As soon as a phase threshold is running, the instantaneous output associated with this threshold is activated. This output indicates that the protection element has detected a phase fault and that the time delay associated with the threshold has started.
Automatic Reset
These relays are field convertible from hand reset to automatic reset and
vice-versa. On automatic reset after tripping the relay, contacts will
automatically reclose when the relay has cooled down. This is an advantage
when the relays are inaccessible. However, automatic reset overload relays
should not normally be used with 2-wire control. With this arrangement, the
motor will restart when the overload relay contacts reclose after an overload
relay trip, and unless the cause of the overload has been removed, the
overload relay will trip again. This cycle will repeat and eventually the motor
will burn out due to the accumulated heat from the repeated inrush and
overload current. More important is the possibility of danger to personnel.
The unexpected restarting of a machine may find the operator or
maintenance man in a hazardous situation as he attempts to find out why his
machine has stopped.
Ambient Temperature Compensated Bimetallic
Ambient-compensated bimetallic overload relays are designed for one
particular situation; that is, when the motor is at a constant ambient
temperature and the controller is located separately in a varying ambient
temperature. In this case, if a standard thermal overload relay were used, it
would not trip at the same level of motor current if the controller temperature
changed. The standard thermal overload relay is always affected by the
surrounding temperature. To compensate for temperature variations, an
ambient-compensated overload relay is used. Its trip point is not affected by
temperature, and it performs consistently at the same value of current.
Thermal Overload Relay Trip Characteristics
Melting alloy and bimetallic overload relays are designed to approximate the
heat actually generated in the motor. As the motor temperature increases, so
does the temperature of the thermal unit. The motor and relay heating curves
(left) show this relationship. From this graph we can see that no matter how
high the current drawn, the overload relay will provide protection yet will not
trip unnecessarily
