Motor Control - ABB
Centro carries VFDs, soft starters, contactors, overload relays and motor control accessories from leading brands to build or repair motor control panels. Industrial motor controllers are devices that regulate...
Contactors are electrically operated switches for motors, heaters, lighting and power loads. Paired with overload relays, they form motor starters.
Contactor Types
- IEC contactors – compact, application-rated
- NEMA contactors – robust and size-rated
- Definite purpose contactors – HVAC equipment
- Reversing assemblies – forward/reverse control
- Accessories – auxiliary contacts, suppressors and timers
Choosing a Contactor
Size to motor horsepower or load current, utilization category and coil voltage. For frequent switching, check electrical life. Use suppressors on PLC-driven coils.
Centro carries contactors and accessories for motor control.
Related categories: Motor Control | Control Relays | Manual Starters | Soft Starters | DC Drives
Contactor accessories extend contactor functions without replacing the contactor. Auxiliary contacts, suppressors, timers and interlocks fit directly to the contactor.
Accessories Available
- Auxiliary contact blocks – status and interlocking
- Surge suppressors – protect control outputs
- Timer modules – delayed switching
- Mechanical interlocks – reversing and transfer
- Overload relays – direct-mount protection
Choosing Accessories
Accessories are series-specific, so start with your contactor model. Use suppressors on coils driven by PLC outputs.
Centro supplies contactor accessories for leading brands.
Related categories: Motor Control | EMC Filters | Drive Communication | Braking Resistors and Regenerative Converters | Motor Control Parts
Control relays are electrical devices that control and switch electrical circuits in industrial automation and control systems. These relays act as electromechanical switches, allowing a low-power control signal to control a higher-power circuit. Control relays are commonly used to control motors, solenoids, lights, and other electrical loads. They provide reliable and efficient control by isolating the control circuit from the higher-voltage or higher-current circuits. Control relays are available in various configurations, such as electromechanical and solid-state relays, offering different features and capabilities. They play a crucial role in automating processes, ensuring proper sequencing, and enhancing the safety and reliability of control systems.
Related categories: Motor Control | Soft Starters | Contactors | Motor Control Parts | Manual Starters
Motor starters are for safely starting and stopping electric motors, particularly in industrial and commercial industry. They regulate the power sent to the motor, ensuring it ramps up to full speed without drawing too much current. This prevents potential damage to the motor and other electrical components. Motor starters come with built-in overload protection, adding an extra layer of safety by automatically shutting down the motor if it overheats or experiences a fault. Easy to install and operate, these devices are crucial for maintaining the longevity and reliability of your motor-driven equipment. Explore our range of motor starters below or contact us to speak with a product expert.
Related categories: Motor Control | Phase Converters | Universal Motor Controller | Braking Resistors and Regenerative Converters | EMC Filters
An overload relay protects a motor from burning out when it draws too much current for too long because of a jammed load, a lost phase or a failing bearing. Paired with a contactor, it forms a motor starter that trips before heat damages the windings.
Overload Relay Types
- Thermal (bimetallic) overload relays – simple, proven protection for standard motors
- Electronic overload relays – wide adjustment ranges, phase-loss detection and tighter accuracy
- Solid-state relays with communication – motor diagnostics over industrial networks
- Class 10, 20 and 30 trip curves – matched to standard and high-inertia starting loads
- Accessories – reset buttons, mounting adapters and auxiliary contacts
Sizing an Overload
Set the overload to the motor's full-load amps from its nameplate and select a trip class that allows normal starting time. Make sure the relay is compatible with your contactor brand and frame size. Electronic relays are a good upgrade when motors run in hot panels or need ground-fault and phase-imbalance protection.
Centro carries overload relays that pair with popular IEC and NEMA contactors, and our team can help you select the right overload for your motor and contactor.
Related categories: Motor Control | Line Reactors and Output Filters | Variable Frequency Drives | Configured Drives / Control Systems | DC Drives
Soft starters gradually ramp up motor voltage to reduce inrush current and mechanical stress. They cut belt slip, water hammer and wear on gearboxes and couplings.
Soft Starter Features
- Adjustable ramp times – smooth acceleration
- Soft stop – reduce water hammer in pumps
- Built-in bypass – lower heat during running
- Motor protection – overload and phase loss
- Communication options – network integration
Soft Starter vs VFD
Soft starters are a cost-effective choice when you need gentle starts but not speed control. If you need variable speed or energy savings, consider a VFD.
Centro supplies soft starters for pumps, fans, conveyors and compressors.
Related categories: Motor Control | Motor Control Parts | Control Relays | Drive Communication | Contactors
Manual motor starters start, stop and protect small motors without a contactor. They're compact and simple, and they combine switching with overload protection.
Manual Starter Types
- Motor protection switches – adjustable overload and short-circuit protection
- Toggle and push button starters – fractional horsepower motors
- Enclosed manual starters – standalone mounting
- Accessories – auxiliary contacts and lockable handles
Choosing a Starter
Set the overload range to the motor's full-load amps and check the short-circuit rating. Use enclosed versions for machine-side mounting.
Centro supplies manual motor starters for small motor control.
Related categories: Motor Control | Contactors | DC Drives | Control Relays | Configured Drives / Control Systems
Motor control parts keep starters, drives and control panels running. Replacement coils, contacts, overload heaters and accessories restore equipment quickly and cut downtime.
Parts Available
- Replacement coils – contactor and starter coils
- Contact kits – restore worn contacts
- Overload heaters and relays – motor protection
- Auxiliary contacts – add control functions
- Drive fans and parts – drive maintenance
Ordering Parts
Have the manufacturer, model and series of your equipment ready. Some older equipment may need cross-reference or retrofit options.
Centro supplies motor control parts and cross-references.
Related categories: Motor Control | Drive Communication | Soft Starters | Contactor Accessories | Control Relays
Universal motor controllers combine starting, protection and control in one adaptable device, simplifying motor control for many applications.
Features
- Integrated protection – overload, phase loss and jam
- Flexible configuration – direct, reversing and star-delta
- Network communication – diagnostics and control
- Compact design – save panel space
Choosing a Controller
Match current range, voltage and control functions. Networked models reduce wiring and provide motor data.
Centro supplies universal motor controllers.
Related categories: Motor Control | Phase Converters | Braking Resistors and Regenerative Converters | Motor Starters | EMC Filters
$60.92
Subject to factory lead times
$421.74
Subject to factory lead times
$421.74
Subject to factory lead times
$484.21
Subject to factory lead times
$484.21
Subject to factory lead times
$39.05
Subject to factory lead times
$499.83
Subject to factory lead times
$499.83
Subject to factory lead times
$296.78
Subject to factory lead times
$296.78
Subject to factory lead times
$640.41
Subject to factory lead times
$640.41
Subject to factory lead times
$39.05
Subject to factory lead times
$796.60
Subject to factory lead times
$796.60
Subject to factory lead times
$999.66
Subject to factory lead times
$999.66
Subject to factory lead times
$351.44
Subject to factory lead times
$351.44
Subject to factory lead times
$1,233.96
Subject to factory lead times
$1,233.96
Subject to factory lead times
$1,437.01
Subject to factory lead times
$1,437.01
Subject to factory lead times
$1,640.07
Subject to factory lead times
$60.92
Subject to factory lead times
$421.74
Subject to factory lead times
$421.74
Subject to factory lead times
$484.21
Subject to factory lead times
$484.21
Subject to factory lead times
$39.05
Subject to factory lead times
$499.83
Subject to factory lead times
$499.83
Subject to factory lead times
$296.78
Subject to factory lead times
$296.78
Subject to factory lead times
$640.41
Subject to factory lead times
$640.41
Subject to factory lead times
$39.05
Subject to factory lead times
$796.60
Subject to factory lead times
$796.60
Subject to factory lead times
$999.66
Subject to factory lead times
$999.66
Subject to factory lead times
$351.44
Subject to factory lead times
$351.44
Subject to factory lead times
$1,233.96
Subject to factory lead times
$1,233.96
Subject to factory lead times
$1,437.01
Subject to factory lead times
$1,437.01
Subject to factory lead times
$1,640.07
Subject to factory lead times
- A contactor is an electrically operated switch that opens and closes the power circuit to a motor. A motor starter is a contactor combined with an overload relay — the contactor handles switching while the overload relay monitors current and trips the circuit if the motor draws excessive current for a sustained period. A contactor alone provides no overload protection; pairing it with an overload relay creates a complete motor starter. For any motor application where protection against overheating and overload is required — which is nearly all of them — a full motor starter is the correct specification, not a bare contactor.
- A variable frequency drive controls motor speed by varying the frequency and voltage supplied to the motor. This allows precise speed adjustment throughout the operating cycle rather than simply switching the motor on and off at full speed. VFDs are the right choice when the process requires variable speed — conveyors, pumps, fans, compressors — or when energy savings are a priority, since reducing fan or pump speed even modestly cuts power consumption dramatically due to the cubic relationship between speed and power. They also provide smooth acceleration, reducing mechanical stress on couplings, belts, and driven equipment at startup.
- An overload relay protects a motor from damage caused by sustained overcurrent — the kind that occurs when a motor is overloaded, stalls, or loses a phase. It monitors motor current continuously and trips the circuit if current exceeds the motor's full-load rating for longer than the relay's time-delay allows. Without overload protection, a motor running in an overloaded condition will overheat, degrading winding insulation and eventually burning out the motor. Overload relays are available in thermal and electronic versions — electronic types offer more precise protection, adjustable trip classes, and diagnostic feedback, making them the preferred choice for critical or variable-load applications.