Multi-Softstarter Control Panel for Rooftop Exhaust Fans

Control Solutions is a UL custom panel builder and licensed electrical contractor located in Tampa, FL. Michael Vandergriff, President of Control Solutions, has been using Sprecher + Schuh for several years. Control Solutions purchases Sprecher + Schuh products through Advanced Technical Sales (ATS) in Pompano Beach. Rich Bird, inside sales, and Matt Haley, Jr, outside sales, have been servicing Control Solutions for a variety of projects. Robert Darby of Darby and Associates, a Sprecher + Schuh manufacturing representative, recently visited Control Solutions with ATS to discuss recent projects.

One customer of Control Solutions approached them to help solve a problem with an exhaust fan installation. The manufacturing facility, located in Missouri, has 17 rooftop exhaust fans. When there is a power outage, the plant switches over to generator power. However, all of the exhaust fans starting at once were too much for the generator’s capacity, so they asked Michael to help solve the problem.

At first, Michael looked at installing some automation equipment to stagger the start of the exhaust fans when transferring to generator control. Michael and the customer then explored the option of changing from across-the-line starters to softstarters. His customer liked the benefits of soft starting the fans under normal power. Softstarters also proved the best solution for limiting the inrush current when starting the rooftop exhaust fans when power transferred to the generator.

Once the decision was made to use softstarters, Michael designed the custom control panel using Sprecher + Schuh PCS softstarters, ranging from 9 to 16 amps. The softstarters are individually controlled as a 2-wire device via an Off-On selector switch in addition to a motor Run pilot light. Each PCS softstarter is protected by a UL489 L9 Series 3-Pole circuit breaker. Also, the line side of the L9 circuit breakers incorporates the L9 bus bar system which simplifies and reduces installation time. The main branch circuit protection device selected is a UL98 L11 Series Disconnect L11-J400-1753 using J-type fuses. Along with the components inside the large 72” x 60” Type 12 enclosure, the panel included a 400 amp transfer switch for the transfer power from utility power to generator power. The double doors of the enclosure allow control functions and fault indications. Once completed, Control Solutions fully tested the panel in their facility before shipping the control panel to the customer’s site. The new control panel was installed in November 2014.

Control Solutions used Sprecher + Schuh PCS softstarters to solve the customer’s problem of starting multiple exhaust fans with limited generator capacity. The compact design and ease of parameter setup via dip switches makes the PCS softstarter the ideal choice for this reduced voltage application

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