Motor Control Centres (MCC)
DOL, star-delta, soft-start and VFD feeders for motor loads, in fixed or draw-out construction.
About Motor Control Centres (MCC)
A motor control centre (MCC) groups the starters for many motors into one switchboard fed from a common busbar. Each feeder is a complete starter — short-circuit protection, contactor, overload relay and control circuit — so motors can be started, stopped and isolated from one place, and status signals can be passed to a PLC or SCADA.
Microtech builds MCC panels at its Varanasi and Lucknow facilities with direct-on-line, star-delta, soft-starter and VFD feeders, in fixed or draw-out construction. Starter components come from Schneider Electric, Lauritz & Knudsen and Siemens — for example L&K MNX contactors and MOG motor protection circuit breakers — while soft starters and drives can be Amtech Electronics or the other listed makes.
Each feeder is selected from the motor rating and starting duty, and the breaker, contactor and overload are matched for Type 1 or Type 2 coordination as your specification requires. For process plants we add PLC interface terminals, hardwired interlocks and field-isolator connections so the MCC slots into the wider control scheme.
Key specifications
| Design standard | IS/IEC 61439-1 & 61439-2 |
|---|---|
| Busbar rating | Up to 4000 A |
| Construction | Fixed or draw-out feeders |
| Form of separation | Form 3b or Form 4b, as specified |
| Starter types | DOL, star-delta, soft starter and VFD feeders; reversing on request |
| Contactors | e.g. L&K MNX power contactors, 9–650 A AC-3, to IS/IEC 60947-4-1 |
| Motor protection | MPCB (e.g. L&K MOG) or MCCB plus overload relay; electronic motor protection on request |
| Starter coordination | Type 1 or Type 2 to IEC 60947-4-1 |
| Degree of protection | IP42–IP54 indoor |
| Control interface | PLC/SCADA terminals; Modbus where intelligent relays or drives are fitted |
Features & benefits
- Feeders sized from motor kW, full-load current and starting duty
- Type 2 coordinated starters available so a fault does not leave the starter unserviceable
- Draw-out feeders for quick replacement without shutting the board down
- Soft starters and VFDs built in with bypass and ventilation where required
- Local/remote selection, indication lamps and ammeters per feeder
- Hardwired interlocks and PLC interface wired to your control philosophy
- Routine testing and functional checks of every feeder before dispatch
Where it’s used
- Pump houses and water treatment plants
- Cement, sugar and paper mills
- HVAC plant rooms — chillers, AHUs and cooling towers
- Conveyors and material handling
- Compressor houses and utilities
- Chemical, pharma and food process plants
Standards & compliance
Motor Control Centres (MCC) — FAQs
Should I choose a fixed or draw-out MCC?
Fixed feeders cost less and suit plants where a short shutdown for maintenance is acceptable. Draw-out feeders can be withdrawn and replaced while the rest of the board runs, which matters in continuous process plants. We can mix both in one board.
What is Type 2 coordination and do I need it?
Under IEC 60947-4-1, both types require that a short circuit causes no danger to persons or the installation. With Type 1, the starter may need repair or replacement afterwards. With Type 2, it must remain fit for further use — only slight welding of contactor contacts that can be easily separated is allowed. Type 2 is usually specified for critical or hard-to-reach motors.
Can VFDs and soft starters be built into the MCC?
Yes. Drive and soft-starter feeders are built into the same board with their own ventilation, reactors and bypass contactors where needed, so the plant has one motor control line-up instead of separate drive panels.
Do you work from a consultant's MCC specification?
Yes. We build to the consultant's SLD and feeder schedule, submit GA and wiring drawings for approval, and can hold a factory acceptance test with your representative before dispatch.
