Introduction
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has come up with a criteria for the short circuit performance of contactors and starters, known as Type 1 coordination and Type 2 coordination.
These terms define the protection levels of motor controllers in the event of a short circuit fault.
To meet these standards, a motor controller (contactor or starter) and a short circuit protective device (such as a manual motor protector, circuit breaker, or fuse) must fulfill specific criteria as defined by IEC 60947-4-1 — Low voltage switchgear and controlgear — Part 4-1: Contactors and motor-starters — Electromechanical contactors and motor-starters.
Lets have a look at types of coordination.
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Type 1 Co-ordination
The contactor or starter must not pose risks to people or installations, though it might not be suitable for further service without repair or part replacement.
Type 1 coordination finds application in general-purpose scenarios and basic machinery.
Type 2 Co-ordination:
The contactor or starter must not endanger people or installations and should remain suitable for continued use.
The potential for contact welding is acknowledged, in which case the manufacturer must specify maintenance measures.
Type 2 coordination is employed in processes with availability constraints, such as continuous processes and critical industrial machinery.
In most cases, users require Type 2 protection for their applications.
Beyond the immediate safety aspect, Type 2 offers the assurance that the device doesn’t jeopardize personnel or installations.
Optimal protection selection safeguards the work environment and employees against hazardous fault conditions, while also maximizing the performance of contactors and overload relays in the branch circuit.
The major advantage of Type 2 protection lies in its ability to ensure the operability of motor control components even after a short circuit fault.
This reusability translates to substantial cost savings, potentially amounting to hundreds or thousands of dollars, due to reduced downtime and replacement costs.
Rounding Up
I recieve alot of questions on this topic and I hope I have answered your questions with this post.
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