Siemens weld-free compact starter

Siemens Energy & Automation Sirius 3RA6 compact starter is a new "one-stop" motor starter product for three-phase ac standard motors up to 32 amps. This represents a new generation of weld-free starters that offer the combined functionality of a circuit breaker, contactor and electronic overload overlay to reduce engineering and assembly costs while simplifying commissioning.

By Control Engineering Staff June 1, 2009

Siemens Energy & Automation Sirius 3RA6 compact starter is a new “one-stop” motor starter product for three-phase ac standard motors up to 32 amps. This represents a new generation of weld-free starters that offer the combined functionality of a circuit breaker, contactor and electronic overload overlay to reduce engineering and assembly costs while simplifying commissioning. Until now, customers would have to source and purchase multiple components separately, whereas the Sirius 3RA6 compact starter incorporates all elements into one unit, simplifying engineering and procurement. The consistent footprint of the direct and reversing starter also saves space in the control cabinet. The infeed system provides an integrated power supply, saving line-side wiring labor. With only five wide setting ranges up to 32 amps rated current, and three wide voltage ranges for ac/dc current with 24, 42 to 70 and 110 to 240 V, selection is simple. They are available as direct starters and reversing starters and cover most motor applications. www.sea.siemens.com/compactstarter Siemens Energy & Automation

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ONLINE Extra Additionally, the Siemens Sirius 3RA6 compact starter is ideal for applications requiring the highest machine availability, company says.

With the associated control kit, the user performs an early check of the wiring and motor direction even before the plant starts up to prevent faults and increase plant availability.

The safe shutdown at the end of service life, separate indication of overload and short-circuit and auto reset following overload trip also help increase uptime. Maintenance is easier because the removable spring-loaded and screw-type terminals simplify device replacement.

For wiring savings, the user can simply plug the Sirius 3RA6 compact starter into the associated, pre-wired infeed system and significantly reduce the wiring overhead. This infeed system can be easily expanded to suit the plant by adding additional slots and Sirius industrial controls components such as 3RV1 circuit breakers or the 3RV19 infeed system. As an option, PE terminals are also available for this system. This provides the possibility of directly connecting the motor cables to the Sirius infeed system for 3RA6.

To further reduce the overhead involved in control circuit integration, Siemens offers AS-Interface modules to connect the Sirius 3RA6 compact starter directly to AS-Interface. The AS-I module can easily be connected to the compact starter and used as an A/B slave on AS-I. All the diagnostics and status data of the compact starter are forwarded direct to the higher-level controller.