Power modules and motor starters are operated on the terminal modules which are assigned to them in the tables in the sections "High Feature motor starters" and "Safety-related motor starters". The terminal modules form a carrier system which is simultaneously used for the power supply to the motor starters (electronics: 24 V DC and load: 400 V AC).

24 V DC for the electronics is provided by the power module inserted to the left of the first motor starter. The power module and the downstream motor starters constitute a potential group whose scope is limited by the current carrying capacity of the power module. When this limit is reached, a new potential group must be established with a further power module.

The load current is applied to the first (left) TM-xxxxS32 motor starter terminal module, and reaches the other motor starters via the power bus of the adjacent TM-xxxxS31 terminal modules. The power bus is designed for loads up to 50 A. When this limit is reached, a new load group must be started with a further TM-xxxxS32 terminal module, and provided with load current.

Brake control modules for motor starters

High Feature and safety-related motor starters can be expanded by a brake control module for controlling electromechanical brakes in three-phase motors. The following modules are available:

• For brakes with external supply 24 V DC/4 A:
  • xB3 (with two optional inputs for special functions)
  • xB1
• For brakes with internal supply 500 V DC/0.7 A:
  • xB4 (with two optional inputs for special functions)
  • xB2

The externally supplied 24 V DC brakes can be released independently of the switching status of the motor starter. The 500 V DC brakes, on the other hand, are generally supplied directly from the junction plate of the motor via a rectifier module and cannot be released if the motor starter is switched off. These brakes cannot be used in conjunction with the DSS1e-x motor starter (direct soft starter).

The outputs of the brake control modules can also be used for other purposes e.g. for controlling DC valves. Autonomous special functions can be implemented with the help of two optional inputs each on a brake control module xB3 or xB4 and a control module 2DI of the High Feature motor starter. These operate independently of the bus and higher-level control, e.g. to implement rapid stop functions for slide controls.

Brake control modules are operated on different terminal modules depending on the design:

High Feature motor starters

The High Feature motor starters are used together with the PM-D power module. Combined with a terminal module according to the table, a PM-D power module opens up a new potential group. The scope of the group is limited in that the value specified for the current carrying capacity of the power module (10 A for PM-D) must not be exceeded by the aggregate current of all modules in a potential group.

The PM-D handles the following tasks for the motor starters of a potential group:

• Supply of voltages for the electronics via the voltage buses of the terminal modules
• Monitoring of voltages for the electronics and contactors

Safety-related motor starters

In EMERGENCY STOP applications, safety-related motor starters can be shut down selectively by means of the upstream PM-D F PROFIsafe power module. Up to 6 shutdown groups can be formed per power module. The PM-D F PROFIsafe obtains the shutdown signal from the F/FH automation system via the interface module of the ET 200S.

Combined with a terminal module according to the table, a PM-D F PROFIsafe power module opens up a new potential group. The scope of the group is limited in that the total current of all modules in a potential group must not exceed the current carrying capacity of the power module (with PM-D F PROFIsafe: inrush current 10 A; continuous current 5 A).

Supplementary/expansion modules for safety-related motor starter applications

The PM-D F X1 power/expansion module permits selective shutdown of 1 to 6 shutdown groups through external safety devices (e.g. safety relay or AS-i safety monitor). The PM-D F X1 uses the safety-related shutdown signals connected to the module to trigger the downstream failsafe motor starters which then safely switch off the assigned motors.

In addition, external safety devices can also be powered by a safe 24 V DC voltage V₁ via the safety-related PM-D F X1 power/expansion module.

The F-CM contact multiplier equipped with four safe floating contacts (NO contacts) can be used together with the PM-D F PROFIsafe or the PM-D F X1 as an interface to plants with conventional safety engineering. It has internal diagnostics functions and can be set to one of 6 shutdown groups.