text: <s>[INST] SMC-3 bypass mode The SMC-3 is supposed to run in bypass mode once the motor is up to speed and the current falls to 105% of the maximum frame amp rating. I am trying to test a used SMC-3 before installing in a machine. When I use a smaller motor (26 amp) on a 108 amp SMC-3 soft start, the bypass contactors pull in immediately and bring the motor up to speed even with the ramp time set to 10 seconds. With a small load on the motor it will continue to run in bypass mode. With no load on the motor, it will get up to speed and then the bypass contactors will drop out for a second and then pull back in. I'm wondering if the SMC-3 has a problem or is it sensing a small load at start up and using the bypass contactors rather than the SCRs. I thought it would ramp the motor up according to the time setting regardless of the motor HP.Thanks in advance,Ashby [/INST] Hi, what happens to you should be considered a normal behavior. :smileyhappy: Your tests fall into two limit conditions for SMC-3... first test (running a 26 A motor using a 108 A SMC-3) will give this result because the current sensed by the Softstarter is low enough to make it *thinking* the motor is already up-to-speed, so it uses the bypass... if you try to use a *bigger* motor, you will see the Softstarter following the configured ramp time. Second test (no load) is explained in Aid 40356 , and it is related to the fact the SMC-3 needs a motor connected to fall in a particular current range, indicated in the Selection Guide and for your Softstarter this range is 27-108 A (in effect the second behavior could also happen in the first test, you have a 26 A motor...evidently it is right enough to let the SMC-3 run quite normally.... :smileysurprised: ) So, it is important for this softstarter to work correctly, the use of a motor rated with appropriate FLA related to SMC-3 size, otherwise it could be generate faults or incorrect operations. Hope this helps… - fuzzy logic \\n </s>