A soft starter preventive maintenance schedule lists the checks and jobs done on the equipment at fixed intervals, how long each takes, and in what order of frequency, so problems are found before the soft starter fails. This page gives the schedule used in the PlantOps360 task library for soft starter (/ reduced-voltage starter), which follows common industry practice for general-purpose equipment. It is also searched for as star delta starter, DOL starter, autotransformer starter, motor starter.
The maker’s manual and your site safety procedures always come first where they differ. Intervals set by law differ by state.
Soft starter preventive maintenance schedule and checklist
| How often | Task | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | Check indications, trip log and ventilation | 10 min |
| Monthly | Check contactors, bypass contactor and terminals for heat or pitting | 20 min |
| Quarterly | Check overload settings against nameplate current | 30 min |
| Half-yearly | Tighten terminals and busbar connections; thermography under load | 45 min |
| Annual | Clean and inspect internal components; replace worn contacts; test protection functions | 90 min |
Soft starter maintenance frequency and yearly workload
At the estimated times, one soft starter needs about 18 hours of preventive maintenance a year. The biggest single job is “Clean and inspect internal components; replace worn contacts; test protection functions” at 90 minutes, done annual. Multiply by the number of units you have to see the workload for your plant.
| Frequency | Tasks | Time per round | Hours per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 1 | 10 min | 8.7 h |
| Monthly | 1 | 20 min | 4.0 h |
| Quarterly | 1 | 30 min | 2.0 h |
| Half-yearly | 1 | 45 min | 1.5 h |
| Annual | 1 | 90 min | 1.5 h |
What goes wrong on a soft starter without preventive maintenance
- Bypass contactor welded or worn
- Overheating from dust or blocked ventilation
- Loose terminals
- Wrong overload settings
What to watch between services
- Trip log and indications
- Heat-sink temperature
- Overload settings against the nameplate
Safety and statutory notes for soft starter maintenance
Isolate and prove the supply dead before opening. Capacitors and control supplies can remain live.
Where a soft starter preventive maintenance schedule is used
A soft starter is found in almost every industry. The industry guides below show how it fits into the wider schedule of each one:
- Preventive maintenance schedule for pharmaceutical plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for food, dairy and beverage plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for automotive plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for chemical, fertiliser and petrochemical plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for cement, glass, ceramics and building materials plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for steel, foundry, forging and metal plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for textile and garment mills
- Preventive maintenance schedule for thermal and hydro power plants
See all industry preventive maintenance schedules.
Related equipment maintenance schedules
- Electric motor preventive maintenance schedule
- High-tension motor preventive maintenance schedule
- Variable frequency drive preventive maintenance schedule
- DC / servo motor and drive preventive maintenance schedule
- Industrial gearbox / speed reducer preventive maintenance schedule
- V-belt, chain and coupling drives preventive maintenance schedule
Browse the full list of equipment preventive maintenance schedules (317 types).
Run this soft starter schedule in maintenance software
In preventive maintenance software, each row above becomes a recurring task on the asset with its checklist, time estimate and parts. Tasks can be triggered by calendar date, running hours, meter readings or production cycles, each completed task is recorded with the person and date, and a failed check can open a work order. For the method behind it, read the guide to the preventive maintenance schedule, or use the free generator to get a 12-month plan for your whole equipment list.
Build my preventive maintenance schedule (free Excel)
Frequently asked questions
How often should a soft starter be serviced?
In our schedule a soft starter has 5 tasks: 1 weekly, 1 monthly, 1 quarterly, 1 half-yearly, 1 annual. The biggest job is “Clean and inspect internal components; replace worn contacts; test protection functions”, which is done annual. Always follow the maker’s manual where it gives a different interval.
What is included in soft starter preventive maintenance?
It covers routine checks and jobs such as “Check indications, trip log and ventilation”, “Check contactors, bypass contactor and terminals for heat or pitting”, “Check overload settings against nameplate current”, up to the annual overhaul or inspection. The full list with times is in the table above.
How many hours of maintenance does a soft starter need per year?
About 18 hours per unit per year at the estimated times in our library, including all scheduled rounds. Use it to plan workload, not as a benchmark.
Is there a free soft starter maintenance checklist?
Yes. The table on this page is a ready checklist. The free preventive maintenance schedule generator turns it into a 12-month Excel schedule for your list of equipment, with monthly workload hours.