Table Of Content

Smart Starter A t right are three of the seven-model family of WattstopTMR educed Volt- age AC Motor Starters manufac- tured by Firing Circuits Inc., Norwalk, Connecticut. Wattstop solid state starters are designed to provide an effective and economical method of starting standard three phase AC motors. By applying voltage to the motor gradually, they reduce the harmful effects of "slam" starting (mechanical shock and electrical power surges), which in turn cuts maintenance costs and obviates A "SMART STARTER" the problem of electrical inter- ference with other loads. Firing Circuits calls Wattstop MATCHES A the "Smarter Starter." It employs a "smart" microproces- MOTOR'S LOAD AND sor to monitor the motor's load and set the motor voltage at the level where its operation is VOLTAGE FOR most efficient. If the load drops, motors operate at a fixed volt- The Wattstop family includes Wattstop reduces the voltage to age, the voltage needed to starters ranging from two MAXIMAL EFFICIENCY lower operating costs; if the handle the heaviest loads the through 1,500 horsepower and load increases, Wattstop imme- motor is designed to carry. from 208 through 575 volts. diately brings the voltage up to Nola's answer was a device - They are in service on such the proper level. This energy the PFC - that matches voltage equipment as cranes, hoists, saving feature, standard on all with the motor's actual need by conveyors, compressors, fans members of the Wattstop fami- continuously sensing shifts and pumps, saws, grinders and ly, derives from NASA technolo- between voltage and current; elevators in such applications gy, specifically a device known when it senses a light load it as food and beverage process- as the Power Factor Controller cuts the voltage to the mini- ing, materials handling, water (PFC) developed at Marshall mum needed. The PFC offers and waste treatment, paper- Space Flight Center more than potential energy savings rang- making, plastics, metalworking a decade ago. ing from eight to 65 percent, and woodworking. The PFC was invented by depending on the type of appli- Marshall engineer Frank Nola, cation. It has become one of TM Wattstop is a trademark of Firing Circuits Inc. who came up with a way to the most widely used spinoffs curb power wastage in AC of NASA technology, with induction motors. The wastage licensees numbering in the is caused by the fact that such hundreds.