Motor controls

[jmsbrush]

Here's my situation. Even though I have been in the field since 1998. I have not had much experience with motor controls.
The 1st 5 years being in the Apprentice ship program I was on some pretty big jobs but I never landed a job doing motor controls.

I know that different regions of the country have more motor control work than others. Many states are have allot of industrial plants and things of that nature.

Sometimes when I read on forums about someones problem on a car wash or a converier belt or what ever. I have a hard time understanding.

With this being said. Is there any books or computer software that can teach me how to do motor controls? Something that is easy to understand? Something I can use in the field?
I would hate to get a service call one day and not be able to figure it out, or have one of my techs in the field calling me cause he cant figure it out and needs me.

[brian john]

One recommendation get any control book (CH/Eaton had a good one for free), a few switches, some push buttons, a few cheap relays at 24 VAC and a control xmfr.

[don_resqcapt19]

Take a look at this software (http://www.cmhsoftware.com/productw.htm). I had an old DOS version and it was an excellent program. It let you draw circuits and "run" them on the computer to check them out. It is somewhat expensive...$400.

[Mule]

In addition, get a molded cord...some pigtail light sockets(use them for coils)..some switches..a small motor starter if you have one....wire up some 2 wire and 3 wire controls thats described in your "uglys" book......make them work, make them fail......then go on to more difficult systems

get familular with standard terminal numbers and their uses...
(ie: 1 1A, 2 2A, 3 also control transformer connections). in fact there may be a nema standards for these numbers, but I cant help you there....