Induction motors are extensively used for a variety of industrial and domestic applications. For industrial applications, three-phase AC motors are the most popular due to their simple and robust construction, high-power output, low maintenance requirements, high efficiency, and suitability to function reliably in any working condition. However, at standstill, the windings of such motors are characterized by a low impedance. They thus draw huge amounts of current during start-up to accelerate to nominal speed. This makes them prone to input current surge known as “inrush current”. A high inrush current is usually 5 to 8 times higher than the rated current of an induction motor at full load. And since induction motors are not designed to tolerate the high inrush, their windings can get quickly damaged which reduces the motor’s performance and lifespan. Also, high inrush currents are likely to cause a huge dip in the line voltage resulting in low levels of the supply voltage. This can...
PLCs and CNCs are two major categories of digital controllers employed in different industrial control applications. On a surface level, it’s easy to group them together since they are both run by programs, digital processors, and they both interface with input and output devices. For example, if you ask a systems programmer whether a CNC controller can be used in place of a PLC system, the answer could be a frustrating variation of “Yes or No.” It’s therefore important to identify the differences between the two control systems, as discussed in this article. In electrical terms, PLC stands for Programmable Logic Controller. It is a compact, special-purpose computer designed to perform logic operations to control different electro-mechanical systems. Initially, PLCs were developed to perform the functionalities of hard-wired relays in the automotive industry. Today, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are widely used to automate manufacturing processes, assembly lines, and different...
VFD stands for Variable Frequency Drive. It is a type of motor controller that drives an electric AC motor by varying the voltage and frequency of its power supply. By adjusting the frequency of the AC voltage being supplied to the motor, the VFD is able to control the speed of the motor. This is possible because, Frequency, given in Hertz (Hz), is directly related to the motor speed given in Revolutions per minute (RPM). In other words, the faster the frequency of the supply voltage, the faster the motor speed in RPM. There are a variety of other names that may be used to refer to a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD), including: Adjustable Speed Drive Adjustable Frequency Drive Variable Frequency Drive Variable-Voltage Drive Variable Speed Drive(VSD) Frequency Converter Variable Frequency Inverter(VFI) AC Drive Microdrive Whatever the name used, a Variable Frequency Drive is always a type of motor controller used to drive and control electric AC motors. There are a variety of factory and...
In industrial applications, an electrical panel is basically a service box that connects the main power line to an electrical device and distributes electric currents to various other circuits within the system. In an industrial setting, you don’t simply plug a PLC controller into a wall socket, instead, an electrical panel is used. A PLC panel is simply an electrical control panel consisting of electrical components which use electric power to control a variety of mechanical functions of industrial machinery or equipment. In order for industrial machinery and equipment to accomplish their various process goals, they require user-defined functions and well-organized control. Thus, electrical control panels like the PLC panel are used to perform these functions within manufacturing machinery. Any electrical control panel you’ll ever come across will always consist of two main categories: panel structure and electrical components. Similarly, a PLC panel consists of a special stainless...
Trace Width mil cm mm µm inch Trace Length mil cm mm µm inch Trace Thickness oz/ft2 mil cm mm µm inch Ambient Temperature °C °K °F Results Resistance (R) Ω Structure of a PCB Trace A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is a laminated structure of insulating and conductive layers sandwiched together. PCBs are used for two complementary functions. The first is to mechanically affix electronic components in their designated locations on the outer layers through soldering. The second is to electrically connect the components using tracks, signal traces, or conductive pathways in a controlled manner often known as a PCB design. PCBs are widely employed in the manufacturing of electronic components and appliances. In electronics, a circuit trace or signal trace on an Integrated Circuit(IC) or a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is comparable to a wire of conducting signals. Each trace is etched from copper sheets laminated onto an insulating (non-conductive) substrate. It thus comprises a flat, narrow...
Capacitor Value picoFarad (pF) nanoFarad (nF) microFarad (µF) milliFarad (mF) Farad (F) Inductor Value nanoHenries (nH) microHenries (µH) milliHenries (mH) Henries (H) Results Resonant Frequency (MHz) A Tank circuit is also called an LC circuit, a resonant circuit, or a tuned circuit. It is an idealized RLC electric circuit with zero resistance. It consists only of an Inductor (L) and a Capacitor(C), connected in a series or parallel configuration; hence the name LC circuit. Tank circuits are particularly useful due to their resonance property. They are implemented in a variety of electrical applications, such as frequency tuners, filters, and oscillators. In any AC (Alternating Current) circuit containing Resistance(R), Capacitance(C), and Inductance(L) elements, the voltage phase across the circuit and the current phase in the circuit are generally different. But if you adjust the parameter values of the L or C components or the power supply frequency, you can make the voltage and...
Maximum Current (Imax) Amps (A) Amps Voltage Volts (V) Volts Stepper Motor Inductance (L) milliHenry (mH) mH Steps Per Revolution Steps Steps Results Maximum Power Watts Minimum Time per Step ms Maximum Speed revolutions/second A stepper motor is simply an electromechanical device that converts electrical power into mechanical power. It is a popular type of brushless, synchronous electric motor that converts input discrete(digital) pulses into mechanical shaft rotations. It divides a full shaft rotation into an expansive number of precise movements called steps. If you drive a stepper motor using a DC power supply that is sequentially switched, then the rotor shaft of the stepper will consist of discrete angular movements with uniform magnitudes. Unlike other standard types of DC (Direct Current) motors which rotate continuously for an arbitrary number of spins until the DC voltage being supplied is turned off. Stepper motors are a type of discrete input-output device for precise...
MilliWatts (mW) Watts (W) Decibel-MilliWatts (dBm) Decibel-watts (dBW) MilliWatts (mW) Watts (W) Decibel-MilliWatts (dBm) Decibel-watts (dBW) Electromagnetic radiation consists of waves having magnetic and electric energy radiating together through space at the speed of light. It is described as the energy conveyed through space in a waveform, characterized in terms of frequency for wavelength λ. When all forms of electromagnetic energy are combined, they make up the electromagnetic spectrum, which is the range of frequencies produced by those sources. One form of electromagnetic energy is the Radio waves emitted by transmitting antennas. Thus, Radio Frequency (RF) is a frequency within the electromagnetic spectrum, often used for radio transmission. Radio Frequency waves are also characterized in terms of a wavelength λ or a frequency f. Wavelength refers to the distance completed by one full cycle of the electromagnetic wave, while frequency is the number of times the...
Supply Voltage Volts (V) V Capacitance Farad (F) milliFarad (mF) microFarad (µF) nanoFarad (nF) picoFarad (pF) Series Resistance Ohms (Ω) Ω Results Energy (E) Time Constant (τ) Parallel-Plate Capacitor When it comes to electronic devices and electric circuits, energy is typically stored in either batteries or capacitors. Batteries store electrical energy in chemicals, and they are the most common. Capacitors on the other hand possess the ability to store electrical energy in the form of an electric charge, they are less common. Essentially, a capacitor is a two-terminal electrical device, which consists of two conductors with a spacing distance(d) between them. The spacing between the two electrical conductors can be a vacuum or it could be filled with a good insulating material called dielectric. Often, you’ll come across the term “capacitance” which is defined as the ability of a capacitor to store electrical charge. In its basic form, a typical capacitor is made up of two...
Output Power MilliWatts (mW) Watt (W) Decibel-milliwatt (dBm) Decibel-watt (dBW) Gain Linear Linear Distance Feet (ft) Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Centimeters (cm) Miles (mi) Yards (yd) Inches (in) Results Power Density 96.05Watts/m2 Power density is the rate of energy flow per unit mass, area or volume. Most often, it is defined as the time rate of energy transfer per unit volume. The International System of Units (SI) for power density are Watts per cubic meter ( W / m 3 ) . Other common metric units include: Watts per square meter ( W / m 2 ) , Watts per kilogram ( W / kg ) , Horsepower per cubic inch ( hp in 3 ) . While power density is not commonly used as a form of measurement as energy density, it is still a useful performance parameter for most energy systems. For example, in energy transformers including fuel cells, batteries, power supply units, motors etc., power density is measured in terms of volume, often referred to as volume power density, expressed as W/m 3 . Hence...
Both Eaton S801+ and Eaton S811+ industrial soft starters, products of Eaton’s electrical business are very compact and smart electronic devices to smoothly start three-phase induction motors. Both share many common features and are distinct slightly from each other. This article focuses on some of their major characteristics which could be related to their power or control actions, hardware features, and/or environmental specifications with reference to applications, and outlines all similarities as well as differences. Both soft starters S801+ and S811 are very compact so they could be retrofitted in existing wye-delta starters, NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) starters, or other soft starters. As this feature of S801+ and S811+ starters makes replacement of the whole system or structure avoidable, so huge expenses are emitted. This feature makes these soft starters more usable and demanding. Eaton Corporation...
A Soft Starter is a device that provides an alternative startup method to a typical AC motor with fewer power requirements at start-up. It reduces the amount of drawn inrush current and limits the motor starting torque; this helps reduce potentially damaging mechanical and electrical shocks on the motor system. When a soft starter is added to a motor’s circuit, it continuously regulates the motor’s supply voltage during the start-up phase. This means that the motor will gradually adjust to the machine’s load behavior. So, the soft starter provides the motor with a smooth acceleration up to full speed. This improves the operating behavior and lengthens the service life of your motor; it also smooths workflows. As the name suggests, soft starters are mainly used in the start-up phase of electric motors or other mechanical operating equipment. But they can also be used to stop, accelerate, reverse and protect such equipment. Moreover, they are used to reduce motor heating in case of...
No matter what industry you work in, you’ve almost certainly dealt with electrical components made by companies under the Eaton Corporation’s umbrella. Generations of industrial power and controls professionals have turned to Eaton for solutions, and as the Eaton family of companies continues to grow, we find ourselves handling products that our predecessors trusted all the same, just under different brand names. One of these evolving product families is found in Eaton’s SVX and HVX Adjustable Frequency Drives, previously sold under the Cutler-Hammer banner. In this article, we’ll update you on the current state of these still-relevant SVX and HVX drive models, as well as offer a comparison between their features. While most control hardware buyers know Eaton Corporation for its wiring, power distribution, and panel hardware products, the company has an extensive array of higher-level control and automation devices positioned to compete against industry giants Rockwell Automation and...
Wire Diameter mil cm mm µm inch Separation Between Wires mil cm mm µm inch Substrate Dielectric Constant Results Impedance Ohms (Ω) Delay ns/in Inductance nH/in Capacitance pF/in You can create an electrical signal transmission line using two conductors. Twisted-pair (TP) cables are known to make the most effective signal transmission lines. A twisted-pair cable simply consists of two insulated wires twisted together. Normally, a pair of 22 to 26-gauge copper wires with an insulating protective layer are used to make a twisted pair wire. In actual use, multiple twisted pairs are wrapped up in an insulating sleeve to form a twisted pair cable. But in daily life, the term “twisted pair cable” directly refers to the “twisted pair wire”. When several twisted pairs are combined, they form multi-pair twisted cables. The individual conductors in multi-pair cables are twisted into pairs that have varying twists to reduce crosstalk. In such cases, specific color combinations are used for pair...
Modern industries need extremely compact and energy efficient variable frequency drives which ensure future configurability as well. EATON has introduced a variety of variable or adjustable frequency drives that can be used for HVAC, industrial, waste, and water treatment plants, etc. so machines could perform as per requirements. EATON’s SVX series brings about a wide range of variable frequency drives – equipped with sensorless vector control technique which makes these drives suitable for high speed applications that could also contain multiple drive systems. Other important features of this drive series are the presence of application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), and an adaptive motor model to estimate real-time parameters. SVX drives are designed with three major modules, namely power module, control module, and keypad module – each of these having unique features and sub-modules or subsystems. Here, various important characteristics of SVX industrial variable frequency...