# Why does a Motor draw High Current during Starting?

**URL:** <https://forumautomation.com/t/why-does-a-motor-draw-high-current-during-starting/14461>\
**Category:** Electrical\
**Tags:** motor-control\
**Created:** [October 2, 2026, 2:46am UTC](https://forumautomation.com/t/why-does-a-motor-draw-high-current-during-starting/14461 "2026-10-02T02:46:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rabert](https://forumautomation.com/user_avatar/forumautomation.com/rabert/32/6784_2.png) [@Rabert](https://forumautomation.com/u/Rabert)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2026, 2:46am UTC](https://forumautomation.com/t/why-does-a-motor-draw-high-current-during-starting/14461/1 "2026-10-02T02:46:15Z")

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## Why does a Motor draw High Current during Starting?

When an **[induction motor](https://forumelectrical.com/brushless-motor-power-calculator/)** starts, it initially has very low back EMF because the rotor is not yet rotating. As a result, the motor draws a high current from the supply to produce the starting torque.

The starting current can typically be several times higher than the motor’s full-load current. As the motor accelerates, back EMF increases, slip decreases, and the current gradually falls toward its normal operating value.

Common methods used to reduce starting current include:

• Star-Delta Starter

• Auto-Transformer Starter

• Soft Starter

• **[Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)](https://forumelectrical.com/variable-frequency-drive-vfd-control-and-wiring/)**

• Reduced-voltage starting methods

 ![1](https://cdn.forumautomation.com/original/2X/6/6ae8ca79862171572c67091a4a917cb8d30fbfb6.jpeg)

Understanding motor starting current is important for proper cable sizing, protective-device selection, voltage-drop calculations, and power-system design.