What's a soft starter? Solid-state soft starters use semiconductor devices to reduce temporarily the terminal voltage of the motor. This provides control of the motor current, to reduce inrush and limit shaft torque. Soft starters allow the motor to start the load more gradually, by limiting the voltage to the motor and providing a reduced torque. In addition to reducing energy consumption, a reduced-voltage soft starter helps protect the motor and connected equipment from damage, by controlling the terminal voltage. This limits the initial inrush of electrical current and reduces the mechanical shock associated with motor start-up. Soft starters are also capable of providing a gradual ramp to stop, where a sudden halt may create problems in the connected equipment.
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