Robust, plug-and-play soft starters

April 2006 Motion Control & Drives

CBI Automation is offering DigiSoft Soft Starters. The new range, suitable for water and sewage applications, was designed with simplicity and ease-of-use in mind, without sacrificing its emphasis on protection and robustness. Where possible, the concept of 'plug-and-play' has been applied. The starters are available as open frame (OF) or standalone (SA) units.

The standalone unit supplies a fully integrated solution consisting of enclosure, soft starter, motor protection and circuit breaker. The time required to install and commission it has been reduced to the absolute minimum and no other components are needed to make it operational. The unit provides an isolated control voltage to power external control switches so there is no need for an external transformer. In addition, the tripping curve of its built-in circuit breaker has been developed especially for soft starter applications. This effectively puts an end to nuisance tripping and the hassle factor associated with calibrating a separate circuit breaker. No by-pass contactors required.

The open frame units are suitable where an existing motor control panel is being refurbished. The package consists of two modules: an SCR stack assembly, which includes mounted SCRs, busbars, current transformers, snubber cards and fans, and a control logic box housing the control electronics. An auxiliary transformer in the control box supplies power to the control electronics and supplies the isolated voltage for the control circuits.

Noteworthy features of this range include:

* Full protection of all internal components.

* A wide voltage range from 380 V to 550 V.

* Rated for six starts per hour at maximum 350% MFLC for 30 s.

* LCD display and keyboard for parameter setting and alarm display.

* RS232 serial port for telemetry data access and other software interfacing.

* Profibus Communications link.

For more information contact Pat Colarossi, Circuit Breaker Industries, 011 928 2120, pcolarossi@cbi.co.za, www.cbi.co.za

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