A failed motor starter rarely picks a convenient moment. One minute your pump, fan, compressor or conveyor is running as normal; the next, the contactor won’t pull in, the overload keeps tripping, or the drive shows a fault code nobody recognises. The motor itself might be perfectly healthy, but without a working starter it isn’t going anywhere and neither is your process.
The good news is that you don’t have to wait for a repair or a replacement panel before getting back up and running. Emergency panel hire gives you a temporary, fully functioning starter that bridges the gap, so the fix can happen properly without the clock ticking on lost output.
Why a failed motor starter causes so much disruption
Starters sit at the heart of almost every process that relies on electric motors. They control starting method, protect from overloads and faults and allow safe operation. When one fails, the knock-on effects can be serious. A catastrophic failure on a sewage or drainage pump can lead to flooding and environmental risk, on a ventilation fan it can mean an unsafe working area, while on a production line it can halt output entirely, with staff standing idle and orders slipping.
The real problem is often the lead time, as a like-for-like replacement starter may not be sitting on a wholesaler’s shelf and custom control panels can take weeks to build. Even a straightforward repair needs diagnosis, spare parts and an engineer’s time. Every hour spent waiting is an hour of lost production and that cost usually dwarfs the cost of a hire unit.
Common reasons motor starters fail
Understanding why a starter has failed helps you decide whether you need a quick repair, a full replacement, or a temporary solution in the meantime. The most common causes include worn or welded contactor contacts, which build up over years of switching; overload relays that trip repeatedly or fail altogether; damaged control circuits, coils or transformers; plus external factors such as water ingress or dust contamination. Electronic starters such as soft starts and VSDs, while incorporating additional internal monitoring, can still fail through lack of maintenance, power supply issues, or simply component ageing.
Sometimes the fault is quick to find and fix. Often though, the unit is simply beyond economical repair, or the failure reveals that the whole panel is due for an upgrade. That’s exactly when emergency hire earns its keep.
How emergency motor starter hire works
Emergency hire is designed to be simple and fast. You tell us what has failed, the motor’s details, application and any specific control philosophy. We match you with a suitable hire unit from our fleet and get it to site as quickly as possible, so a qualified electrician can connect it in place of, or alongside, your failed equipment.
Typical breakdown hire options include:
- Direct-on-line (DOL) starters for motors rated 1-15Kw.
Ideal where a simple, robust start is all that’s needed. Our hire fleet DOL starters incorporate an intelligent wide ranging overload to add extra functionality and data logging. - Soft starters that ramp the motor up smoothly, reducing mechanical stress on belts, couplings and pipework and limiting water hammer on pump systems. Also reduces maximum demand required of the supply network.
- Variable speed drives (VSDs) are usually implemented where the process relies more precise control, such as modern compressors, dosing pumps or conveyors. Can also be used to prove or implement energy savings on variable torque applications such as pumps and fans.
Hire units are typically housed in rugged, weatherproof IP54 enclosures with clear labelling, making them suitable for temporary installation in plant rooms, pump stations or outdoor locations.
The benefits of hiring during a breakdown
The most obvious benefit is timeframe. Rather than waiting days or weeks for a replacement, you can often be running again the same day or the next, depending on your location and the equipment required. That keeps production moving, protects your customer commitments and avoids the costs of idle staff.
Hire also takes the pressure off decision-making. When you’re up against it to get running, it’s tempting to buy the first starter available, even if it isn’t quite right. With a hire unit in place, you have time to diagnose the fault properly, get quotes and decide whether to repair, replace like-for-like, or upgrade to something more efficient.
There are financial advantages too. Hire is an operating cost rather than a capital outlay, and you only pay for as long as you need the equipment. Once your permanent solution is installed, the hire unit simply goes back.
Finally, hire equipment is tested and maintained between jobs, so you’re getting reliable kit you can trust at a moment when uptime matters most.
When to consider emergency starter hire
Emergency hire makes sense whenever the cost (or risk) of downtime outweighs the cost of a temporary unit. That includes critical pumping applications such as drainage, sewage, flood defence and water supply; ventilation and extraction systems where safety or compliance is at stake; production lines and conveyors where every hour offline costs money; and compressors, chillers and other plant that supports wider operations.
It’s also worth considering hire for planned work. If you’re upgrading a motor control centre or refurbishing a panel, a temporary starter can keep essential equipment running while the work is carried out, reducing or eliminating planned downtime.
What to have ready when you call
To get the right unit to you quickly, it helps to have a few details to hand: the motor’s nameplate details, application being controlled, the type of starter that has failed and any control requirements such as float switches, remote start/stop, external speed references or controlling from an existing system or PLC. Don’t worry if you don’t have everything; our team can talk you through it.
Keep running while the repair happens
A failed starter doesn’t have to mean a failed day, week or month. Emergency motor starter hire gives you a fast, reliable way to restore operations while your repair or replacement is sorted properly, without rushed decisions or unnecessary downtime.
If a starter has failed on your site, or you want a plan in place before it does, get in touch with our team today. We’ll help you find the right hire solution and get your operation running again as quickly as possible.
Written by Neil Parsons, Technical Director – With over 35 years in electrical engineering across multiple sectors, these articles are written by a specialist with hands-on experience in electrical engineering, design and testing. Plus control system, PLC and variable speed drive programming and commissioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can I get a hire motor starter after a breakdown?
It depends on your location, the type of starter you need and stock availability, but emergency hire is built around speed. Generally most units are ready to be dispatched or collected the same day.
Can the motor be fine if the starter has failed?
Yes, and this is very common. Starters can contain contactors, overloads, electronics and control components that wear out independently of the motor. A qualified electrician can test the motor’s insulation and windings to confirm it’s healthy before connecting a hire starter.
Do I need an electrician to install a hire starter?
Yes. A hire starter must be connected by a qualified electrician who can make the power and control connections safely as per regulations. If you don’t have one available, ask us and we can advise on next steps.
What if I don’t know what type of starter I need?
That’s not a problem. Send us a photo of the motor rating plate and the failed starter, or tell us the motor’s power and current rating, voltage and application. Our team will recommend a suitable DOL, soft starter or VSD for the job.
Can I hire a soft starter or VSD to replace a DOL starter temporarily?
Generally yes. In some cases a soft starter or VSD can be a better temporary option than a like-for-like replacement, for example to reduce starting current or implement or verify energy savings. We’ll check your application and supply before recommending an alternative.
How long can I hire a motor starter for?
As long as you need it. Some customers hire for the minimum one week while a repair is carried out, while others keep a unit on site for months or even years!
Is hiring cheaper than buying a replacement straight away?
Hire isn’t a replacement for a permanent solution, but it usually costs far less than the downtime it prevents. It also gives you time to compare repair and replacement options properly instead of buying whatever is available under pressure.
Can I hire a motor starter for planned maintenance, not just breakdowns?
Yes. Temporary starters are useful during panel upgrades, motor control centre refurbishments or planned shutdowns, keeping essential plant running while permanent equipment is out of service.
