Moeller SmartWire: "Plug & Work" for Motor Starters

In order for motor starters to carry out their switching and protection tasks safely and reliably, they have to be interconnected with the motors, the controller and with each other. Previously these connections involved extensive wiring requirements. However, with Moeller's SmartWire the requirements and costs for this are now considerably less. After all SmartWire means "connecting instead of wiring".

Connecting motor starters with easyConnect SmartWire, an astonishingly simple and clearly designed solution: Moeller's xStart Series motor starters are used as the basis. The two components of this range, the motor contactor and the motor-protective circuit-breaker, are both connected with a contact module without any cables. In order to make the starter SmartWire-compatible, the user simply plugs an additional SmartWire module onto the contactor. This module provides two six-pole plug-in connections into which the prefabricated SmartWire connection cable is plugged. The second plug-in connection can be used for looping to the next motor starter and so on. The power supply for contactor control and for signalling the switch position of contactor and motor-protective circuit-breaker back to the PLC is now implemented entirely via the SmartWire connection and a gateway. This provides the central power supply for the contactor control and the direct fieldbus connection of the motor starters to easyNet, CANopen or Profibus. Up to 16 SmartWire-enabled motor starters can be connected with a gateway. The control circuit wiring and the input/output cards of the PLC can be replaced with SmartWire entirely.

Safety technology to IEC/EN 954-1, up to switch category 3 is also supported by SmartWire. Safety circuits can thus be created in the usual way. Savings in control wiring, however, are also achieved here as the power supply of the control voltage is implemented centrally at the gateway. A SmartWire power module enables several emergency-stop groups to be implemented on each gateway. A power module is also required if the power consumption of the contactor coils on a SmartWire cable is exceeded. The SmartWire is designed for up to a maximum of 16 motor starters of up to 7.5 kW. Only with higher rated motor starters is an increase in power required for the control current via a SmartWire power module.

SmartWire I/O modules also enable users to connect up motor starters with ratings higher than 15 kW, to monitor an NZM incoming circuit-breaker or to integrate components from other manufacturers into the system. This last application does however require some additional wiring.

SmartWire can be introduced in stages without any problem. All new SmartWire connectors are simply connected to the system with the same pre-assembled SmartWire cable. The SmartWire system is therefore a powerful addition to the known Moeller range. The SmartWire module for DILM can thus be connected like a basic auxiliary contact to contactors DILM 7 to DILM 32. The motor-protective circuit-breaker is simply taken from the standard range to create a motor starter. This combination can be fitted directly to a top-hat rail, extended with a three-phase commoning link or mounted on a busbar adapter. For example, the SmartWire module for DILM can be used to create motor starters up to 15 kW.

SmartWire considerably simplifies the engineering of motor starters. Only the main circuit connection to the motor has to be planned separately. In future the "control circuit wiring" will be implemented in the PLC so that any "wiring faults" can be corrected at the PC monitor. Any "rewiring" can then also be carried out remotely via a modem.

SmartWire is a self-contained communication concept that is nevertheless designed for openness. SmartWire can therefore be connected simply to Siemens controllers if required and configured from Step7. A XI/ON – SmartWire interface is available and is offered by Moeller's subsidiary, Micro Innovation.

Further Information:

Moeller GmbH
Corporate Communications
E-Mail: presse@moeller.net
Telephone: +49 (0) 228/602-2915

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