What causes a relay to trip?

What causes a relay to trip?

Short in the Wiring Short circuits can be caused by wires overheating and the insulation melting, or by accidents where the insulation is stripped away or the wire is cut by a metal object and shorted to ground. A short circuit will draw current above the overload and surge ratings and cause the relay to trip.

What does a thermal overload relay trip from?

The overload relay is wired in series with the motor, so the current that flows to the motor when the motor is operating also flows through the overload relay. It will trip at a certain level when there is excess current flowing through it. This causes the circuit between the motor and the power source to open.

What does a thermal relay do?

The function of a thermal overload relay, used in motor starter circuits is to prevent the motor from drawing excessive current which is harmful to motor insulation. It is connected either directly to motor lines or indirectly through current transformers.

How do you reset a thermal overload relay?

When set in the H or HAND position the RESET button must be pressed manually to reset the overload relay after a tripping event. On the other hand, when set in A or AUTO position, the overload relay will reset automatically after a tripping event.

Why thermal over load relay is used in motor protection system?

Thermal overload relays are installed in the main circuit when electromechanical protection is adequate. This protects the motor in case of phase failure or overload. The thermal overload relay does not directly shut down the load. Instead, it triggers one or several auxiliary contacts which then disconnect the motor.

What is the purpose of thermal overload relay in Control Panel?

Thermal overload relays are economic electromechanical protection devices for the main circuit. They offer reliable protection for motors in the event of overload or phase failure.

How does a thermal overload operate?

A thermal overload relay works in the principle of electro-thermal properties in a bimetallic strip. When the bimetallic strips heat up, the trip contact is activated that in turn breaks the power supply to the contactor coil, de-energizing it and breaking the current flow to the motor.

How do you test a thermal overload relay?

Overload Protection Test:

  1. Measure the normal motor running current (i motor).
  2. Turn off the motor and let it cool for about 10 minutes.
  3. Calculate the following ratio: i (motor) / i (overload min FLA).
  4. Set the overload to its minimum FLA and turn on the motor.
  5. Wait for the overload to trip.

How long does it take for a thermal overload to reset?

With the motor off for a cool-down period, the thermal sensor automatically resets and the pump will run again. Typically the “off” time is 15-20 minutes.

What are the three designs of thermal trip overload units?

So if the relay tripped immediately when the overload current was exceeded, the motor would have difficulty starting. There are three types of thermal overload relays — bimetallic, eutectic, and electronic.

How do thermal overloads operate?

What are the trip classes of a thermal overload relay?

The trip classes describe time intervals within which the overload relay must trip with 7.2 times the operational current Ie for symmetrical three-pole loading from cold. The thermal overload relay is adjusted to the rated motor current using a rotary potentiometer.

How does a thermal relay work?

A thermal relay works depending upon the above mentioned property of metals. The basic working principle of thermal relay is that, when a bimetallic strip is heated up by a heating coil carrying over current of the system, it bends and makes normally open contacts.

What is the principle of operation of a thermal motor protection relay?

Principle of operation. Thermal motor protection relays contain three bimetal strips together with a trip mechanism in a housing made of insulating material.

How does the tripping current of a bimetal relay work?

The tripping current of bimetal relays can be set on a current scale – by displacement of the trip mechanism relative to the bimetal strips – so that the protection characteristic can be matched to the protected object in the key area of continuous duty.

author

Back to Top