Owing to the installation of electrical products onto panels and enclosures being time-consuming and costly, electric solutions provider Magnet Group MD Brian Howarth says product installations need to be made simpler and more compatible with existing wiring through the supply of cost-effective and simple motor starting solutions.

To achieve this, Magnet extended its E-Range of automation systems company Schneider’s low-voltage motor starting solutions to include the EasyPact TVS range of motor starters in September. The motors are designed for motor control and protection for simple applications, including heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, lighting in buildings, cooling or extraction fans and small pumps, as well as mixer applications, manufacturing and conveyor belts.

The E-Range includes contactors, thermal overload relays, control relays and motor circuit breakers – designed and precision-engineered to provide original-equipment manufacturers and panel builders with a motor starter solution that offers high performance, as well as the safety of personnel, at a competitive price.

“This range ensures compatibility and easy installation in new or existing motor control panels,” says Howarth.

He explains that direct mounting of the thermal overload underneath the contactor minimises cabling and installation time, thereby also enhancing the reliability of the system and saving panel space, which all contribute towards cost saving.

“An important feature of this system is that it has been designed for application optimisation, which means users are able to select only the components that are required for each specific project. A clear reference system ensures easy product selection for every application and because fewer components are required, design is simplified and stocking requirements are reduced.”

EasyPact TVS Range

The EasyPact TVS range encompasses nine sizes of contactors that cover a broad range of current ratings, from 6 A to 630 A. These are used in conjunction with thermal overload relays (from 0.1 A to 630 A), industrial control relays with four normally open/normally closed (NO/NC) auxiliary contacts, as well as a newly designed motor circuit breaker from 0.1 A to 32 A.

“Utilisation categories are class alternating current- (ac-) 1 for loads with a power factor at least equal to 0.95 (resistive load, heating and distribution) and ac-3 for squirrel cage induction motors, with contactor breaking taking place when the motor is running,” Howarth explains.

Thermal overload relays protect ac circuits and motors against overloads, phase failures, long starting times and prolonged stalled rotor conditions.

“The thermal relay controls the current driven by the motor and if this current exceeds the setting, the auxiliary contacts will change state, causing the motor to stop.”

He further adds that the magnetic elements – for short-circuit protection of the motor – have a nonadjustable tripping threshold, which is equal to about 13 times the maximum setting current of thermal trips.

Thermal elements – for overload protection – include automatic compensation for ambient temperature variations.

In addition, Howarth notes that, for protection of personnel, all live parts are safeguarded against direct finger contact to an ingress protection of 20. He adds that several other conditions – including dust, humidity and high temperatures – can expose personnel and equipment to serious risks.

To ensure suitable protection of electrical components against fire, product damage or power loss, Howarth recommends the installation of this system in a spacious steel enclosure.

“The EasyPact TVS range ensures coordination between protection and control components, which means there is a safe and fast restart after a short circuit.”

The EasyPact TVS motor starter system also conforms to stringent international quality, safety and environmental specifications, such as the IEC 60947 and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization, Howarth concludes.