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How to Wire Two AC Motors With 20-Second Delay

Alternating current motors or AC motors are used extensively in the industrial world. These motors are used to power various types of machines. In a factory, you can have as many as 10 high-power AC motors running at one time. When an AC motor is started, the current it uses can be as much as 10 times the normal rated current value. If another motor starts at the same time, that's 20 times the rates current value which could start tripping circuit breakers. To help with this problem, a 20-second time delay relay can be added to delay the start of the second motor.

Things You'll Need

20-second time delay relay
Two 120V AC motors
Wire cutters
Wire strippers

Instructions

- 1
  Shut off power to both motors at the main power panel. Since the objective is for the two motors to not start at the same time, The first motor will be wired to start normally and the second motor will be wired with a 20-second delay.
- 2
  Take the 20-second delay relay and locate the two control terminals which turn the relay switch on and off. This switch is designed so that when the relay is energized, it will wait 20 seconds before closing the switch. Take the black hot wire of motor No. 1 and cut it. Strip 1/2 inch of insulation off of the ends of these two black wires. Connect one end of the black wire to one of the relay control terminals. Then connect the second black wire to the second control terminal. This places the control side of the relay switch in No. 1. When motor No. 1 starts, the relay will be energized.
- 3
  Take the black wire feeding motor No. 2 and cut it. Strip 1/2 inch of insulation off of the ends of these two wires. Locate the two switch terminals on the relay and connect the first black wire to the first switch terminal. Connect the remaining black wire to the second switch terminal.
- 4
  Turn the power back on and start motor No. 1. When motor No. 1 is started, the relay will be energized, however the switch will not close until 20 seconds have past. After the 20 seconds are up, motor No. 2 will start.

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