Motor starter coils

[Eddy Current]

Is a neutral always required to pull in a coil? Im not sure of the terminology so i have included a picture, the two red wires on the coil, one is acting as a neutral,right?

 

[StarCat]

Coil Voltage

Coil Voltage

You always use 2 wires to operate a control coil. If your coil voltage is 120 then one of your coil wires will be fed by N.
Your coil voltage should be indicated on the coil. Often times they may be dual voltage - 120/208 with jumpers to set your choice.
Follow the wires, one will go through the Overload contacts. A correctly setup starter will offer a good deal of protection for your motor. Don't assume the person before you did it right. I have seen many that are either wired incorrectly or set up with the wrong OL heaters or incorrectly calibrated Solid State overloads.

All the best

 

[RichB]

On a coil for 120VAC there is one lead from the start/maintain contacts, that would be the line voltage--this goes thru the starter coil and comes back out on the other red lead from the coil and the goes thru the contacts on the heaters and back to the neutral connection. I have seen the wire from the coil to the heaters as generally red, but sometimes white, with red wires for the jumpers between heaters and then white back to the neutral connection.

But as Starcat said Don't EVER assume anything--always check and take a moment to trace it out.