Need help with an Odd Electronic Motor Starter Switch on a Steam Boiler Feed Pump

Stim_Stim

Hi, has anyone encountered this "electronic" or "solid-state" motor starter switch?







*The third pic is one I found on the internet

It's for a Burks CT turbine feed pump, 115/208-230 single phase.

From online research, this switch appears be a substitute for a typical centrifugal motor starter winding switch.

The issue is the switch has crapped out but the rest of the pump+motor is fine. The manufacturer won't provide this switch as a replacement part and so we're left to buying a new motor.

I've spoken to multiple parties in the supply chain and everyone has told me it's an OEM part only and it's not offered elsewhere.

Wondering if any folks have encountered this and if there's a safe & sensible after-market solution?

EBEBRATT-Ed

Looks like Bluffton is part of WEG motors. I would contact them first. If you strike out there a good motor shop may have a work around. Also

Eurton Electric advertises solid state motor switches. You can google them.

pecmsg

I didn’t think they were made anymore!

ttekushan_3

I’ve used off the shelf Supco “potential relays” on pump motors with failed centrifugal switches (these were not old motors. Just crappy switches). The oldest has been running 15 years this way. These are typically used to start single phase refrigeration compressors iirc. 

Stim_Stim

Thanks everyone.

I found online a place in California that sells some of these switches (from a dwindling stock + no tech info).
http://carbonbrush.com/franklinswitch.htm

And a brand of meat slicer that uses this switch lol.

https://www.partstown.ca/globe/glo1179?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organicshopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmICoBhDxARIsABXkXlJS3Q8k7HCCvzBk3wUA9dTN45enVrAq_5G4UNFprshOVoN4Qm_joDIaAracEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

These seem like buy, try and pray options. 

I think I'll visit my local refrigeration supply house and ask about the Supco brand or others. I'll update this post if I find a workable solution, in case anyone else runs across this in the future.

109A_5

Hello @Stim_Stim,

Depending on your relationship with the motor, Owner, Employee of the owner, Contractor, etc. I would venture this way. Reverse engineer the starter switch, maybe repair it. It is probably nothing more than a Triac, a timer, and maybe a Snubber circuit. The timer just emulates the delay that the old school centrifugal switch provided. The Triac is biased 'On' at the motor power up to energize the Starter winding. After a short delay, 2 seconds or less (I would guess) the Triac is shut off de-energizing the Starter winding. With the services of an Electronics Technician it may be repairable or the functional equivalent built up externally to the motor with off-the-shelf future proof serviceable products.

Or if replacing the motor is less aggravation, less liability or less expense, etc. go that route.