A motor starting reactor is a reduced voltage starting method that reduces terminal voltage of an induction motor when starting

it. This method is to drive a motor with direct line by short-circuiting a reactor when complete starting is made (after t seconds) with terminal voltage rising as current is reduced while a motor starts from complete stop. This facilitates starting a motor by limiting starting current and prevents accidents by other power equipments such as error of instruments.

The purpose of a starting reactor is to prevent electric motors from damaging themselves by drawing too much current when starting. Starting current in an electric motor that is too high can cause torque damage. Keeping the current below safe levels when starting improves the performance of the motor, as well as extending its lifetime. One property of inductors is that they resist changes in the flow of electrons. Because of this property, they tend to delay the flow of alternating current. It is this tendency that allows a starting reactor to function. When the motor starts, the current is drawn through the starting reactor. The starting reactor slows the flow of current, preventing damage to the motor. Starting reactors are only slowing current during the startup phase, and do not continue to run during operation. This is because of the way the starting reactor works. As the current is drawn through the starting reactor, it works to build up the energy stores within its magnetic field. The result of this is a slowdown of the current passing through. Once the magnetic field is full to capacity, the starting reactor no longer slows the flow of the current.

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