Motor Control Panel

motorcontrol-panel.php

A Motor Control Center (MCC) is a set up to control some or all of the electric motors at a central location. It consists of several enclosed sections that have a common power bus, and each section contains a combination starter, which in turn consists of a motor starter, fuses or circuit breaker, and a power disconnect switch.

Voltage ranges

A motor control center may also include push buttons, indicator lights, variable frequency drives, programmable logic controllers, and measurement equipment. It can be combined with the electrical service entrance of the building.

Usage

Motor control centers are generally used for low voltage three phase AC motors from 208V to 600V. Medium voltage motor control centers are made for large motors running from 2300V to around 15000V, using vacuum contactors for switching and with Compartments for switching and power control.

Components

A motor control center consists of one or more vertical metal cabinet sections with power bus and provision for plug-in mounting of individual motor controllers. Very large controllers may be bolted in place but smaller controllers can be unplugged from the cabinet for testing or maintenance. Each motor controller contains a contactor or a solid-state motor controller, overload relays to protect the motor, fuses or a circuit breaker to provide short-circuit protection, and a disconnecting switch to isolate the motor circuit. Three-phase power enters each controller through separable connectors. The motor is wired to terminals in the controller. Motor control centers provide wire ways for field control and power cables.

Motor control centers have been used since the 1950s by the automobile manufacturing industry that used a large number of electric motors. Today they are used in many industrial and commercial applications. When very dusty or corrosive processes are used, the motor control center can be set up in a separate air-conditioned room, but there will often be an MCC on the factory floor next to the controlled machinery.

A motor control center consists of one or more sections of vertical metal cabinets with power bus and provisions for plug-in mounting of individual motor controllers. Very large drivers can be bolted into place, but smaller drivers can be disconnected from the cabinet for testing or maintenance. Each motor controller contains a contactor or solid state motor controller, overload relays to protect the motor, fuses or a circuit breaker to provide short circuit protection, and a disconnect switch to isolate the motor circuit. Three-phase power enters each controller through separable connectors. The motor is wired to the controller terminals. Motor control centers provide wiring pathways for field control and power cables.