How does a Potential Relay Work?

Answer 1

I am going to post an article published in 2006 by John Tomczyk of Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Mich. I cannot improve on his description.

The Potential Start Relay

Figure 1

This month's article will cover theory and operation of potential starting relays. The article that will appear in the Aug. 7 issue will cover potential relay ratings and specifications along with systematic troubleshooting.

Potential or voltage starting relays are used with single-phase capacitor-start/capacitor-run motors, which need relatively high starting torque. Their main function is to assist in starting the motor. These starting relays consist of a high-resistance coil and a set of normally closed contacts. The coil is wired between terminals 2 and 5, with the contacts between terminal 1 and 2. Terminals 4 and 6 are used for capacitor and/or condenser fan connections and have no electrical significance to the starting relay itself (Figure 1). Terminals 4 and 6 are sometimes referred to as dummy terminals and are simply used for wire connections.

Fig. 2 shows how a potential starting relay is wired to a capacitor-start/capacitor-run compressor motor. Note that the relay coil is wired in parallel (across) the start winding. The normally closed contacts are wired in series with the start winding and the start capacitor.

OPERATIONWhen the power is applied through the cycling control, both the run and start windings are energized. The start and run capacitors provide the phase shift for starting torque because of their capacitance adding when wired in parallel.

In fact, both capacitors are wired in series with the start winding and in parallel with the run winding. The run capacitor also limits the current that will pass through the start winding when the motor is running, since they are wired in series. The run capacitor also provides running torque when the motor is up and running.

The operation of the potential starting relay is based on the increase in back electromotive force (back EMF) or a bucking voltage that is generated across the start winding as the motor increases in speed. The large metal mass of the motor's rotor turning at high speeds with motor windings in close proximity has a voltage generating effect (Figure 3). This generated back EMF opposes line voltage and can be measured across the start winding or across the coil of the potential relay at terminals 2 and 5. The back EMF is usually a higher voltage than the line voltage and can be in the 400-V range. All motors have different magnitudes of back EMF.

Figure 2

The back EMF voltage generated across the start winding causes a small current to flow in the start winding and in the potential relay coil since they are in the same circuit. When the back EMF has built up to a high enough value, referred to as pick-up voltage, the contacts between terminals 1 and 2 will be picked-up opened. This will take the start capacitor out of the circuit.

The pickup voltage usually occurs when the motor has reached about 3/4 speed. The start winding is still in the back EMF circuit keeping the relay's coil energized while the motor is running at full speed.

When the cycling control opens, line voltage power is taken away from the motor. The motor's rotor decreases in speed, thus the back EMF generated across the start winding decreases in magnitude. The relay now sees a lowering back EMF and no longer can generate enough magnetism in its iron core to keep contacts 1 and 2 open.

Figure 3

The contacts thus return to their original normally closed position by spring power as the motor coasts to a stop. With the start capacitor out of the circuit, the motor now becomes a permanent split capacitance (PSC) motor in the running mode only.

John Tomczyk is a professor of HVACR at Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Mich. He can be reached by e-mail at tomczykj@tucker-usa.com.

Publication date: 07/03/2006

Answer 2

All relays need a potential to operate. Potential is another name for voltage. There is a potential sensing relay that is used to monitor the voltage of a circuit. If the voltage of a specific circuit becomes de-energized and it is important to certain production lines, it needs to be reported right away, this is where these typed of relays are used. On de-energising their N.O. (normally open) set of contacts close and trigger an alarm bell or some sort of signaling device.

Comment

Outside North America, this type of relay is more-commonly called a 'voltage relay', as the device senses 'voltage' -i.e. 'potential difference'- and not 'potential'. It's important to understand that 'voltage' is synonymous with 'potential difference', not 'potential'.