First, thank you for taking the time to illustrate motor control wiring. I wish we had these videos available in 1985 when I started learning about motor controls. For me it was baptism by fire - many hours of self study and hours of OJT in a meat packing plant. Finally, I did graduate to the level of instructor for an industrial maintenance department. I just finished viewing this video, and the whole time I was wishing you would have a spare starter and demonstrated how to troubleshoot and replace the NC overload relay and the NO coil relay. I remember everyone, including myself, being tormented by these relays because they were partly hidden underneath and on top/rear of the starters depending on the starter's position in large motor control cabinets containing many starters and many more wires. Again, thank you for the enjoyable trip down memory lane.
That's something we always caution the students about... check every contact on the starter and overload relay prior to starting the project. Nothing more annoying than struggling to get your circuit working, only to find that the guy just before you vaporized the normally open holding contact. So much to know now... the newer contactors have smart relays to provide status... we'll have to revamp the entire shop in the coming year just to keep up with the technological advances. Thanks for the great comment. All the best. Pete
Hey Peter, i went to George Brown for my apprenticeship under Kurt Vanderkrat. I remember him talking about you being a gifted student. I wish i had your instruction back then. These videos are excellent in enabling the student to comprehend the ladder diagrams and actual wiring set up. Thanks for taking the time to spread the knowledge. 👍
Thanks for the nice comment. One of the most satisfying things in life is to be able to become a colleague with someone you have always regarded as a mentor. I will forever be in debt to Geurt for the knowledge and opportunities that he has provided me.
Great video! I do have a question. Where I work, we use 120v control power and our electrician always uses a transformer to drop it from our 480v 3-phase. Wouldn't it be simpler to just use 208v control and eliminate the need for a transformer or am I missing something? (I'm really interested in electrical but I hardly ever get to build any circuits.)
208 controls would all be larger to handle the higher voltage, and more dangerous due to higher voltage. Also, the 120v controls are cheaper as they are so widely used.
Ya Know, it never occurred to me to draw the ladder from the start to the mag... I think it would have helped me to understand the whole thing sooner than I did and would have helped me explain it to Apprenti better.
You kind of skip over the flow of what is actually happening to hold in the Coil...you seem to give more explanation on your terminal blocks instead. great video but we want to know why the coil is energized after letting go of the start button. Not because you have a red wire jumper. I don't know I just think you were close to explaining this a little clearer and didn't.
We are having quite a bit of discussion on the correct placement of overload contacts. My American subscribers are stating that NEMA states that the O/L must be after the coil, however we are hearing that IEC requires it at the beginning of the rung. If anyone has a link to provide more info. I'd greatly appreciate it.
