Dictionary of Electrical Engineering

Commonly used terms in the Electrical industry.

wye-delta starter
a motor starter that starts a three-phase AC motor in wye or star configuration so that the motor starts on approximately 58% of normal voltage, with a two-thirds reduction in starting current. As the motor approaches operating speed, the windings are reconfigured in delta configuration so that full voltage is applied for normal operation. The transition from star to delta is performed with the help of timer settings and contactors.