Y-delta transform

The Y-delta transform (also written Wye-delta transform) is used in induction motors and drives. It is related to three phase theory (or polyphase systems). The name derives from the shapes of the circuit diagrams, which look respectively like the letter Y and the greek capital letter Δ.

Table of contents

1 Configurations
2 Y connection
3 Delta connection
4 Terminology
5 See also

Configurations

Two different configurations:

Y windings - low speed, high-voltage [standard]

Delta winding - high speed, low-voltage

Y/Delta selection can be used like a gear for the motor speed. Switching “on-the-fly" starts in the Y winding and changes to Delta winding where performance can be improved.

Y connection

To minimise the number of electrical connections to a generator, one end of each winding is connected to a common point called the 'neutral' or 'star' point. The other end of each winding has its own connection. This results in four connections to the generator: one neutral and three phases. This has the advantage that the neutral wire can be made thinner than the phase wires, therefore saving weight and cost. In some systems the neutral wire is omitted and the return currents are allowed to flow through the ground.

  B
  |
  |
  . N
 / \\
/   \\
A     C

Delta connection

When the generator is connected with three wires, with each wire attached to opposite ends of two adjacent windings, a delta connection is formed.

   B
   .
  / \\
 /___\\ 
A       C

Delta connections can be ungrounded, which was once common. Today, there are some corner-grounded delta systems, where point A is grounded, and some midpoint-grounded delta systems, where a point on the winding midway between A and C is grounded, and a few zigzag-grounded systems that derive a neutral for grounding purposes using a zigzag transformer.

Terminology

United States United Kingdom

Grounded Earthed

Wye or Y Star