Your BTCO starter stopped the motor and shows a message on its display. Most of the time that is good news: a protection has worked, and the starter switched the motor off before it could burn. This page lists every message, what it means, what to check, and the BTCO video that shows how to clear it.
Safety first: switch off the mains before you open the starter or touch any wiring. For anything inside the starter, the motor or the cable, call a qualified electrician or your BTCO dealer.
- Mains Problem
- Dry Run Trip
- Overload Trip
- Ground / Imbalance
- Check Cable / Kit
- Instrument Fault
- Check Capacitor
- Rotor Lock Trip
- Single phase messages
- FAQ
All messages at a glance
On a phone, swipe the table sideways.
| Message | What it means | Who can fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Mains Problem | A phase missing, a wire cut or a fuse blown on the line | Wait for the supply; line staff |
| Dry Run Trip | The borewell ran low | Restarts by itself |
| Overload Trip | The motor drew too much current | You, then an electrician |
| Ground / Imbalance | Earth leakage or uneven current | Electrician |
| Check Cable / Kit | Problem in the motor cable or contactor kit | Electrician |
| Instrument Fault | Problem inside the starter unit | See our videos |
| Check Capacitor | Capacitor problem (Combined starters) | See our videos |
| Rotor Lock Trip | Motor stalled on 2 phase or juice line (Combined) | See the videos |
3 phase starters: DOL, star delta, Combined and MPAU
These messages appear on the DOL-03, FASD-03 star delta, Combined DOL, Combined star delta and MPAU. The last two appear only on the Combined starters.
Mains Problem
What it means: A fault on the supply side: a phase is missing (single phasing on the HT or LT line), a wire is cut or damaged, or a fuse has blown. The starter stopped the motor so it doesn’t burn running on two phases.
What to do: Look at the three phase lights on the starter. If one is off, the fault is on the line: check the fuses, or wait for the line to be repaired. When all three phases are back, the starter starts the motor again by itself if its auto switch is ON. More in single phasing protection.
Dry Run Trip
What it means: The pump ran without water: the borewell level dropped below the pump. The starter stopped the motor before it overheated.
What to do: Nothing is broken. The starter starts the motor again by itself after the dry restart time you set, so the borewell has time to refill. If it happens often, the borewell is running low: set a longer dry restart time or run the motor for shorter periods. More in dry run protection.
Overload Trip
What it means: The motor drew more current than it should for too long, and the starter stopped it before the winding burnt.
What to do: Don’t keep resetting it. Check the voltage on all three phases, then look for sand or a jammed pump, a weak cable joint or worn bearings. Our overload tripping guide shows what to check first, in order.
Ground / Imbalance
What it means: Current is leaking to earth, or one phase is carrying much more current than the others. Either way, part of the winding is overheating, and earth leakage is also a safety risk.
What to do: Don’t restart it again and again. Ask an electrician to check the earthing, the cable and its joints, and the motor’s insulation.
Check Cable / Kit
What it means: The starter found a problem in the motor cable or in the contactor kit inside the starter.
What to do: Ask an electrician to check the motor cable and its joints, and the contactor kit. Call your dealer if the message stays.
Instrument Fault (INST)
What it means: The starter checks its own health. This message means it found a problem inside the unit itself.
What to do: Watch the BTCO video below; it shows what to do. More help on our product videos page.
Check Capacitor (Combined starters)
What it means: The Combined starter found a problem with one of the capacitors it uses to run the 3 phase motor on 2 phase or juice line.
What to do: Watch our videos on the product videos page and our YouTube channel: they show how to check the capacitors on a Combined starter.
Rotor Lock Trip (Combined starters)
What it means: The motor stalled or jammed while running on 2 phase or juice line, and the starter stopped it to protect it.
What to do: Watch the two short videos below: what a rotor lock trip is, and how to resolve it.
Combined starter owners: our menu settings, error codes and solutions video (Kannada) covers every message on the Combined starters.
Single phase starter messages
The BTCO FASP-01 single phase starter also shows Overload Trip and Dry Run Trip (see above), and these:
Check Cap/Cable
What it means: A problem in the starting circuit: a capacitor may be shorted, the yellow cable may be cut, or the motor’s starting winding may be short.
What to do: Watch our videos on the product videos page and our YouTube channel.
Contactor Jam
What it means: A problem with the contactor, the switch inside the starter that turns the motor on and off. It is not a jammed pump.
What to do: Watch our videos on the product videos page and our YouTube channel.
Overflow Trip
What it means: The tank is full. The water level controller stopped the pump so the tank doesn’t overflow.
What to do: Nothing to do: the starter starts the pump again when the tank level drops. See the water level controller.
Sump Empty
What it means: The sump or source has run out of water. The starter stopped the pump so it doesn’t run dry.
What to do: Wait for the sump to fill. If it empties often, check the water coming into the sump.
Motor tripping often?
One trip is the starter doing its job. Trips again and again mean something is wrong with the supply, the borewell, the cable or the motor, and it is how motors end up burning. Find the cause before you restart: start with our overload tripping guide and why submersible motors keep burning.
Get the message on your phone
With the BTCO GSM Module, the BTCO app tells you the moment the starter trips, with the reason, so you know whether to go to the borewell or just wait for the power. See how a mobile starter works. All our videos are on the product videos page.
Frequently asked questions
Does an error message mean my starter is faulty?
Usually not. Most messages mean a protection has worked and the starter stopped the motor before it could burn. Only Instrument Fault means a problem inside the starter itself.
What does Mains Problem mean on a BTCO starter?
A fault on the supply side: a phase is missing, a wire is cut or a fuse has blown. When all three phases are back, the starter starts the motor again by itself if its auto switch is ON.
What does Dry Run Trip mean?
The borewell level dropped and the pump ran without water. The starter stopped the motor and starts it again by itself after the dry restart time.
Why does my starter show Overload Trip again and again?
The motor keeps drawing too much current, usually from low or unequal voltage, a missing phase, sand or a jammed pump, a weak cable joint or worn bearings. Don’t keep resetting it; find the cause first.
What does Ground / Imbalance mean?
Current is leaking to earth, or one phase carries much more current than the others. Ask an electrician to check the earthing, the cable and the motor.
Can I get starter error messages on my phone?
Yes. Fit the BTCO GSM Module and the BTCO app sends you an alert with the reason every time the starter trips.
Still stuck? Talk to us
Call or WhatsApp us with the message on the display and your starter model, or visit your nearest BTCO Starters dealer.
