Motor starter device having reduced power consumption

A motor starter for use with a motor ( 20 ) having a main winding (M) and a start winding (S). The starter has a PTC thermistor ( 30 ) connected in series with the start winding (S). A triac ( 40 ) is connected between PTC thermistor ( 30 ) and a power source line. A control circuit ( 50 ) is connected to the power source line for providing a voltage for a gate terminal (G) of triac ( 40 ) and an overload relay ( 60 ) is connected between the power source ( 10 ) and the motor ( 20 ). The control circuit ( 50 ) preferably includes a current detecting circuit ( 52 ) for detecting the inrush current and a voltage generating circuit ( 54 ) for generating the voltage in response to the detected inrush current. At the startup of motor ( 20 ) the control circuit ( 50 ) allows triac ( 40 ) to turn on by providing the gate terminal (G) with the voltage based on the inrush current. According to this invention, the power consumption of the start winding S after the startup of the motor ( 20 ) can be almost zero thus providing low power consumption. In another embodiment not employing a PTC thermistor, a current detecting circuit and a voltage generating circuit are used to control the on and off states of a first triac ( 90 ) which in turn controls the on and off states of a second triac ( 92 ) connected in series with the start winding.