CUT-OUT (opon a of) Spd CUTIN (ose or 0) speeds For smal eleete motors tke those used a most HVAC applications as well asi oe sia equement that runs on 12OVAC or 240VAC, tho elote mor Tl peed {sualy 1725. 140 pm, hough some equpment may Use viable spoed ctor as wel + High speed electric motor centritugl switch openico (tim ofthe capsctor) at about 2800 rpm fora 3450 rn In more detail centfugal switch fora modern igh spac elacrc motor rtd a a rnning sped cf 2450 rpm under iad might utc ose (tan on the ‘apactor) tom 1000-2000 rpm. and might open at sped between 2600-3000 mm + Low-speed electric motor contrfugal switch openielose speeds Tho canefuga sch wl cpon (um of the capactor) a about 1400 rpm fra 1725 rpm elacic ‘motor and willbe casa at spocds Fer Oto about 1200 rp es). pees. censfugal sch ke the ones shorn a page fop and al above eh ill open thiowout") ot ie motor What is the Function of the Centrifugal Switch In an Electric Motor? \Whon the motor gets upto speod and the contitugal switch opans to take the staring capactor out of the cet. Wo en noe the sat capac to help a motor stat Spring fom ts of cr sll peston ‘Asis lon no case, Mor Is a soeond Soparato (small) un-capactoy, ha Yemans in th cxcut fo Hop Koop to ote spinning roxe-smoctt ana rear oMconcy Induction Motor Starting-Boost Design Options ‘nour more-detaied inducton-ype ocr motor wing diagram shown ust Below, the cena wich, a medel thats rermaly closed, opens a spoed to cut bth the Start capactor snd the sta ynnding fem fhe mats ec. Wisten out If your electric moto uses tis design an dhe ceitugal sth also operate the starting capactr wil urn up or even explode anor the start winding ray ‘overhast and be damages ‘Bolow our alc moter dawing shows a ferent capaciestatrun design in which only ho startign capasris cut om the cicut when the metor aperoacos run speed {nis design the sat winding remats eneraized 3s the mor corinues orn. Al hat pont te sl wnding, or secondary winding, functioning as an auxdry wading Debaing smooth to motors eaten. {this design ithe centiuge sich fais fo open when t should at higher moor speed) the starting capacitor wl be destroyed What Happens ifthe Centritugal Switch in an Electric Motor Falls? \aten out ithe centtusal wich s boken Inthe swich-open” poston, wl never conn! the tat capac to he motors sla winding, and the mor wort Start and {hamam oe rut" winding wl ovarhoat but may nol a. Wish out the centrifuge sch boken in the "sich cose” poston wl keep the staring capsctr inthe ct and connecte tothe stat winding continuoushy yon aor mo rotor nas sto The rsul kel to bo Duri-up motor start wanangs. Tho conta Swi ona piel Sng phaso or spl phase elec oto ‘designed to OPEN a 70.20% of the mote fl spe Witch out: “calastiohic capacitor ale” of mate starting capaci in wich the sta capactor"exptodes” ce buss can accur when the tat capaci emsined {engaged oo lng porhaps bacause 2 conintugd swe nse the molt dd nl dsongage the staring cap execu Wh shoud have, Is the Problem with the Motor Starting Capacitor or with the Centrifugal Switch in the Motor? ‘Without actualy testing the motor start and run capacitor or simply tying anew one) we car be sure withcut more-sxensve testing the "motor wort un problem is + fal staring capacitor + fal, demaned, shored, burt moor winding + aod config sch \We provide ELECTRIC MOTOR DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE - to help sort oul hese diferent causes of eecnic moto ake iat out ifthe staring capactr has failed he symm s tha the motor wont start. You may heari humming or obsave thats geting hot. Turn the motr of ah ‘Say you derve then Grr to ald Gamage wi wating fo reps Where to Find the Centrifugal Switch in an Electric Motor Check othe rear bel nousing ofthe moor o see fhe motor uss a centiuga sath to switch he start run capactor or ther windings in and out of he cut at 3 spoctte RPM ‘1 centage sue pracat, check that ts swich contacts ere not wal cloced or contaminated wth it and graase, The sich machaniem should can mows rely. ‘Win 38 \Not all motors use a start capacitor and centrifugal switch Stating capac or loctic motor starting capaciors (or motor start boosters) are oiten preset on lage single phase ar cndtoring comprossors, ondtoning uns oon aczasin on Boner mer o even fan ator = found on home it etic meter starting capactors are only vary arly preston small fagerabon compressors, suchas these in refigeralors, and as far as we knew, novor present on 3- ase power Syston Wie give more deta about ied alse motr staring capactors, and we expan possible sual ands ofa tale starter capacto(bugod ends) without having to eto social testing, a HARD STARTING COMPRESSOR MOTORS, PTC-devices Can Drop the Start Capacitor from a Circuit When a capacitor, nductionsun eectic mate such ass used onan ae conditioner or heat pu must be hermetic seslod, we can't use a cenit swtch Instoad wo us ono of to other doucs descrbod note. PT dowees, PRD okays, sokd sao slag flay, Not wi okay, CUT lays Postive Tomporature Cotfciont devices successtuly stared | PTC devices are basicaly a thermistr-type device, using tiny elecc heal thal use the change in electrical resistance othe heating element ‘to apen an elcial swieh tha romeves the start wedge the motor om te run arcu The Sich opens in les an a second ae he mrolor has sarod. the traditonal means of topping he capacitor tem the motor eeu ence the mekor hes PTC devices hae the advartage ofbeing simple and voting the nee for more complex slecical wing of meter starting system, ‘supco explains that this devices unable o senso whethor oF note motor has successhay stated, and the moto does no sta, sever Imatules ae nocdod tof he healer cool down oelre the motor restr can be aed again. ‘This coc down me provdes 8 safety margin that hops protct against burning out he windings of @ hard starting motor. PRD Potential Relay Device + Hard Start Capacitors Boost Starting Torque for HVAC Motors on TXV-based systems, Potential Relay Davies use vltge sensing (The Supco meth) or cura sensing devices (Wo diferent epprosches) fo datormina when to reas ‘he sartngcabactor om the moor un cet SSupco points ou that "The elctonc potential relay is inherenily more einble and precise than he oki ‘ype mochanial potential olay") Bath ofthese start capsctor conrl approaches work he, and fypicel HVAC or residential appliance moor repairs the technician wont nee to ‘consi whch mab Is Bang wed fo convo the capacior as ng as shame folone tho manufacturers recommendations ot Ihe proQut fo AS section anduse 'SUPCO offers his explanation of why potential relay had start kit would be used Most singe phase ar condoners and hast pumps use nn bled thrmosatic expansion vas (TXVs ar TEV) to conta sient ‘A problem wth TVs occurs when 9 reciprocating compresse shuts of efigerant pressures dont fly equatze. Pressures do equalize ia sro comeresses: which, ‘yplealy do rot need nar start kts for ts conan, {na recorocatng comorssor, tho discharge prassure wil drop fo abou 450 pia andthe suction pressure ul se ont fo about 100 psi. When the compressor ties fo stat tere» foo much fod oy ne starting motor torque to overcome. Tks 6 especialy Ue the supply voage is low. To increas staring Torque, 2 Sat esis device can be used. When a PXV is wed, a poten relay how sort kis empayed. This witnerease stating torque by 9 mivmun of 300 % over esing just 9 tun espacton Systems wih capilary tubes or fired restctrs usualy don't need hard stat ki, unless the compressor bearings ae fight In such cases, the compressor is probeby ‘ear the end of suse fe anmey ~ SUPCO Har Starts booklet cad below. ‘The SUPCO booklet we ete below provides wing connacton dell Tor 3.98 and 2 wie coonectod peony / Nad Sta Hes. Hot Wire Starting Relay Devices ‘The flowng descnption of hol wr sta relays and current relays is general and ot technialy exhausive \We welcome furer comments or suogestions regarding these elec motor contos rly, operates as both a start olay to aloasas tho start capaci andor tart winding and also as aneloctcal ovaroad cr protection Gevice. Th rt wire lay wes by making use ofa essve wre tht causes a sping-caded cera To open. During mele iat up hi crrect flows ugh fs oy ‘2nd Ks sist wo, causing the roto oxpand. ¥en suficanty expanded, he we opens asprng-cadod sta-windng contact Swf, dsconnectng the winding om the orcut ‘Current Relay Devices ‘cunt relay ssi to the hol wire relay rather than clyng on empatatire and an expanding vie fo cpen the contacts of sich, the curent elay makes use of 2 ‘magni eld 0 open or hse the device. This 8 NO or Normaly-Open sich whose col connected n series withthe moor run winding nd whose conacs connect n| ‘Soros win tho stat winding. Wi be Swich open te stat mndeg & sconnected an cre app Fgh cent Nowe hough tb tun nd, Odo 3 ‘magni ln tho co that pulls th contac closed fo comet and operate te tar arin, (Once the motor has begun spinning the run-vding carrentis reduced, the switch then opens end the tat winding is disconnected, But asthe motors now running the ‘cuent fow ss foauced so th such romainsn NO poston. How to Diagnose & Repair the Electric Motor’s Centrifugal Switch Seana caren sien set Ifyou electric motor ses a centugl sw to ct ou the start” capacitor once the motors upto speed au of thal switch = can cause motor faa ‘Make a wsua inspection ofthe swich, normally at the rear or bel housing end of the motor ‘Common Electric Motor Centrifugal Switch Defects + Conttagal switch contac rect clogged -even a smal bi of dust, ly debs, or crud can cause rouble + Conutugal srt contac dot move tooly + Arc bums onthe centrfual svc contacts + Contrugal sch contacts re welded gather + Motor runs backward: ifthe contfuga sich sckng you can got random choice of run diction when the motor star. up gin ‘Some olectc motors use a potantal ly Instead of a cenuruga swe. Ibe pot. ay 1 Bad the etc of tno start decton could sti occur +The prob sn he contfugal swrtch ut instod saad stat rruncapactor +The problem sn fe centifgal sich but instead isa moter winding that shots or opens as the moter’ rolatng speed increases ‘Motor Centrifugal Switch Diagnostic Tips ‘Thanks to 2 oa Paul. Ste. Marie we can ado the contifugal switch diagnose checkpoints above these comments and agnostic tps ‘A conutugal seh as used in some occ motos uses the contTugalo olatng ora of te eto to open or ose an obctal sh etal cuent appli to a start wining causes an electrical felt placed at an ano t the Feld produced by the main o Tun" winding to provide an intial rotating force to start the mater In these spt. phase slocric motors a cntiugalswich used to sich of olactical power tthe start winding once the motor has goten up to minum speed of about 75% off fllun yloty. essence the cenfugal sich Urs of te str crcut hd leaves the motor operating from ts un-ccut alone “This application of cankfuga suches is common n spl hase or "inducon so nduction un allemaling caren (AC) lacc motors that do not requice a high staring foxque, sch a3 smal power tol, grnde's, ete lation. Hemnocke, Keun (2015) atRoterences or Cations Ste Mare pointed out that ‘Apather cammen reason for & CS or CSCR moor fo fa o statis a bad centitigal switch. Ifthe such contacts are dy, the motor an ao start ine sich freezes chsed, he str capector wil veiest - PSM, 10, 2015 Watch out: some demaged motor windings lest cut just neon the bench wth tha metor disconnect completely, bi when he motor begins spin a damaged wire ‘he winding may, due to the centfugal force of otto, open, causing the motor to un poorly oro stp completly Ft chatter. "Mote dotafod VOM tosis on motor loads ana windings are given in ot clagnoste Labo found st ELECTRIC MOTOR DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE Definition of Primary vs Secondary Electric Motor Windings Most single phase motors have tw sets of windings “The main or primary windings are directly connected tothe power nes whl the motrin running. The sacond windings are usually thinner wires physical oft fromm the ‘main windings inside the motor ‘The puposa oF he secondary whaings so provide drectona imation and an al song Kek Wo get Ho moter slat tuning. Once the motor sated, he man oF primary windings can keep the motor running ist fw Less common, hese secondary windings are doc powered Kom to power es trough arn capactor hat prowdos 3 contnuous Um oF pase shit to the wns. Far moce common he secondary windings and capackor ate powsced though a cenititga swich thats close fr approxima 12 second on stating. ‘As the motor gets up to 2° speed, the cenufugal wich opens and disconnect the secondary windings This sich is usualy bend and part ofthe connection plate where you afach the power cables inthe end of the moter. ‘Any ite piece of dust can keep this swith from cosing when the motor topped ‘Althis poi, the motor just st there and hums ot knowing wich way to go or how to get started “Senplykrockng this cne ite dust particle of might make he epa, and the mace wil ran fine henceforth, Mast of the Em you have to pl he backend ofthe motr of fo (pet fo this switch - Courtesy of an InspectApadia com reader