Buying an Electrical Starter? The Pro Guide You Need

Introduction

Electrical starters serve an important role in many equipment we own and operate today. It is why these are common add-ons to ensure the equipment starts and runs smoothly. Expect to come across them in industries, at home, offices, and more, working in many devices.

This guide goes further to explore about electrical starters, the types, the applications, how they work, and how best to troubleshoot them.

What is an Electrical Starter

An electrical starter is a device used to control the amount of electrical power fed to an equipment. When this happens, the electrical starter can start, stop, accelerate, reverse, and protect a device depending on the application.

There are a number of devices in the market that use electrical starters, including the best starter electric guitar, electric starter lawn mower, and many others as we will learn about them later in this guide.

Components of an Electrical Starter

Before getting that electric start pressure washer or electric guitar starter kit, it is worth understanding the starter components. This helps you know more about how the electrical starter works.

An electric start power washer and many other devices with a similar setup will have the following components for their electrical starters.

1. Contactor

This is a critical component of the electrical starter. It is an electromagnetic switch that closes and opens circuits. As a result, this controls the flow of electricity to a motor.

When power is applied to a starter, the contactor closes, allowing electricity to flow to the motor.

2. Overload relay

A Toro electric-start lawn mower has an overload relay. Its job is to prevent the motor from overheating in case of excessive current.

The overload relay monitors the amount of current flow and intervenes based on the preset limit. Once triggered, the contactor opens the circuit to cut the flow of electricity.

Such a guarantee is important for ensuring the longevity of the device’s motor.

3. Control Circuit

Remember when we said an electrical starter can start, stop, reverse direction, and more? That is all done with a control circuit.

The circuit will have switches or push buttons for operator input. Some can have sensors to help with automation and precise motor control.

4. Auxiliary Contacts

A power washer electric start can also have auxiliary contacts. These are add-ons and can vary from one starter to another. They are used mostly for interlocking with other equipment or signaling.

They can signal if the motor has stopped working or has a fault. This enhances the overall safety and control of the other equipment connected to the motor.

Importance of an Electrical Starter

Electric start generators and electric start push mowers are able to start and work great thanks to the electrical starters. There are a few more benefits to why such starters are needed in equipment.

• The starter helps with a safe motor start-up. This is because they can prevent sudden current surges while can easily damage the electrical system or motor windings.
• The electrical starters can also provide overload protection. They can monitor the current draw and shut off the motor automatically if it goes above the safe limits.
• The starter can also offer a controlled way of stopping the motor. Abrupt shutdowns can often cause mechanical stress to the motor.
• An electric start on a Toro lawn moweris also essential for direction control. This can be necessary depending on the application.
• The starter could also improve overall system reliability by safeguarding the motors from potential malfunction during the startup phase.

How an Electrical Starter Works

An electric start for a lawn mower or snow blower with an electric starter works similarly. They can either be manual or automatic.

For the manual starter, you have to push the button to get it from OFF to ON and vice versa. This also controls the power supply to the motor.

Once you set it to the ON position, the electrical current is sent to the motor to start spinning.

The downside of manual starters is they cannot automatically resume operation in case of a power outage. That is where the automatic electrical starters come in. They can safely resume an operation once the power is reinstated.

Types of Electrical Starters

Electric start lawn mowers are likely to have one type of the many electric starters available in the market. We look at these electrical starters below to see what they can do and where best to use them.

Direct online (DOL) starter

This electrical starter comes with a simple design. It simply connects the motor to the power supply directly. It has a contactor for completing the circuit and an overload relay that keeps the motor from overheating.

However, this starter lacks a voltage reduction feature for safely starting the motor. This reason makes it good for starters with a 5hp rating or lower.

Stator Resistance Starter

This electrical starter features the reduced voltage technique. It is achieved by having an external resistance in series with each phase in a 3-phase induction motor stator. The work of the resistor is to reduce the line voltage being applied to the stator.

This means you have safe voltage levels across the stator to help protect the motor further.

Rotor Resistance Starter

In this case, the resistances are connected to the rotor rather than the stator like in the last starter. This type of connection solves the problem of low torque in a stator resistance starter, but the rotor current is limited. Expect this connection also to improve the motor’s power factor.

The resistors in the circuit are only essential when starting the motor. They are removed once the rotor picks up the required speed.

Autotransformer Starter

If you want better starting torque, the autotransformer starter will help you get that. This starter works as a step-down transformer to help reduce the voltage applied to a motor stator as you start the motor. The best part is how it works for both delta and star-connected motors.

At first, it provides only a fraction of the voltage needed to start the motor. Then, the relay switches of the starter increase the voltage with the increase in motor speed. At last, the motor will have access to full voltage to get it to the rated speed.

Star Delta Starter

This is a common electric starter for large motors, mostly with an industrial application. In this case, the starter switches between the star and delta connection while starting the motor.

During the starting phase, the motor is connected to a star connection with a reduced starting current. This also reduces the torque to only ⅓ of the rated value.

Once the motor increases its speed, the relay switches from the star to a delta connection. This allows access to the full voltage for each winding, making the motor run at its rated speed.

Soft Starter

This is another electrical starter with the voltage reduction technique. In this case, semiconductor switches such as TRIAC are used to control the voltage and starting current of the motor.

The voltage is varied by changing the conduction angle of the switches. The angle is kept a a minimum during the starting phase and gradually increased until the motor has access to the full rated line voltage.

This gradual and smooth change in the starting voltage means there are no mechanical jerks while operating the motor, which allows it to last even longer.

Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)

It works like the soft starter only that it varies the supplying current frequency. This will control the motor speed depending on the supply frequency.

This operation means it can control the motor’s speed from zero up to its rated speed. Adjusting the speed provides better acceleration and starting current.

Applications of Electrical Starters

Expect the electrical starters to have multiple applications on overall. Some of the notable applications include;

• Pumps, mixers, compressors
• Drilling motors
• HVAC systems
• Water treatment pumps and agitators
• Mining crushers, hoists, or heavy equipment
• Power irrigation systems
• Operate mixers for concrete

A Guide to Choosing an Electrical Starter

An electric starter for snowblowers or any other equipment should be chosen correctly for the best performance. Here is how you can choose the right one.

Motor Type and Size

Each motor will have a starter type and size that works perfectly. Look at the description of the electrical starter to see if it has the correct rating to work with your equipment. For example, does the starter work with an induction or synchronous motor? What about the size? Will it handle the motor size? Once you answer these questions, you can pick the right starter.

Starting Requirements

Look at the specifications needed to start and run the motor. This includes the speed control, starting torque, or any other special features. Now, look at what the starter can provide during the starting phase and match it to your needs.

Starter Type

As explained above on starter types, it is crucial to choose one that works well with your motor. Each type of starter is designed to work differently. Some motors work well with soft starters, while others could simply use the DOL starter. So, choose appropriately.

Environmental Performance

What is the overall performance of the electrical starter as it is exposed to various environmental conditions? The starter you choose should be able to withstand conditions such as temperature changes, dust exposure, humidity, and others while still providing the best performance.

Support and Warranty

It would help to buy from a company that provides good customer support in case you need it. Also, a reasonable warranty period should cover the product to ensure it is worth the money.

Common Electrical Starter Issues and Troubleshooting

Maybe it is a new electrical starter you just installed that is not working or an old one that has stopped working. What could be the issue? What is the solution? These are some of the scenarios we look at below.

• If a new motor starter is not working, check the wiring diagram to ensure it is wired correctly.
• For an old starter, look at what changes you have made recently that are affecting its performance. In case the wires have been altered, ensure they are redone correctly.
• Check the starter cables and terminals for signs of corrosion, burns, or damage. In case of visual damage, you may have to replace a few components to keep the starter working. Consult a qualified electrician on what you should change.
• If the overload switch has tripped, the starter will turn off the motor. To deal with this, simply press the reset button or any other reset mechanism, depending on the electrical starter.
• If a fuse is blown, then simply replace it. When a fuse is blown, there is no continuity, and the starter will not work. Disconnect the starter to access the fuse and replace it with the appropriate fuse.

Conclusion

Thanks to its protection and other benefits, a good electrical starter will help keep the motor in good working condition. This is why you must choose the right electrical starter, depending on the application. Do not forget to consult a qualified electrician to have the right starter for your equipment. Performing regular maintenance as per the manufacturer will also keep it running correctly.