Abstract: A motor control system is provided that includes a communication gateway that facilitates connection of components, such as a motor starter, an operator interface, and a terminal block, through a digital communication link. The communication gateway includes control logic designed to discover interface and operational components connected to the digital communication link upon start-up of the motor control system. The control logic may then set up an operational profile for the motor control system based on the discovered components. For example, the control logic may retrieve and load an operational profile that corresponds to the set of discovered components from a storage of the communication gateway. The operational profile can then be used during operation of the motor control system to govern the functionality of the motor control system.

Abstract: A motor control system is provided that includes a communication gateway that facilitates connection of components, such as a motor starter, an operator interface, and a terminal block, through a digital communication link. The communication gateway includes control logic designed to discover interface and operational components connected to the digital communication link upon start-up of the motor control system. The control logic may then set up an operational profile for the motor control system based on the discovered components. For example, the control logic may retrieve and load an operational profile that corresponds to the set of discovered components from a storage of the communication gateway. The operational profile can then be used during operation of the motor control system to govern the functionality of the motor control system.

Abstract: A hybrid D.C. power controller of the relay/circuit breaker type that uses a hybrid arrangement of hard contacts (4) and power FET's (18, 20) in cooperative functional combination as the arc quenching means for 270 volt D.C. power systems in low atmospheric pressure environments such as at 80,000 feet altitude in aircraft applications. Also, the relay is provided with arc horns (44c, 48b, 48c, 46c), magnetic field amplifiers (60, 62) looped stationary contacts (44, 46), arc splitters (64, 66), and gas ablating insulating members (60b, 62b, 72, 74, 64b, 66) to enable the relay to interrupt the power circuit if necessary without the help of the power FET's. The power FET's are controlled in both opening and closing the power circuit to afford arcless contact operation in normal load make-break situations. Current and voltage sensing (28, 32) and sampling (CS, VS) circuits determine when to turn the power FET's on after contact arcing has provided the required values.