Ever thought about hiring a VSD or soft starter to trial? Upgrading how your motors start and run can bring real benefits: lower energy bills, less mechanical wear, smoother processes and fewer nuisance trips. But choosing between a variable speed drive (VSD), a soft starter or sticking with what you have isn’t always straightforward. Datasheets and sales promises only tell part of the story. The only way to know for sure how a drive or soft starter will perform on your motor, in your process, is to try it.
That’s where equipment hire comes in. Hiring a drive or soft starter for a trial period lets you test it in real operating conditions, gather hard evidence and make a confident decision before spending money on a permanent installation.
Why trial before committing?
A new drive or soft starter is a significant investment once you add the unit, panel work, installation and commissioning. If it turns out to be the wrong choice, the cost of changing course can be even higher. Common problems include buying a VSD for an application that doesn’t benefit from speed control, choosing a soft starter that can’t handle the load’s starting demands, or discovering harmonics, noise or control issues only after installation.
Hiring a VSD or soft starter to trial removes much of that risk. You see exactly how the equipment behaves with your motor, your load and your supply and you can measure the results rather than relying on estimates.
VSD or soft starter: what’s the difference?
Both devices improve on a basic direct-on-line (DOL) start, but they do different jobs.
A soft starter controls the motor only during starting and stopping. It ramps the voltage up gradually, reducing the inrush current and the mechanical shock that comes with a full-voltage start. Once the motor is up to speed, it typically runs at full speed like a conventional starter. Soft starters suit applications that need a gentler start but run at a constant speed, such as many pumps, compressors and conveyors.
A variable speed drive controls the motor’s speed throughout its operation by varying the frequency and voltage supplied to it. This allows the motor to run only as fast as the process demands. For centrifugal fans and pumps in particular, even a modest reduction in speed can deliver a substantial drop in energy use, which is why VSDs are so popular in HVAC, water and process applications.
Deciding which is right depends on your load, duty cycle and goals. Hiring a VSD or soft starter to trial is often the clearest way to find out.
What you can test during a hire trial
A well-planned trial gives you useful data, not just a feeling that things seem better. Things worth measuring include:
- Energy consumption. Log power use before and during the trial to see real-world savings. For fans and pumps with variable demand, the results from a VSD can be striking.
- Starting performance. Check whether a soft starter or drive brings the motor up to speed reliably under full load, and whether it reduces starting current enough to stop supply dips or nuisance tripping.
- Mechanical benefits. Look for reduced belt slip, less wear on couplings and gearboxes, and less water hammer in pumping systems.
- Process control. See whether speed control improves product quality, flow stability or pressure regulation, and whether it integrates with your existing controls, sensors or BMS.
- Practical fit. Confirm the equipment suits your site conditions, including space, ventilation, noise and any harmonic effects on your electrical supply.
How a hire trial works
The process is simple. You tell us about the motor, the application and what you want to achieve. We recommend a suitable drive or soft starter from our hire fleet and deliver it ready for connection by your electrician. Hire units come in robust enclosures designed for temporary installation, so there’s no need to modify your permanent panel just to run a test.
Run the trial for as long as you need to capture meaningful results. For some applications a few days is enough; for processes with weekly or seasonal variation, a longer trial gives a truer picture. When it ends, you’ll have the information to specify exactly the right permanent solution, whether that’s the model you trialled, a different rating, or a decision that your existing setup is fine after all.
A trial that doubles as breakdown insurance
Hiring a VSD or soft starter to trial isn’t only for planned upgrades. Many trials start with a breakdown. When an old starter fails, a hire unit gets you running again quickly, and choosing a soft starter or VSD instead of a like-for-like replacement means your emergency fix becomes a real-world trial at the same time.
Instead of rushing into buying another DOL starter just to get back online, you can run a more capable unit while you assess the benefits. By the time you’re ready to buy, you’ll know whether the upgrade is worth it, backed by weeks of operating data from your own plant.
Building the business case
Trial data is powerful when you need approval for spending. Measured energy savings, reduced maintenance and improved process performance are far more persuasive than manufacturer estimates. Many businesses use trial results to calculate payback periods, support sustainability reporting or strengthen applications for energy efficiency funding.
It also helps avoid over-specifying. A trial may show that a smaller drive or a simpler soft starter will do the job, saving money on the permanent installation.
Ready to try before you buy?
Whether you’re planning an upgrade, exploring energy savings or dealing with a failed starter right now, hiring a VSD or soft starter lets you make decisions based on evidence rather than guesswork. Get in touch with our team to discuss your motor, your application and the right equipment to trial.
Written by Neil Parsons, Technical Director – With over 35 years in electrical engineering across various sectors, these articles are written by a specialist with hands-on experience in electrical design and commissioning, PLC and variable speed drive programming and installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hire a VSD or soft starter just to test it?
Yes. Trial hire is a common reason customers hire drives and soft starters. You get a working unit on site to test in real conditions before deciding what to buy.
How long should a trial last?
Long enough to capture your normal operating pattern. For steady processes, a week or two may be enough. Where demand varies by shift, week or season, a longer trial gives more reliable results.
Do I need an electrician to connect a trial unit?
Yes. A qualified electrician must connect and set up the hire unit, including checking motor protection settings. We can advise on the connections and configuration needed.
Will a VSD save energy on my motor?
It depends on the application. VSDs typically deliver the biggest savings on centrifugal fans and pumps where demand varies. Constant-speed, fully loaded motors may see little benefit. A trial with power logging is the best way to find out.
Should I choose a soft starter or a VSD?
If you mainly need a gentler start and the motor runs at constant speed, a soft starter is often the simpler, lower-cost option. If you need speed control or want energy savings from variable demand, a VSD is usually the better choice. Trialling can confirm which suits you.
Can a hire unit replace my failed starter and act as a trial?
Yes. If your existing starter has broken down, hiring a soft starter or VSD gets you running again and lets you assess the upgrade at the same time.
Is the cost of hire worth it compared to buying straight away?
A short hire is usually a small cost compared with buying the wrong equipment or over-specifying it. It also gives you real data to support your purchase decision.
