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Automatic Star-Delta Starter using Timer – Power, Control & Wiring Diagrams

Starting & Controlling of 3-Phase Motors Using Automatic Star-Delta Starter (Y-Δ)

A Star-Delta starter is an electromechanical device used to start and control the speed of a three-phase induction motor. This starter employs the star-delta (Y-Δ) method for starting the motor, which involves changing the motor’s winding connection from a Star configuration to a Delta configuration once the motor reaches a certain speed.

The Star-Delta starter includes a control circuit that typically consists of a timer, contactors, and overload relays. When the motor is started, it is initially connected in a Star configuration to reduce the starting current, which can be up to 6 times the motor’s full-load current. After the motor reaches a specific speed, the timer switches the winding connection to a Delta configuration to ensure the motor operates efficiently.

This starter is widely used in industries where high-power motors are required, such as in oil and gas, mining, and manufacturing. The star/delta starter offers several advantages, including reduced starting current, better control of inrush current, and reduced stress on the motor windings during starting. However, it also has some disadvantages, including increased cost and complexity, longer starting time, and reduced torque during starting.

In this tutorial, we will demonstrate the automatic star-delta (Y-Δ) starting method for 3-phase AC induction motors. This will include providing a schematic, power and control, PLC ladder, and wiring diagrams. We will also explain how the star-delta starter works and discuss its applications, as well as its advantages and disadvantages.

Working of the Automatic Star / Delta Starter using Timer

Star Delta Starter with Timer Wiring Diagram
Automatic Star Delta Starter with Timer For Three Phase Motor

On the left-hand side, there is the main contactor with a pneumatic timer. The main contactor is always energized.

In the middle, there is the Delta contactor, which is equipped with a thermal overload for motor protection in the event that the motor exceeds the ampere rating set on the thermal overload.

On the right-hand side, there is the Star contactor, which is the first contactor to be energized with the main contactor. When the timer reaches its time limit, the Star contactor de-energizes, and the Delta contactor energizes. This allows the motor to run at full load.

Related Motor Control & Power Diagrams:

Operation & Working of Automatic Y-Δ Starter

  1. The phase current flows from L1 to the thermal overload contact through an MCB/MCCB or general fuse, then to the OFF push button, On push button interlocking contact 2, and then to K3. The circuit is thus completed, and both contactor coil C3 and timer coil (T) are energized simultaneously. As a result, the motor winding is connected in Star, and when K3 is energized, its auxiliary open links will close, and the close links will open.
  2. Consequently, Contactor K1 is also energized, and the Three Phase Supply reaches the motor. Since the winding is connected in Star, each phase will receive √3 times less than the line voltage, which ensures safe motor starting. The close contact of K3 in the Delta line opens, preventing the activation of contactor 2 (K2).
  3. After the push button is released, Timer coil and coil 3 will receive a supply through Timer contact (Ia), Holding contact 3, and the close contact 2 of K2. When Contactor 1 (K1) is energized, the two open contacts in the line of K1 and K2 will close.
  4. For a specific time (generally 5-10 seconds), the motor will be connected in Star. After that, the Timer contact (T) will open (which can be adjusted by rotating the timer knob to set the time again), and as a result, Contactor 3 (K3) will turn off, and the open link of K3 (in the line of K2) will close, causing K2 to energize. When K3 is off, the star connection of the winding will also open, and K2 will close, connecting the motor winding in Delta. Contact 2 (which is in the line K3) will also open, preventing the activation of coil 3 (K3).
  5. Now that the motor is connected in Delta, each phase will receive full line voltage (415V), and the motor will start to run at full speed.

Related Post:

Wiring, Power & Control Diagrams of Star Delta Starter

Power Diagram

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Power Circuit Diagram of Automatic Star - Delta Starter for Three Phase Motor
Power Circuit Diagram of Star Delta Starter

Schematic Wiring Diagram

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Power Wiring Diagram of Star-Delta Starter for 3-Phase Motors

 

Control Diagram

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Control Diagram of Star Delta Starter using Timer
Control Diagram of Star Delta Starter using Timer

Control Circuit Diagram of Star Delta Starter with Timer

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Automatic Star-Delta (Y-Δ) Starter with Timer for 3-Phase Induction Motor
Automatic Star-Delta (Y-Δ) Starter with Timer for 3-Phase Induction Motor

Wiring Diagram of Y-Δ Starter using PLC

Ladder Diagram of Y-Δ Starter using PLC

Ladder Diagram of Star Delta Starter using PLC

We have published an article that specifically covers the programming of a Star/Delta starter using a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The article includes detailed explanations and illustrations of the ladder, power, and control circuit diagrams for the setup.

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Legends and its Abbreviations:

  • L1 , L2, L3 = Brown, Black, Blue ( 3 Phase Lines)
  • CB / MCB / MCCB = General Circuit Breaker
  • Main = Main Supply
  • Y = Star
  • Δ = Delta
  • T = Timer
  • K1, K2, K3 = Contactors
  • O/L = Thermal Overload Relay
  • NO = Normally Open
  • NC = Normally Closed
  • K1/NO = Contactor Holding Coil (Normally Open)

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages:

  • Simple design and operation.
  • Comparatively cheaper than other voltage controlling methods.
  • The torque and current performance of the Y-Δ starter is good.
  • It draws two times the starting current of the FLA (Full Load Ampere) of the connected motor.
  • It reduces the starting current to approximately one-third compared to a DOL (Direct ON Line Starter).

Related Posts

Disadvantages

  • Starting Torque is also reduced to one-third because the starter reduces the starting current to one-third of the rated current [as Line voltage is also reduced to 57% (1/√3)].
  • It requires six leads or terminals for a Delta-connected motor.
  • For Delta connection, the supply voltage must be the same as the rated motor voltage.
  • At switching time (from Star to Delta), if the motor does not reach at least 90% of its rated speed, then the current peak may be equally high as in a Direct ON Line starter( D.O.L), thus causing harmful effects on the contactor’s contacts, making it unreliable.
  • We should not use a star-delta starter if the required (application or load) torque is more than 50% of the three-phase induction motor’s rated torque.

Related Posts:

Characteristics & Features of Star-Delta Starter

  • The starting current is 33% of the full load current for a star-delta starter.
  • The peak starting torque is 33% of the full load torque.
  • The peak starting current is 1.3 to 2.6 times the full load current.
  • Star-Delta starters can be used only for low to high power three-phase induction motors.
  • They have reduced starting current and torque.
  • Six connection cables are needed for the motor terminal box.
  • In a star/delta starter, there is a current peak and high transmission on mechanical load during the changeover from star to delta.

Applications

As we know, the main purpose of a star-delta starter is to start the three-phase induction motor in Star Connection and then switch to Delta Connection during operation.

It’s important to keep in mind that a Star-Delta starter can only be used for low to medium voltage and light starting torque induction motors. In the case of direct on-line (D.O.L) start, the current drawn by the motor is about 33% of its rated current, and the starting torque is reduced by about 25-30%.

As a result, the Star/Delta Starter is suitable only for light loads during motor starting. Otherwise, a heavy-load motor won’t start due to the low torque available during the acceleration phase while converting to the Delta connection

Related Tutorials and Resources used in Power & Control Wiring Diagrams for Motors

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60 Comments

  1. i also have diagram but how can i sent it to u…but may be this one helps u star connection is A1 B2 C3 close the other ends and for delta connect A1 B2 , B1 C2 , C1 A2….

  2. What is the use of timer in this circuit and how will delta operate after a delayed timing? plz analyse ur circuit once again

  3. Please Describe the the control circuit diagram of Automatic Star Delta Starter with Timer for 3-phase Motor

  4. Need ckt diagram fr three motor having star delta starter on same mcc such that only 2motor can start simultaneously not 3rd one

  5. the timer in the circuit is used to time out c3 and time in c2 .to understand it just identify the contact of the timer in the circuit .u will see one contact is closed for c3 and one open for c2

  6. I once worked on a Large Burnt out 3 Phase Motor which was used for pumping sugar from the delivery Road Tanker Lorry into a Sugar Storage Tower Silo. My boss told me the windings were unusual because they were of a STAR STAR DELTA configuration ?

    Have you come across this type of motor windings arrangement before ?

    Cheers

    Norman Peoples

  7. Plz send me working principle and construction of semi automatic star delta starter….
    I can’t understand reletade website information….

  8. Plz send me working principle and construction of semi automatic star delta starter….
    I can’t understand reletade website information….

  9. Hi, I have this winding automatic STAR DELTA with timer and the inverter (Hz) to operate the 3 phase motor at my workplace.
    Recently we have facing the motor was tripped and error shown at inverter display is “L In”, sometimes “OL”, sometimes”L U”, and “OV1” when tripped.
    Could someone advice how to troubleshoot this problem?

    Thanks Best Regards.

  10. I think In the actual built circuit shown as picture posted, the star contactor is connected to the thermal overload terminal from motor side, which is more safety may be, not from delta contactor side as shown in power circuit diagram.

    Thanks for your valued information, it realy helped me alot.

    1. Mohammad Khalid,
      1.Current flowing through star contactor is very very less than the delta contactor.
      2. Star contactor is working only for some seconds and after that Delta contactor will work continuesly.
      Therefore thermal over load will never connected to star ? contactor

  11. thanks for your schematics
    i made the start delta control circuit in fluid-sim, and i releized that it repeat the cycle when you press the start button again, and as solution i suggested to energize the main contact first.

    1. Youssef Salimi.

      I think you not put NC contact of delta contactor C2 between start push and Delta contactor coil, that’s why it repeat the sequence when you push the start again.
      Please check your connection diagram you made in fluid-sim.
      Thanks.

    1. Wiring connection reference will be near the terminal box of motor or the terminal box cover. This circuit is concept of star start delta run motors. Main supply will be connected to U1, V1, W1 and the configuration of star or delta will be based on the active contactor. Timer is to delay the turning off of the star contactor and delaying the turning on of the delta contactor. But what if the voltage of start is different from the run voltage?

  12. Please inform me have any Dealer of Automatic Star Delta Starter for 10Hp motor pump in Kolkata market? Give me address and contract no.

    1. Stanley,
      Run inductor lamp you can connect parallel to the main contactor C1 or in series of any free NO(Normally Open) contact of C1 and trip inductor lamp or siren can be connected in series of NO (Normally Open) contact of Over Load protector.

  13. Kindly what rates required for motors of 200 H.p for cont actors, main circuit breaker of start delta

    How We can calculate for various motor power rate ?!
    B.Regards

    Paul

    1. Motors of kW up to 0.37kW requires no control (stater)
      Moters btn 0.37kW to 3kW need a direct online stater
      Star delta starting is for motors 3kW to 500kW
      Above tis power rating we need high voltage of 3.3 kV, 11kv and the stater is transformer staters e.g. for squirrel cage motors and roter wound silpring induction motors. Although motors of low rating less than 500kW can also be started using transformer stators or resistance staters.

    1. Mccb’s have more advanced protection features than HRC fuses so that they are better than HRC fuses, e.g they can be reset, they have higher breaking capacities and only trip when a fault occurs but HRC fuses are destroyed and you have to buy another.
      In there working HRC fuses are like MCB which are inferior to MCCB

  14. The diagram is well presented and the Star delta is correct but the start/stop and the timer looks chaotic or not clearly illustrated

  15. Thanks for sharing, it is a good information.
    And Why 2 Overload protector relays? In second diagram.

    Waste of material!!!!
    Only one is enough as the current is flowing in series with both the OLs.

  16. is the contactor k2 and k3 are correctly indicated for star and delta in control circiut. i feel you have interchanged both in the control circuit, both the power circuit and control circuit contact are mismatching. you have indicated, In power circuit k2 is star and in control circuit k2 is delta contact. correct me if i am wrong

  17. The timer must have one terminal (25,28) NC and the other terminal (15,18) NO for the control circuit to operate correctly.
    OTHERWISE, the control circuit is okay except for the corrections above.
    Gede Village Polytechnic, Kilifi county, KENYA.

  18. 1. The timer terminals 55,56 NC contacts should go to the star circuit and the NO 67,68 of the timer should be connected in the delta circuit, LEST the delta goes in first before the star.
    2. We don’t see the importance of 13,14 NO contacts in the star circuits.
    3. The timer must have NO and NC contacts not all closed.
    OTHRRWISE, with that correction, the motor will run correctly
    With the diagram as it is the delta goes in first then the star so the lights will deem as the motor picks up speed AND when the delta goes off and the star goes in the motor will be supplied with under voltage and will not give its rated power.

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