A starter costs a small part of what a burnt submersible motor costs to pull out and rewind. Buy the right one and it protects your motor for years; buy the wrong one, or one without real protection, and the motor can burn in its first summer. This guide walks you through choosing the best starter for your submersible pump in 5 steps: your motor, your power supply, DOL or star delta, the protection you must have, and mobile control. It ends with the mistakes we see farmers make most often.
- Answer in one minute
- Your motor
- Your power supply
- DOL or star delta
- Protection
- Mobile control
- 7 mistakes
- FAQ
Answer in one minute
If you already know your motor and supply, this table gives you the answer. On a phone, swipe it sideways.
| Your motor | Your power supply | BTCO starter |
|---|---|---|
| 3 phase, single cable, 3–10 HP | 3 phase | DOL-03 fully automatic DOL starter |
| 3 phase, double cable, 7.5–30 HP | 3 phase | FASD-03 fully automatic star delta starter |
| 3 phase, single cable, 3–10 HP | Juice line, 2 phase or 3 phase | DOL-2/3 Combined juice starter |
| 3 phase, double cable, 7.5–25 HP | 2 phase or 3 phase (juice line up to 10 HP) | FASD-2/3 Combined star delta starter |
| Single phase, 2–5 HP (borewell, openwell or monoblock) | Single phase | FASP-01 single phase starter |
| You already have a 3 phase starter | 3 phase | MPAU auto start unit adds the protection |
See every model side by side on our submersible pump starters page, or answer a few quick questions in our starter finder. Not sure about your motor? Read on.
Step 1: Know your motor
Everything starts with the motor in your borewell. Look at the nameplate on the motor or on its bill, or ask the electrician who fitted it, and note three things:
- HP (or kW): the size of the motor. 1 HP is about 0.75 kW.
- Phase: a single phase motor runs on the home supply; a 3 phase motor needs a 3 phase line (or a Combined starter on 2 phase or juice line).
- Single cable or double cable: count the cables going down the borewell. A single cable motor has one 3-core cable. A double cable motor has two cables and needs a star delta starter. Double cable motors start from 7.5 HP, so a 3 HP or 5 HP motor is single cable.
Also note the rated amps on the nameplate. A good starter protects the motor around this current.
Step 2: Know your power supply
In Karnataka villages, farm power often comes in shifts, sometimes at night, and the supply is not always full 3 phase. Which of these do you get at the borewell?
- 3 phase: all three lines at normal voltage. Any DOL or star delta starter works.
- 2 phase: two live lines. A normal starter can’t run a 3 phase motor on it; a Combined starter can.
- Juice line (series line): the reduced village supply, with one line around 300 V and the other two very low. Only a Combined starter runs a 3 phase motor on it, and only up to 10 HP.
- Single phase: the 220 V home supply, for single phase motors and the single phase starter.
Power at night is also why so many farmers want a starter that starts the motor by itself when power comes, timers, and mobile control, so nobody has to walk to the borewell at 2 a.m.
Step 3: DOL or star delta?
A DOL (direct on line) starter switches the motor straight on. It suits single cable motors up to 10 HP. A star delta starter starts a double cable motor gently in star and then changes to delta, which keeps the starting current down on big motors. The cable decides it: single cable takes DOL, double cable takes star delta. More in DOL vs star delta starter.
Step 4: The protection you must have
A starter that only switches the motor on and off doesn’t protect it. These four protections stop the problems that burn most submersible motors:
- Dry run protection: stops the motor when the borewell runs out of water, and starts it again after a set time.
- Single phasing protection: stops a 3 phase motor when one phase goes missing.
- Overload protection: trips when the motor draws too much current for too long.
- Voltage fluctuation protection: BTCO starters trip on current, so they stop the motor when a voltage swing pushes the current out of the safe range.
Every BTCO starter has all of these (single phasing applies to 3 phase starters), plus earth fault and cable fault protection, and a digital display that tells you why it tripped. Read why submersible motors keep burning and our motor protection guide.
Step 5: Do you need mobile control?
If your borewell is far from home, or power comes at odd hours, a mobile starter saves a lot of walking. Add the BTCO GSM Module to any BTCO starter and switch the motor ON or OFF from the BTCO app or by SMS, set timers, and get an alert for power cuts and every trip. You can add it later too, to starters bought from January 2024 onwards.
Does the pump brand matter?
No. BTCO starters work with motors of every brand: Crompton, Kirloskar, Texmo, CRI, Lubi, Shakti, KSB, V-Guard and the rest. Choose the starter by your motor’s HP, phase and cable, not by the pump brand.
7 common mistakes when buying a starter
These are the mistakes we see most often at dealers. Each one can cost you a burnt motor.
- Picking a cheap, low-quality starter. The cheapest box often has no real protection. One burnt motor costs more than the difference.
- Not checking that the starter has every feature. Ask for dry run, single phasing, overload and voltage fluctuation protection, automatic restart and a display that shows why it tripped. Without dry run protection, the motor runs dry in summer until it burns; without single phasing protection, a missing phase burns a 3 phase motor in minutes.
- Buying a starter assembled on plywood. Loose parts screwed onto a wooden board are not a tested, factory-made starter. Choose a complete starter built and tested as one unit.
- Not asking about mobile control. Ask whether the starter can take a mobile control unit. Every BTCO starter can, with the BTCO GSM Module, so you can switch the motor from your phone and get an alert on every trip.
- A DOL starter on a double cable motor. A double cable motor needs a star delta starter.
- The wrong HP rating. Match the starter to your motor’s HP, not to the one your neighbour bought.
- Ignoring the supply at your farm. On juice line or 2 phase, you need a Combined starter, not a normal one.
Where to buy and get service
BTCO starters are made in Tumakuru and sold through dealers across Karnataka. Find your nearest sales and service centre, see the brochures and product videos, or become a BTCO dealer.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best starter for a submersible pump?
The best starter is the one that matches your motor (HP, phase, single or double cable) and your power supply, and has dry run, single phasing, overload and voltage fluctuation protection. A fully automatic starter that shows the trip reason, like the BTCO range, protects the motor from the problems that burn it most often.
Which starter do I need for a 5 HP submersible motor?
A 5 HP 3 phase single cable motor on 3 phase supply takes the BTCO DOL-03. On juice line or 2 phase, take the Combined DOL. A 5 HP single phase motor takes the FASP-01 Agro.
Which starter do I need for a 7.5 HP or 10 HP motor?
A 7.5 HP or 10 HP motor can be single cable or double cable, so count the cables. Single cable takes the DOL-03; double cable takes the FASD-03 star delta starter. On juice line or 2 phase supply, use the matching Combined starter.
What is the difference between a DOL and a star delta starter?
A DOL starter switches the motor straight on and suits single cable motors up to 10 HP. A star delta starter starts a double cable motor in star and then changes to delta, which keeps the starting current down on bigger motors.
Can I run a 3 phase motor on 2 phase or juice line?
Yes, with a BTCO Combined starter. Juice line is safe only up to 10 HP; above that, use 2 phase or 3 phase supply.
How much does a submersible pump starter cost?
It depends on the model, the HP and the variant. Call or WhatsApp us with your motor’s HP and supply and we’ll give you the details of the right BTCO starter.
Do BTCO starters work with Crompton, Kirloskar, Texmo or CRI motors?
Yes. BTCO starters work with motors of every brand, including Crompton, Kirloskar, Texmo, CRI, Lubi, Shakti, KSB and V-Guard. Choose the starter by the motor’s HP, phase and cable.
Not sure which one? Ask us
Call or WhatsApp us with your motor’s HP, single or double cable, and your power supply. We’ll tell you the right BTCO starter for it.
