Best Electrical Power Components

In an electrical control panel, a power component is any device in a power circuit that controls the flow of electrical power to physical devices (Motors, Heaters, etc.). Below are the power components we regularly use and recommend. Feel free to call and discuss any of our recommendations or give us your recommendations.

Best Circuit Breaker recommendation

In the US, a circuit breaker generally means a UL 489 rated manually operated electrical power switch that can detect short circuit and overload conditions and turn itself Off when one of these conditions is detected. There are two UL 489 circuit breaker styles commonly used in electrical control panels. We regularly use and recommend the following UL 489 Molded Case and DIN Rail Mounted Circuit Breakers

• Allen Bradley 140G Molded Case Circuit Breakers
• Allen Bradley 1489M DIN Rail Circuit Breakers
• Eaton G Series Molded Case Circuit Breakers
• Eaton FAZ Series DIN Rail Circuit Breakers
• Square D PowerPact Molded Case Circuit Breakers

Best Contactor and Overload recommendation

A Motor Starter consists of a Contactor and an Overload. The Contactor is used to turn the motor On and Off. The Overload is used to detect an overload condition and turn the motor Off the condition is detected. We regularly use and recommend the following Motor Starters, Contactors and OverloadsUL 489 Molded Case and DIN Rail Mounted Circuit Breakers

• Allen Bradley 509 Motor Starters
• Allen Bradley 300 Contactors
• Allen Bradley 193 Overloads
• Eaton XT Contactors
• Square D 8536 Motor Starters
• Square D LC1D Contactors
• Square D LRD Overloads

Best Manual Motor Starter recommendation

A combination motor starter is a circuit breaker, contactor, and overload. The contactor is optional, but a Disconnecting Means, Short Circuit Protection and Motor Overload Protection are required protective features. A Manual Motor Starter includes all three protective features in one component. We regularly use and recommend the following Manual Motor Starters.

• Eaton XPT Manual Motor Starters
• Square D GV2 Manual Motor Starter

Best Soft Start recommendation

A Soft Start is a solid state motor power controller that turns a motor on and off by ramping the motor voltage up or down to eliminate electrical surges and mechanical shock. We regularly use and recommend the following Soft Starters.

• Allen Bradley SMC 150 Soft Start
• Allen Bradley SMC Flex Soft Start

Best VFD recommendation

A Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) is an advanced solid state power controller that turns the motor on and off by ramping the motor voltage up or down like a soft start, but provides the added benefit of being able to control motor speed. We regularly use and recommend the following VFDs.

• Allen Bradley Powerflex 4M VFD
• Allen Bradley Powerflex 40 VFD
• Allen Bradley Powerflex 400 VFD
• Square D Altivar 212 VFD