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- Lids
- Bottoms
- Compactor Parts
- Commercial Dumpster Parts
- Roll-Off Container Parts
- Refuse Body Truck/Roll-off Hoist Parts
- Lids
- Bottoms
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Compactor Parts
Power UnitsElectrical PartsLimit/Safety/Photo/Press. SwitchesButtons/Switches/Keys/LegendsHydraulic PartsCylindersOther Compactor Parts30 MMPanels And ControlsMotorsMotor Starters / Transformers / FusesAccessories Electrical30 MM Key Switch30 MM Selector Switch30 MM Push Only Switch30 MM Legends30 MM Contacts And Replacement Keys22.5 MM
- Commercial Dumpster Parts
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Refuse Body Truck/Roll-off Hoist Parts
Heil Replacement PartsMcNeilus Replacement PartsTarp Systems & PartsRoll-Off Hoist/Hook Hoist PartsRoll-off / Hook Hoist PartsCurrotto Can Replacement PartsCables & StrapsRollers & AccessoriesSheave Pulleys & PinsHoist CylindersContainer Securement System & PartsRoll Off Hydraulics,Filters,& PneumaticsRoll-Off ElectricalCurotto Can Replacement CylindersCurotto Can Body Replacement PartsCurotto Can Grabber Beam PartsCurotto Can Slide Assembly PartsCurotto Can Hydraulics & PneumaticsOther Manufacturer Replacement Parts
Compactor Motor Starters — NEMA & IEC
Replacement motor starters for industrial trash compactors — NEMA and IEC formats, complete with overload protection and auxiliary contacts. Plus transformer fuses for control circuits. Drop-in replacements for Marathon, PTR, Wastequip, Harmony, and SP Industries.
What this page covers
The motor starter is the electrical component that energizes the compactor's motor on demand from the control system. It's a heavy-duty contactor (often with integrated overload protection) rated for the inrush current of starting a 5-25HP motor. When a starter's contacts pit, weld closed, or burn out, the motor either stops working entirely or fails unsafely.
PRT stocks motor starters in both NEMA (the North American industrial standard) and IEC (the European industrial standard adopted on many modern North American compactors). Most older compactors use NEMA; most post-2010 industrial equipment uses IEC. Transformer fuses (which protect the control circuit's step-down transformer) are also stocked here.
How to choose
Match the starter by NEMA or IEC format (look at the existing starter — they're visually distinct), motor horsepower and voltage (size 1, 2, 3, 4 for NEMA; current rating for IEC), and coil voltage (usually 120V AC for the contactor's control coil).
If you're rebuilding a compactor control panel, standardizing on one format (NEMA or IEC) simplifies spare parts inventory. Most operators stay with the format their original equipment uses.
Motor starter categories
- NEMA motor startersSize 1, 2, 3, 4 — the North American industrial standard.
- IEC motor startersCurrent-rated — the European standard, common on modern North American equipment.
- Transformer fusesControl-transformer protection — most common compactor electrical failure. (Already covered in detail at /transformer-fuses/.)
- Overload relaysThermal overload protection for motor starters.
- Coil replacementsReplacement starter coils for repairs.
- Auxiliary contactsAdd or replace NO/NC auxiliary contacts on existing starters.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between NEMA and IEC motor starters?
NEMA starters are sized by category (size 1, 2, 3, 4 — bigger size = higher HP rating). IEC starters are sized by current rating. NEMA is the historical North American standard; IEC is the modern global standard. Functionally equivalent for compactor service; not physically interchangeable.
What size NEMA starter do I need for my compactor motor?
Size 1 for 5HP at 240V or 7.5HP at 480V. Size 2 for 10HP at 240V or 25HP at 480V. Size 3 for 25HP at 240V. The starter's HP/voltage rating chart will tell you exactly which size.
Can I replace a NEMA starter with an IEC starter on my compactor?
Functionally yes, but it's a rewiring job — the terminal layout, mounting pattern, and overload relay format are different. Most operators replace like-for-like to avoid the rebuild work.
How often do compactor motor starters fail?
Contact pitting is gradual — most starters last 5-10 years in standard commercial service. Sudden failure (welded contacts, burned coil) usually traces to a separate problem (motor overload, low control voltage, repeated short cycling).