Electronically enhanced low voltage motor protection and control

The major advances in motor protection and control today and in the future will be based on electronic enhancements. Electromechanical-based systems are limited to simple protection modes and typically have a one-to-one relationship between input (e.g., current) and reaction (e.g., deflection). Microcomputer chips, with their ever increasing processing speeds and program instruction sets, have given designers the tools and the freedom to package multiple protection modes as well as customized protection. This computing power allows designers to develop modern multi-function motor protection systems that include control functions previously achieved only through complex hard-wired control circuits. The designer can now re-examine motor protection requirements and provide unique solutions. It is also possible to replace some high level programmable controller solutions with a dedicated controller built into a more user friendly, individual motor protection package. This same package may provide data communication links for factory-wide management systems. Such a motor protection and control system addresses motor application needs that, in the past, were often beyond the range of practicality