Motor Starter Question

[hanksmith]

Currently working on a job that is requiring me to move some motor starter from one MCC to another.

The starters in questions are from GE and they are of the older model.

The question I have comes from the relay coil for the motor contactor, it is currently being energized by 600V, I am use to seeing these energized by 120V.

I was thinking that maybe the larger load (50HP) required more power to pull the contactor in and therefor is why it's 600V not the 120.

Don't know if I made myself clear or not, hopefully someone who is familier with motor starter schematics will understand what I am asking,

Thanks

 

[Thedroid]

The older GE starters I work with were all energized using the line voltage, 480V. We've converted almost all of them to 120V using control transformers in each bucket. Alot of work, but safer to work on and easier to troubleshoot IMO.

 

[waross]

I used to see more line voltage starter coils, 480 V or 600 V,
but after being zapped by a control circuit on 600 V,I support Thedroid's suggestion all the way

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[dpc]

It has a 600 V coil because it's cheaper that way.

Agree 100% with Thedroid. Convert to a lower coil voltage and put in a control power transformer.