While a rotary converter can be started with a two-pole fusible disconnect (knife switch), most other converter manufacturers do not provide a reasonable cost alternative in the form of a magnetic starter - hence their general recommendation for the use of knife switches.

Ideally, a magnetic starter should be used as the means to operate the converter - partially because today's electric motors are also controlled by modern switchgear, and especially in the case for loads operated on demand only. 

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PhaseMAXX converters with suffix designation "S", "D", "T", and "CNC" are only available with built-in full-voltage magnetic starter. Models with suffix "TZ" are supplied with soft-start feature.

PhaseMAXX products with suffix "TX" are supplied without magnetic starter, and can be started with a customer supplied two-pole fusible disconnect (knife switch).

Of course, the Phase converter manufacturers who only produce converters without built in magnetic starters, wont tell you how costly  the starter will be if you choose to either supply it on your own, or have your electrical contractor supply and install it. You might even decide to buy an (I.E.C. rated starter) rather than an (EEMAC rated starter)  because of the huge price difference between the two. But then the I.E.C. rated overload relay would experience a high rate of nuisance tripping because of its inherent phase failure protection feature. While the I.E.C. phase failure protection feature is ideal for electric motors, a Phase Converter operating with little or no load will cause the  I.E.C. starter  to trip.

And if you purchase some other manufacturer's make of converter (without a magnetic starter) and plan to operate cyclic loads such as  sewage lift stations, refrigeration compressors, or any other automatically controlled motors,  you will definitely benefit from  a phase converter switched through a magnetic starter to take advantage of reduced power consumption where the phase converter operation  is controlled by load  demand , instead of allowing the phase converter to operate continuously (see also Converter Options section - NLRT).

Worried yet?  You should be.  -  But not if you purchase a PhaseMAXX (S, D, T, CNC) converter complete with its own built in magnetic starter with overload relay.  Designed for years of trouble free operation, these high quality converters are C.S.A. certified, UL approved, and offer unmatched reliability.

One other feature now offered as optional for PhaseMAXX converters, is the inclusion of a soft-start magnetic starter. Press here: soft-start for more information on this great option.

Electram is priced right   -  And you'll sleep better too!