Eaton's electronic motor starter increases machine availability

In combination with SmartWire-DT, Eaton's innovative communication system for industrial switchgear and automation components, more relevant motor data is documented and communicated to the EMS than before. The decentralised intelligence opens up new possibilities for preventative maintenance and simplifies servicing. The reduced wiring and the communications capabilities of the SmartWire-DT device enables users to produce simple, cost-effective and compact machinery and systems which can be used to implement more stable manufacturing processes.

A pluggable SmartWire-DT interface turns the electronic motor starter into a communication-enabled switching device able to capture data such as motor current, overload and useful diagnostic data. This information can then be provided to an application for further processing. It can be transferred to all common industrial fieldbuses via gateways.

This distributed intelligence offers several advantages to the user: Firstly, critical motor load states are indicated at an early stage. In the event of an imminent shutdown, operators can take advanced action to prevent the motor protection function tripping and the associated actuator failure. In addition, data transparency facilitates diagnostic and maintenance because the EMS delivers information on the cause of the failure - e.g. phase failure - in the event of tripping.

Mike Edelmann, product manager at Eaton explains: "SmartWire-DT not only reduces the cost of designing, wiring and commissioning, but also transforms simple switching devices into communication-enabled automation components with minimal effort. With the advanced communications capabilities of the new electronic motor starters, Eaton serves the growing market demand for progressive motor starting and protection solutions, which increase the reliability and availability of machinery and equipment through enhanced diagnostic functions."

As a compact multifunctional device, the electronic motor starter combines direct motor start, reverse motor start, motor protection and safe shutdown in accordance with Category 3 (EN 13849-1) requirements. By reducing the overall component count and using tool-free, push-in technology, the wiring costs in comparison with conventional switchgear devices may be reduced by up to 60 per cent and the proportion of hardware components required by up to 70 per cent. Thanks to the wide-range overload protection feature of the EMS device, only two current range models are needed - 0.18 to 6.5A (AC-53a) and 9A (AC-51) - thus simplifying product selection and the stocking of spare parts. In addition, the integrated hybrid circuitry operates virtually wear-free (30 million operating cycles), increasing predicted lifespan compared with conventional switchgear devices thus providing machine builders with additional headroom for reliability.

With a width of 30mm, it also saves valuable space in the control cabinet compared with conventional 45mm models. The main fields of application for the EMS, which achieves outputs of between 0.06 and 3kW, include conveyor systems for machine handling and logistics and packaging equipment.

To learn more about Eaton's multifunctional electronic motor starter (EMS), visit the company at Hall 9, stand 371 during SPS IPC Drives, Nuremberg, 24-26 November, or go to www.eaton.uk.com/electrical.