PowerPoint® Presentation

Chapter 3
Motor Protection

Motor Protection Requirements •

Overcurrent • Motor Overcurrent
Protection • Fuses • Circuit Breakers
• Motor Overload Protection •
Thermal Overload Relay •
Electromagnetic Overload Relays •
Electronic Overload Relays
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

Fuses, circuit
breakers, and
relays are used to
protect a motor
from overrcurrents
and overloads.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

An overcurrent is any
current over the normal
current level.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

A typical short circuit occurs when the insulation

between two wires is broken. The current bypasses
the load and returns to the source through the bare
wire and not through the load.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

An overload is usually caused

by the temporary surge current
that occurs whenever motors
are started. An overload can
also occur if a motor is
overloaded while running.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

A non-current-limiting
device operates slowly,
allowing damaging short-
circuit currents to build up
to full values before
opening. A current-limiting
device opens the circuit in
less than one-quarter
cycle of short-circuit
current, before the current
reaches its highest value
and limiting the amount of
destructive energy
allowed into the circuit.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

Because power
conductors must be
protected against
overcurrents, a fuse
or circuit breaker
must be installed in
every ungrounded
power conductor.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

Plug fuses are

inserted in series with
ungrounded
conductors to protect
the conductors
against overcurrents
that could damage the
conductor or the
connected equipment.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

Cartridge fuses can

be constructed with
a ferrule or knife-
blade configuration.
Both of the types
are inserted into
fuseholders that
make the
connection from the
line to the load.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

Non-time-delay fuses
(NTDFs) contain a fusible
link that melts and opens
the circuit at a set
overcurrent. Time-delay
fuses (TDFs) are fuses
that may detect and
remove a short circuit
almost instantly, but allow
small overloads to exist
for a short period.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

CBs are designed to perform the same basic

functions as fuses.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

CBs contain a spring-

loaded electrical
contact that opens
the circuit.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

Common types of CBs include inverse-time CBs

(ITCB), adjustable-trip CBs (ATCB), non-adjustable-
trip CBs (NATCB), and instantaneous-trip CBs (ITCB).
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

Fuses and ITCBs are

available in standard
ratings.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

An overload relay
does not open a
circuit while a motor
is starting, but
opens the circuit if
the motor becomes
overloaded and the
fuses do not open.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

The overload class rating

is a measure of the
maximum length of time
it takes for the overload
relay to trip at 600%
overload.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

A heater has to be installed into a

motor starter, with one heater for
each ungrounded power line.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

A ratchet wheel and eutectic alloy

tube combination can be used to
activate a trip mechanism when an
overload occurs.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

A heater coil is used to

monitor the heat
generated by excessive
current and the heat
created through ambient
temperature rise.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

The bending effect of a bimetallic

strip is used to open the contacts.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

When the level of current

in the circuit reaches the
preset value, the
increased magnetic field
around the coil pulls in
the armature and opens
a set of contacts.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

An electronic overload is built

directly into a motor starter.
 Chapter 3 — Motor Protection

A current transformer
reduces the current to a
lower value to allow a
smaller overload relay.