Soft Starters

A solid-state starter, more commonly known as a soft starter, is an electronic device designed to protect a motor during startup. Rather than hitting the motor with full, instantaneous power, a soft starter gradually ramps up the voltage to gently start a motor.

Starting a motor with instantaneous, full power creates an electrical surge and a mechanical jolt that can trip circuit breakers and cause significant wear and tear on belts, gears and couplings.
A soft starter prevents this damage by smoothly and gradually ramping up the voltage, which allows the motor to accelerate without that sudden shock. This protects the entire system from both electrical and mechanical stress and extends the lifespan of equipment.

AC soft starters are commonly used on machinery with heavy loads at startup. Typical applications include:

• Large pumps, where they help prevent "water hammer" in piping systems
• Fans and blowers, where they reduce stress on belts and bearings
• Long conveyor systems, where they minimize sudden jerking during startup