DIY do it yourself
Master classes, instructions, useful tips, recipes.
» » »Soft starter for power tools
There are a lot of electric tools, especially of the last years of release, that are not equipped with a soft starter. Such tools are launched by a powerful jerk, which results in increased wear of bearings, gears and all other moving parts. Cracks appear in varnish insulation coatings that are directly related to premature failure of the tool.
Soft starter for power tools

To eliminate this negative phenomenon, there is a not very complicated circuit on the integrated power regulator, which was developed back in the Soviet Union, but so far it is not difficult to buy on the Internet. Price from 40 rubles and above. It is called KP1182PM1. Works well in various regulatory devices. But we will build a softstarter.
Soft starter for power tools

Soft starter circuit diagram


Now consider the circuit itself.
Soft starter for power tools

As you can see, the components are not very many and they are not expensive.

Will need


  • Microcircuit - КР1182ПМ1.
  • R1 - 470 ohms. R2 - 68 kilo-ohms.
  • C1 and C2 - 1 microfarad - 10 volts.
  • C3 - 47 microfarads - 10 volts.

Development board for mounting components of the circuit "so as not to bother with the manufacture of the printed circuit board."
The power of the device depends on the brand of triac that you put.
For example, the average value of the current in the open state for different triacs:
  • BT139-600 - 16 amps,
  • BT138-800 - 12 amps,
  • BTA41-600 - 41 amp.

Device assembly


You can put any others that you have and which suit you in terms of power, but you need to consider that the more powerful the triac, the less it will heat up, which means it will work longer. Depending on the load, you need to use a cooling radiator for the triac.
I installed the BTA41-600, you can not install a radiator for it at all, it is powerful enough and will not heat up during repeated and short-term operation, under a load of up to two kilowatts. I simply do not have a more powerful tool. If you plan to connect a more powerful load, then think about cooling.
Assemble the parts for mounting the device.
Soft starter for power tools

We also need a “closed” socket and a power cable with a plug.
Soft starter for power tools

It’s good to size the prototype board using large scissors. It is cut easily, simply and accurately.
Soft starter for power tools

We place the components on the breadboard. For a microcircuit, it is better to solder a special socket, it costs a penny, but it greatly facilitates the work. There is no risk that you overheat the legs of the microcircuit, you do not need to be afraid of static electricity, and even if the microcircuit burns, you can replace it in a couple of seconds. It is enough to take out the burnt and insert the whole.
Soft starter for power tools

The parts are immediately soldered.
Soft starter for power tools

We place new parts on the board, referring to the diagram.
Soft starter for power tools

Gently solder.
Soft starter for power tools

For the triac nests need to be slightly drilled.
Soft starter for power tools

And so in order.
Soft starter for power tools

We insert and solder the jumper and other details.
Soft starter for power tools

We solder.
Soft starter for power tools

We check the compliance with the circuit and insert the microcircuit into the socket, not forgetting the key.
Soft starter for power tools

We insert the finished circuit into the outlet.
Soft starter for power tools

We connect power to the outlet and circuit.
Soft starter for power tools

Work check


Check the device in operation.
Caution! All elements of the circuit are under a direct voltage of 220 volts! Life threatening!
Finally we assemble the device.
Soft starter for power tools

Soft starter for power tools

We carry out the last performance check.
Soft starter for power tools

In order not to confuse this device with a simple extension cord, it must be marked in any way. I did this with a self-adhesive price tag and tape.
Soft starter for power tools

Please see the video test of this device. The change in behavior of the device at startup is clearly shown.
Good luck in your affairs and concerns.

Watch the video of the device


come back
Comments (17)
  1. Guest Andrey
    #1 Guest Andrey Guests May 2, 2018 15:40
    2
    Thanks for the review. If possible, more precisely about radio components. I want to collect. Thank.
    1. Dgek
      #2 Dgek Visitors May 3, 2018 08:35
      5
      Denominations of details are all. Please read carefully. The only thing I forgot to point out is that the acceleration time of the electric motor to the maximum speed depends on the capacity of the capacitor C3. Larger capacity - longer acceleration time, and if less, then less. The specified 47 microfarads, this is the most optimal value. The resistor R1 is 0.5 watts, and R2 is -0.25 watts.
      1. Guest Sergey
        #3 Guest Sergey Guests May 3, 2018 12:28
        1
        Units named by scientists are capitalized. Why do you despise Om, Volta, Ampere, Faraday and Watt?
      2. Guest oleg
        #4 Guest oleg Guests February 22, 2019 12:53
        0
        Hello. collected some of these schemes! At first I didn’t go to BTA 16-600, no matter what I did until the 41-600th I stuck it. It worked with it but it is embarrassing to push at startup! that is, no. what the x ...? I don’t understand what. there are no tremors on one bulgarian. works well. on others through time. VTA 16 does not react as a change in capacity or res. either immediately complete or even zero at all. to the article, connecting a1 and a2 strictly a2 to the a1 network to the load! otherwise, too, immediately to the full. all not rummaged ... nothing. maybe here who knows what trouble? the half-wave has nothing to do with it. Firstly, it is a seven-cell and secondly it is turned off at the time of launch. it turns out that at the time of start-up a short-term impulse is applied to the control unit.
    2. Dgek
      #5 Dgek Visitors May 3, 2018 08:39
      2
      The price of triacs on Aliexpress depends on the power. From 10 to 30 rubles per piece with delivery (if you take from 10 pieces).
  2. Guest Sergey
    #6 Guest Sergey Guests May 3, 2018 12:14
    2
    As for increased wear during soft start - well, this is a tool with plastic gears. I bought a drill in 1979, only the wire is rewound at the entrance to the handle, and the bearings should be lubricated. No problems from soft start. This scheme is valuable to others. If a powerful tool is powered by an “uninterruptible”, then the UPS must withstand an inrush current that is several times higher than the rated current (for DC motors and AC collectors, up to 10 ... 12). This circuit lubricates the inrush current and eliminates the need for a UPS of lower power and cost.
  3. May beetle
    #7 May beetle Guests May 7, 2018 10:48 p.m.
    0
    But to solder and sell weakly?
  4. Denis
    #8 Denis Guests May 15, 2018 10:00
    1
    What are the difficulties with assembling a board from a radio component? In stores with electric tools, you can buy ready-made soft-start blocks from, say, the Interskol plane or any other soft-start tool. And also insert into the outlet.
    When I worked in such a store, a man came to us who needed to make his 710-watt planer work from a 650-watt generator. Our mechanic right in front of him in 5 minutes gathered him such an extension cord. The price of the block, if not mistaken, was 150 rubles.
    1. Guest Alexander
      #9 Guest Alexander Guests May 19, 2018 11:38
      0
      In general, not all soft starts can be built into an outlet ... xs 12 d3, for example, is impossible, because when the extension cord is connected to the outlet, it immediately starts to “smoothly” start and when the device is turned on, it will already have maximum voltage.
    2. Guest Sergey
      #10 Guest Sergey Guests January 30, 2019 09:17
      0
      both blocks were tested (in plastic and metal) - one did not immediately pull, the other fell silent by the end of the day. Tried on trimming 1600 watts. It’s better to solder yourself ...
  5. sherkhan
    #11 sherkhan Guests September 16, 2018 10:19
    0
    Everything is clear and clear. Thank you. All the best.
  6. Denis
    #12 Denis Guests October 29, 2018 10:55 p.m.
    4
    I collected it, but I do not observe much smoothness of the launch. Maybe wrong where? Triac BTA41-600B, the resistors were only 1 watt. Chip K1182PM1R. 47mf at 16 volts, 1mf at 50 volts. Should the device work with such details?
    1. Guest Nikolay
      #13 Guest Nikolay Guests December 7, 2018 19:39
      1
      I want to assemble the product on K1182PM1T in the sot8 package and smd tantalum capacitors (except C3), the BTA 26 triac. The dimensions of the board are 30 by 30 mm. I already tested the light bulb. Everything is working. That's just, after a stop and a restart, a pause of 10 seconds is needed. Otherwise, it abruptly “starts” as if the soft starter was not installed.
      1. Guest Anatoly
        #14 Guest Anatoly Guests January 12, 2019 2:56 p.m.
        0
        capacitor capacitance is not more than 68 microfarad; in parallel, the resistor is not more than 68kom; these elements are connected to legs 3 and 6 of the microcircuit
  7. Guest Sergey
    #15 Guest Sergey Guests March 3, 2019 10:26
    0
    Thanks to the author for detailed assembly instructions! Repeated! Everything is working.
  8. Guest Vladimir
    #16 Guest Vladimir Guests March 26, 2019 10:59
    0
    Hello. Assembled a diagram for this review. A soft start works, but for some reason, just 10-15 seconds after starting, the R1 470 Ohm resistor burns out. Tell me what could be the reason.
    1. Guest Vladimir
      #17 Guest Vladimir Guests April 7, 2019 11:12
      0
      Found a reason. The Chinese sent triacs BTA41-600 defective. First I checked the battery with a light bulb. Works. Then he began to understand, changed the polarity and no, it does not work. It turned out that it works only if a positive DC charge is applied to A2 and G. If negative, nothing works. Accordingly, nothing works with alternating current. Just through the whole circuit and the key is current. Here's what for me 40-amp 600-volt DC triacs. I put the Soviet TS122-25-5 for the sample. Everything works with a bang. Of course it turned out to be cumbersome, do not push the outlet into the body.

Read also

Error codes for washing machines