EMA repairs and services medium voltage soft starters. We also routinely perform preventive maintenance on the medium voltage soft starters.
Manufacturers include WEG, Motortronics, ABB, Siemens, Toshiba, and others.
While starting, repairing, and servicing a medium voltage soft starter is less complex than a medium voltage VFD, complexities remain. The Motortronics Medium Voltage Softstarter is pictured on the left.
In general, medium voltage soft starters reduce the starting current into the motor using Thyristors. While this reduces the starting current, it also limits torque, so there is always a trade off.
Medium voltage soft starters are generally not suitable for constant torque or any application that needs high starting torque.
Medium voltage soft starters are commonly found on centrifugal applications such as fans and pumps. These applications normally require low starting torque.
Unlike medium voltage VFDs, the medium voltage soft starters only control starting currents, they do not control speed. Hence their energy saving potential is limited to reducing demand during start.
However, these are very reliable devices, that once started usually give years of service. We have commissioned medium voltage soft starters in a number of industries, and routinely provide preventive and predictive maintenance on them.
If you’d like to read more about the possible pitfalls of applying a medium voltage soft starter to constant torque loads, then read HERE.
Contact us by any of the means on the right of this page, or by calling 770-448-4644.