2. Complete soft-starter panels:
Soft starters are used on high tension motors for the following advantageous features:
Smooth starting by torque control for gradual acceleration of the drive system thus preventing jerks and extending the life of mechanical components.
Reduction in starting current to achieve break-away, and to hold back the current during acceleration, to prevent mechanical, electrical, thermal weakening of the electrical equipment such as motors, cables, transformers & switch gear.
The microprocessor version of the Soft starter has a software controlled response at full speed which economizes energy, whatever may be the load. Because of the tendency to over specify the motor rated power, this feature has benefits for most installations- not only those where load is variable.
Enhancement of motor starting duty by reducing the temperature rise in stator windings and supply transformer
The power factor improvement is a self-monitoring in built feature. When the motor is running at less than full load, the comparative reactive component of current drawn by the motor is unnecessarily high due to magnetizing and associated losses. Hence the voltage dependent losses are minimized with the load proportional active current component and as a result the power factor also improves simultaneously.