Thread: Will this speed controller work with my router ?

Originally Posted by Fenderdude

Hi All,
I've heard that the variable speed controllers do not work with routers that have a 'soft start' why is that? Anyone come across that? I have a single speed router and would really like to be able to add one of those for bigger bits.

Soft start is effectively a speed control built into the unit, using a slowly rising (couple of seconds) voltage to set the speed instead of a knob. Some units like the Triton use both a soft start and a speed contol, basicly the same module using two forms of input, the voltage ramp and the knob.

Throughout the previous posts in this thread, you will find mention that it is not smart to operate with multiple speed controls. This is because each speed control 'chops' the mains waveform to allow part of the mains cycle to reach the motor, and there is no way to co-ordinate the action of multiple controllers.