Soft Starters

it monitors the power input side, control and out put load side

There are several generations of C-H soft statrers out there, it will depend on which one you have. But in general, there is some protection for incoming line issues.

But define "messed up". Phase loss? Yes. Low Voltage? Maybe, depends on the model. High Voltage? Maybe, depends on the model. Line noise? No. Harmonics? No. Voltage spikes? No, but there might be MOVs on some models*. Phase reversal? Depends on the model.

*MOVs tend to work, once. After they get hit with a high enough spike, they sacrifice themselves to their duty, but are no longer there for the next one.

We installed 2 ea. Sullair 75hp, 480V air compressors about 10 years ago. After they were running for a few months the electric company made us install soft starts on them due to the aging infrastructure in our area.

Sullair recommended and factory service installed CH soft starts that could have been ordered as original equipment if we had known of the need.

We never got more than 30 months life out of any of them due to failures primarily due to low internal control voltage. (I forget the error code)

While C/H repaired the first two controllers under warranty, they refused to do any more repairs saying that it must be something in our installation. This despite being installed and serviced by Sullair factory techs. We also had an electrical contractor install a monitor for a week to look for harmonics, transient issues, etc. Nothing was found.

About five years ago we yanked the C/H units and replaced them with units from Automation Direct. No problems since.

I was not a big fan of C/H to begin with and this was just another nail as far as I am concerned. I consider most C/H equipment to be over-rated (in the technical sense) - rated too close to the failure point. Built in obsolescence?

Your mileage may vary.

Mike W.