Three Point Starter: Diagram and Working Principle

A 3 point starter is a device that helps in the starting and running of a DC shunt motor or compound wound DC motor (similar to a 4 point starter).

Now the question is why these types of DC motors require the assistance of the starter in the first place? Well, it’s due to the presence of back emf (E_b), which plays a critical role in governing the operation of the motor. The back emf develops as the motor armature starts to rotate in presence of the magnetic field, by generating action and counters the supply voltage. Hence the back emf at the starting of the motor is zero, but it develops gradually as the motor gathers speed.

The general motor emf equation is:

Where E=Supply Voltage; E_b=Back EMF; I_a=Armature Current; and R_a=Armature Resistance. Since at starting E_b = 0, then E = I_a.R_a. Hence we can rearrange for the armature current I_a:

We can see from the above equation that the current will be dangerously high at starting (as the armature resistance R_a is small). This is why it’s important that we make use of a device like the 3 point starter to limit the starting current to acceptably low value.

To see how the starter limits the initial current, let’s explore its design and operation. The diagram below uses electrical symbols to clearly display all the essential components of a three-point starter.

Construction of 3 Point Starter

Construction wise a starter is a variable resistance, integrated into the number of sections as shown in the figure beside. The contact points of these sections are called studs and are shown separately as OFF, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, RUN. Other than that there are three main points, referred to as

1. ‘L’ Line terminal (Connected to positive of supply)
2. ‘A’ Armature terminal (Connected to the armature winding)
3. ‘F’ Field terminal (Connected to the field winding)

And from there it gets the name 3 point starter. Now studying the construction of 3 point starter in further details reveals that the point ‘L’ is connected to an electromagnet called overload release (OLR) as shown in the figure. The other end of OLR is connected to the lower end of conducting lever of starter handle where spring is also attached with it, and the starter handle also contains a soft iron piece housed on it. This handle is free to move to the other side RUN against the force of the spring. This spring brings back the handle to its original OFF position under the influence of its own force. Another parallel path is derived from the stud ‘1’, given to another electromagnet called No Volt Coil (NVC) which is further connected to terminal ‘F.’ The starting resistance at starting is entirely in series with the armature. The OLR and NVC act as the two protecting devices of the starter.

Working of Three Point Starter

Having studied its construction, let us now go into the working of the 3 point starter. To start with the handle is in the OFF position when the supply to the DC motor is switched on. Then handle is slowly moved against the spring force to make contact with stud No. 1. At this point, field winding of the shunt or the compound motor gets supply through the parallel path provided to starting the resistance, through No Voltage Coil. While entire starting resistance comes in series with the armature. The high starting armature current thus gets limited as the current equation at this stage becomes:

As the handle is moved further, it goes on making contact with studs 2, 3, 4, etc., thus gradually cutting off the series resistance from the armature circuit as the motor gathers speed. Finally, when the starter handle is in ‘RUN’ position, the entire starting resistance is eliminated, and the motor runs with normal speed.

This is because back emf is developed consequently with speed to counter the supply voltage and reduce the armature current.

So the external electrical resistance is not required anymore and is removed for optimum operation. The handle is moved manually from OFF to the RUN position with the development of speed. Now the obvious question is once the handle is taken to the RUN position how it is supposed to stay there, as long as the motor is running.
To find the answer to this question let us look into the working of No Voltage Coil.

Working of No Voltage Coil of 3 Point Starter

The No Voltage Coil (NVC) supplies power to the field winding and magnetizes when current flows. In the ‘RUN’ position, a soft iron piece on the handle is drawn to the NVC by magnetic force. This design allows the NVC to secure the handle in ‘RUN’ as long as the motor has power, effectively acting as a hold-on coil.

Now when there is any kind of supply failure, the current flow through NVC is affected and it immediately loses its magnetic property and is unable to keep the soft iron piece on the handle, attracted. At this point under the action of the spring force, the handle comes back to OFF position, opening the circuit and thus switching off the motor. So due to the combination of NVC and the spring, the starter handle always comes back to OFF position whenever there is any supply problem. Thus it also acts as a protective device safeguarding the motor from any kind of abnormality.

Drawbacks of a Three Point Starter

A major drawback of the 3 point starter is its poor performance with motors needing varied speeds, controlled by adjusting the field rheostat. Increasing the motor’s speed through higher field resistance leads to reduced shunt field current.

Field current becomes very low which results in holding electromagnet too weak to overcome the force exerted by the spring. The holding magnet may release the arm of the starter during the normal operation of the motor and thus disconnect the motor from the line. This is not desirable. A 4 point starter is thus used instead, which does not have this drawback.