VFD Soft Start: Frequency Control at the Starting Point
A VFD soft-start discussion centers on frequency control because the catalog name Variable Frequency Drive identifies the product as a variable-frequency-drive item. Boray lists BR100 Variable Frequency Drive under variable-frequency-drive, so it belongs to the frequency-control group rather than the soft-starter group. For pumps, this makes it the catalog-side option when the operating frequency is part of the decision.
Dedicated Soft Starter: Controlled Starting Without Full Speed Control
A dedicated soft starter is identified by the catalog category soft-starter. Boray lists ST100 Bypass Soft Initiator and ST200 Online Intelligent Soft Starter Without Bypass under soft-starter, so the comparison starts from controlled-start naming rather than variable-frequency naming. The product names also separate bypass and online-without-bypass approaches.
Pump Duty: When a VFD Is the Better Fit
When pump operation needs more than one frequency setting, the catalog points to variable-frequency-drive names. BR100 Variable Frequency Drive is one such entry, and FS200 Series Intelligent Pump AC Drive and FS300 Series Intelligent Pump AC Drive are also listed under variable-frequency-drive. Their names place them in the frequency-control group for pump applications.
Pump Duty: When a Dedicated Soft Starter Is the Better Fit
When the pump requirement is mainly a controlled start, the catalog’s soft-starter names provide the comparison. ST100 Bypass Soft Initiator and ST200 Online Intelligent Soft Starter Without Bypass are both listed under soft-starter. The labels distinguish bypass terminology from online-without-bypass terminology, which is the catalog-grounded decision point.
Decision Guide: Match the Catalog Category to the Pump Requirement
Use the catalog category as the first filter: variable-frequency-drive products are named for frequency control, while soft-starter products are named for controlled starting. For a pump that needs frequency control, start with BR100 Variable Frequency Drive or the pump AC drive entries. For a pump that needs starting control only, compare ST100 Bypass Soft Initiator and ST200 Online Intelligent Soft Starter Without Bypass.
