A mobile starter lets you switch your borewell motor ON and OFF from your phone, so you don’t have to walk to the field at night or in the rain. But mobile starters are not all the same. Some only switch the motor remotely and leave it unprotected, which means you can switch on a motor from home and burn it without knowing. Before you buy, check these 8 things.
1. Does it work by SMS as well as the app?
Village internet can be weak, especially at night. A good mobile starter works by SMS on the ordinary mobile network, without internet, as well as through an app. The BTCO mobile starter works with the free BTCO Starters app and by SMS from any phone. There is no missed-call control: control is by app and SMS.
2. Does it protect the motor, or only switch it?
This is the most important check. Switching from your phone is only half the job: when you are not at the field, nobody sees the borewell run dry or a phase go missing. Make sure the starter itself has:
- Dry run protection (with a dry restart time)
- Single phasing protection
- Overload protection
- Voltage fluctuation protection
- Grounding and cable fault protection
A BTCO mobile starter is a full BTCO starter with the BTCO GSM Module added, so every protection keeps working, however the motor was started.
3. Does it tell you why the motor stopped?
A message that only says “motor OFF” leaves you guessing. Look for alerts that give the reason: Dry Run Trip, Overload Trip, Mains Problem. Then you know whether to go to the field, call an electrician or just wait for the borewell to refill.
4. Does it alert you when the power comes and goes?
On farm feeders, 3 phase power comes in shifts. Alerts for power cut and power restored mean you never have to wait up or guess. With a fully automatic starter, the motor also starts by itself when the power comes. Read running your borewell on night power.
5. Does it have proper timers?
Check for timers you can set from the phone: the BTCO app has 4 timer modes: Normal, Cyclic, RTC and Scheduler, which gives each day of the week its own timing. After a power cut, the timer runs only the balance time. See starter with timer.
6. Can you see the voltage, current and history?
Live voltage and current for each phase tell you whether the supply is good before you switch on. Motor logs show what happened while you were away: the BTCO app keeps 7 days of motor logs.
7. Can the family use it, and does it fit your starter?
- More than one user: with BTCO you can add family members, so whoever is awake can switch the pump.
- Your motor: BTCO mobile starters work with all motor brands, and with every BTCO starter: DOL, Star Delta, Combined and Single Phase.
- Your existing starter: the GSM Module can be added to BTCO starters bought from January 2024. For older ones, call us or your dealer first.
- Network: the BTCO GSM Module is 4G. Check that your SIM’s network reaches the borewell.
8. Is there service near you?
A mobile starter is a long-term part of your farm. Check the warranty and where it will be serviced. BTCO starters and the GSM Module have a 1 year warranty, with warranty service at our service centres, and BTCO has dealers and service centres across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Find your nearest BTCO dealer.
The checklist
| Check | BTCO mobile starter |
|---|---|
| Control | Free BTCO Starters app + SMS (no missed call) |
| Motor protection | Dry run, single phasing, overload, voltage fluctuation, grounding, cable faults |
| Alerts | Power cut, power restored, motor ON/OFF, every trip with its reason |
| Timers | Normal, Cyclic, RTC and Scheduler, balance time after a power cut |
| Monitoring | Live voltage and current, 7 days of logs |
| Users | Add family members |
| Fits | All motor brands; every BTCO starter; added to BTCO starters bought from Jan 2024 |
| Network | 4G module |
More on the BTCO mobile starter and the BTCO Starters app, or read what a mobile starter is.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best mobile starter for a 3 phase motor?
One that works by SMS as well as an app, keeps full motor protection (dry run, single phasing, overload, voltage fluctuation), tells you why the motor stopped, alerts you when power comes and goes, has timers, works with your motor and has service near you. The BTCO mobile starter does all of these.
Does a mobile starter work without internet?
The BTCO mobile starter does. SMS control works on the ordinary mobile network without internet. The app needs internet on your phone.
Can I control my motor by missed call?
No. BTCO mobile starters are controlled by the BTCO Starters app and by SMS.
Can I add mobile control to my existing starter?
The BTCO GSM Module can be added to BTCO starters bought from January 2024. For older BTCO starters, call us or your dealer first.
Does a mobile starter protect the motor from burning?
Only if the starter itself has protection. A BTCO mobile starter is a full BTCO starter with the GSM Module, so dry run, single phasing, overload, voltage fluctuation, grounding and cable fault protection keep working however the motor is started.
Which network does the BTCO GSM Module use?
It is a 4G module with a SIM card. Check that your SIM’s network reaches the borewell.
Get a mobile starter for your motor
Call or WhatsApp us with your motor’s HP, single or double cable, and your power supply. We’ll suggest the right BTCO starter with the GSM Module.
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