A soft starter provides gradual voltage ramp-up to the motor windings, reducing starting current from 6-8 to 2-3 times rated. This eliminates mechanical shock on the driven mechanism, voltage dips in the supply network, and premature wear of bearings, couplings, and gearboxes. Soft starters are used for conveyors, compressors, fans, crushers, and pumps. If you need to regulate rotation speed, consider variable frequency drives.

How to Choose a Soft Starter for a Motor

The key selection parameter is the motor rated current shown on the nameplate. The soft starter rated current must equal or exceed the motor current. For heavy-duty starts (loaded conveyors, crushers), a 30-50% current margin is recommended. For standard starts (fans, pumps), +10% is sufficient.

Model	Series	Rated Current	Application
Schneider Electric ATS22D47Q	ATS22	47 A	Conveyors, crushers
Schneider Electric ATS22D32Q	ATS22	32 A	Compressors, mixers
Schneider Electric ATS01N222QN	ATS01	22 A	Fans, pumps
Schneider Electric ATS130N2C11LT	ATS130	105 A (55 kW)	Industrial lines, large pumps
Siemens 3RW3016-1BB14	SIRIUS 3RW30	9 A	Small fans, drive mechanisms

Soft Starter Manufacturers for Motors

Our catalog features soft starters from leading industrial automation manufacturers:

Schneider Electric — Altistart series ATS01, ATS22, ATS130. Sales leader: wide range from 6A to 480A, built-in motor protection, bypass relay in ATS22/ATS130.
Danfoss — MCD200 series. Compact soft starters with an extended voltage range of 200-575V.
Siemens — SIRIUS 3RW30/3RW40 series. Reliable devices for industrial motors with IP20 protection class.

Soft Starters by Application

All soft starters — complete soft starter catalog
Soft starter for pump — soft starters for pump applications with soft stop function

Warranty and Delivery

All soft starters come with an official manufacturer warranty of 12 to 24 months. Delivery across Ukraine — Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Lviv, and other cities. Bank transfer for businesses or cash on delivery for individuals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is a soft starter needed for an electric motor?

A soft starter reduces mechanical and electrical stress during motor startup. Starting current is reduced from 6-8 to 2-3 times rated, minimizing voltage sag in the network and mechanical shocks on the driven mechanism. This is critical for conveyors, crushers, compressors, and other equipment with high inertia.

How to determine the right soft starter size for a motor?

The main criterion is the motor rated current (shown on the nameplate). The soft starter rated current must equal or exceed the motor current. For heavy-duty starts (loaded conveyor, crusher), add 30-50% current margin. For standard starts (fan, pump), rated or +10% margin is sufficient.

Does a soft starter protect the motor from overloads?

Yes, modern soft starters include built-in protection: overcurrent, motor overheating (via PTC/PT100 thermistors), phase loss and asymmetry, short circuit, and rotor lock detection. ABB PSTX and Schneider Altistart 48 series offer the most comprehensive protection features in our range.

How many starts per hour does a soft starter allow?

Standard soft starters are rated for 10-20 starts per hour at rated load. For more frequent starts, a soft starter one or two sizes larger is needed to reduce thermal stress on thyristors. The exact number of starts depends on acceleration time, current, and pause between starts.