Motors are generally permitted to slow to a stop when disconnected from the power line, but there may

be in stances when that isn't an option or not convenient.

There are several methods that can be employed to pro vide braking for a motor. Some of these are:

• Mechanical brakes

• Dynamic braking

• Plugging

Mechanical Brakes Mechanical brakes are available in two basic types, drum and disk. Drum brakes use
brake shoes to apply pressure against a drum (Fgr. 1). A metal cylinder, called the drum, is attached to
the motor shaft.

Brake shoes are placed around the drum. A spring is used to adjust the amount of pressure the brake
shoes exert against the drum to control the amount of braking that takes place when stopping the motor.
When the motor is operating, a solenoid is energized to release the pressure of the brake shoes. When
the motor is to be stopped, the brakes engage immediately. A circuit of this type is shown in Fgr. 2.
Mechanical brakes work by converting the kinetic (moving) energy of the load into thermal (heat) energy
when the motor is stopped. Mechanical type brakes have an advantage in that they can hold a
suspended load. For this reason, mechanical brakes are often used on cranes.

Disc brakes work in a very similar manner to drum brakes. The only real difference is that brake pads are
used to exert force against a spinning disc instead of a cylindrical drum. A combination disc brake and
magnetic clutch is shown in Fgr. 3.

Dynamic Braking Dynamic braking can be used to slow both direct and alternating current motors.
Dynamic braking is sometimes referred to as magnetic braking because in both instances it employs the
use of magnetic fields to slow the rotation of a motor. The advantage of dynamic braking is that there
are no mechanical brake shoes to wear out. The disadvantage is that dynamic brakes cannot hold a
suspended load. Although dynamic braking can be used for both direct and alternating current motors,
the principles and methods used for each are very different.

Plugging Plugging is defined by NEMA as a system of braking in which the motor connections are
reversed so that the motor develops a counter torque that acts as a retarding force. Plugging can be used
with direct current motors but is more often used with three-phase squirrel cage motors. Plugging is
accomplished with three phase motors by disconnecting the motor from the power line and
momentarily reversing the direction of rotation. As a generally rule, the reversing contactor is of a larger
size than the forward contactor because of the increased plugging current. There are several methods
that can be employed when a plugging control is desired.

Manual Plugging One type of plugging control depends on an opera tor to manually perform the
operation. A manual plugging control is shown in Fgr. 7. The circuit's basically a forward-reverse control
circuit, with the exception that there is no holding contact for the reverse contactor. Also, the PLUGGING
push button is a double acting push button with the normally closed section connected in series with the
forward contactor. This permits the PLUGGING push button to be used with out having to press the STOP
button first.

One method of providing plugging control is with the use of an automatic timed circuit (Fgr. 8).

This is the same basic control circuit used for time con trolling a dynamic braking circuit in Fgr. 6. The
dynamic brake relay has been replaced with a reversing contactor. A modification of this circuit's shown
in Fgr. 9. This circuit permits an operator to select if a plugging stop is to be used or not. Once the opera
tor has pressed the PLUGGING push button, the timer controls the amount of plugging time.

Although time is used to control plugging, problems can occur due to the length of plugging time. If the
timer isn't set for a long enough time, the reversing circuit will open before the motor completely stops.
If the timer is set too long, the motor will reverse direction before the reversing contactor opens. The
most accurate method of plug stopping a motor is with a plugging switch or zero speed switch (Fgr. 10).
The plugging switch is connected to the motor shaft or the shaft of the drive machine. The motion of the
rotating shaft is transmitted to the plugging switch either by a centrifugal mechanism or by an eddy
current induction disc inside the switch.

The plugging switch contact is connected to the coil of the reversing starter (Fgr. 11).When the motor is
started, the forward motion of the motor causes the normally open plugging switch contact to close.
When the STOP button is pressed, the normally closed F contact connected in series with the reversing
contactor will re-close and reverse the direction of rotation of the motor. When the shaft of the motor
stops rotating, the plugging switch contact will reopen and disconnect the reversing contactor.

Plugging switches with two normally open contacts can be obtained for use with forward-reverse
controls. These switches permit a plugging stop in either direction when the STOP button is pressed (Fgr.
12). The direction of motor rotation will deter mine which switch closes. The switch symbol indicates the
direction of rotation necessary to cause the switch contacts to close.
1. Name three methods of braking a motor.

2. How is the braking force of drum type brakes controlled?

3. Why are mechanical brakes often used on cranes?

4. What is the advantage of dynamic brakes over mechanical brakes?

5. What is the disadvantage of dynamic brakes when compared to mechanical brakes?

6. The amount of counter torque developed by a direct current generator is proportional to what?

7. When using dynamic braking for a direct current motor, how is the braking time controlled?

8. Name three factors that determine the amount of induced voltage.

9. How is dynamic braking for direct current motors accomplished?

10. How is the dynamic braking force of an alternating current motor controlled?

11. How is a plugging stop accomplished?

12. What device is generally used to accurately stop a motor when a plugging stop is used?
13. Refer to the circuit shown in ill. 11. When the START button is pushed and the motor starts in the
forward direction, the plugging switch will close. What prevents the reversing contactor from energizing
when the plugging switch contact closes?