VSD - What & Where to get

[pso]

Hello

I was asked last week for more details on what VSD's (Variable Speed Drives) to get and where to get them.

WHERE TO GET VSD'S
Most of the manufacturers of VSD's are large companies that sell through a distribution network. Look in your local yellow pages under "electrical supplies", "electrical wholesalers", "electric motors", "industrial equipment", "electrician (industrial)", "electrical contractor (industrial)" or some such category. I have noticed that the different companies that compile the yellow pages for different areas use slightly different names for the categories.

You want to find a place that sells to industrial electricians. Home Depot is not going to carry motor drives. It should not be necessary to go outside of your local area to get one. There are a number of different distributors of motor drives where I am living now (a city of 50000 in rural New Zealand). While one of the other members of Bladeforums can give you the contact details for where they got a drive, there are advantages to dealing with someone local to you, especially if the supplier can also do the installation (if required). They can help you select the cables, circuit breakers etc. that you may need.

Ask some industrial electricians or contractors. They may be replacing some drives and motors in some factory.


WHAT VSD TO GET
The voltage ratingof the drive must match the supply that you have in your shop. Most of you will have a 110V single-phase or 220V single-phase supply. A few of you will have 220V three-phase supply. Virtually all of the models listed below have versions that will work for you If you have a 400V, three-phase supply, but I will not list them to save space.

Next, choose one that has output power and current ratings that matches, or slightly exceed, the power and current ratings of the motor you are going to be using. It may be easier to choose a motor after you have chosen the VSD. Note that some of the model ranges cut off the 110V models at lower power levels than the corresponding 220V model ranges.

Determine whether or not you want a brake function. With a brake, the VSD can make your grinder stop very quickly instead of allowing it to coast to a stop.

Determine if you would want a remote speed control (potentiometer) or remote keypad. I forgot to note which models offer this feature.

Determine if you would want remote control switches for on, off and maybe reverse. It is very handy to mount these right next to or on your grinder.

Consider the possibility that you may need an EMC or RFI filter. Most of you have shops in a residential setting. A VSD that interferes with the operation of the radios, stereos and TV's in your house and that of your neighbors is likely to make you unpopular.

Take a list of the above features and shop around. Think about if the supplier can help you set up the VSD properly. It may be as simple as giving you a few tips about which pages in the manual to focus on.

The following is a list of companies that I feel are reputable and manufacturer VSD's that will work with 110V single-phase, 220V single-phase and 220V three-phase supplies. This list is not exhaustive and not all of them will be represented in your area. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to compare the price or performance of any of these VSD's. Do checkthe features and specifications with the distributor. I may have made some errors.

Allen Bradley (www.ab.com/drives)
160 series
1-phase & 3-phase, 240V, 0.5 - 5hp
optional EMC filter

PowerFlex 4 series
1-phase, 110V, 0.25 - 1hp
1-phase & 3-phase, 240V, 0.25 - 5hp
optional EMC filter


Reliance (www.reliance.com)
SP120 series
1-phase, 110-120V, 0.25 - 1hp
1-phase & 3-phase, 200-240V, 0.25 - 5hp

MD60 series
1-phase, 115V, 0.25- 1hp
1-phase, 230V, 0.25 - 2hp
3-phase, 230V, 0.25 - 5hp
optional EMC filter & brake


Fuji Electric / GE (www.geindustrial.com)
AF300 C11 series
1-phase, 220 - 230V, 0.125 - 3hp
3-phase, 200 - 230V, 0.125 - 5hp
optional EMC filter & brake(?)

VAT20 series
1-phase, 240V, 0.25 - 3hp
3-phase, 230V, 2 - 3hp
optional EMC filter & brake

AF300 E11 series
1-phase, 240V, 0.125 - 3hp
3-phase, 240V, 0.125 - 10hp
optional EMC filter and brake

AF300 M$11 series
1-phase, 240V, 0.25 - 3hp
3-phase, 240V, 0.25 - 5hp
optional EMC filter, brake, remote keypad, NEMA4 splashproof enclosure


Toshiba (www.tic.toshiba.com)
S9 series
1-phase, 200 - 230V, 0.5 - 3hp
3-phase, 200 - 230V, 0.5 - 20hp
optional EMC filter & brake

E3 series
3-phase, 200 - 230V, 3 - 60hp
optional EMC filter & brake

H3 series
3-phase, 200 - 230V, 3 - 60hp
optional EMC filter & brake


TB Woods (www.tbwoods.com)
XFC series
1-phase, 115V, 0.5 - 1hp
1-phase & 3-phase, 208 - 230V, 0.5 - 5hp
optional remote keypad, NEMA4 splashproof enclosure


Mitsubishi (www.meau.com/eprise/main/Web_Site_Pages/Public/Products/VFD/P-VFD-Family)
S500 series
1-phase, 115V, 0.12 - 1hp
1-phase, 200 - 240V, 0.05 - 2hp
3-phase, 200 - 240V, 0.12 - 5hp
optional EMC filter & brake

E500 series
1-phase, 115V, 0.12 - 1hp
1-phase, 200 - 240V, 0.05 - 2hp
3-phase, 200 - 240V, 0.12 - 10hp
optional EMC filter, brake, remote keypad


Square D / Schneider Electric (www.squared.com)
Altivar 28 series (same as the Toshiba S9 series?)
1-phase, 208 - 230V, 0.5 - 3hp
3-phase, 208 - 230V, 0.5 - 10hp
optional EMC filter & brake (?)

VSD07 series
1-phase, 120V, 0.25 - 1hp
1-phase, 208 - 230V, 0.25 - 1hp
3-phase, 208 - 230V, 1 - 2hp
optional EMC filter & brake (?)


Delta (www.deltadrives.com)
VFD-S series
1-phase, 90 - 132V, 0.25 - 1hp
1-phase, 180 - 264V, 0.25 - 2ph
3-phase, 180 - 264V, 0.25 - 3hp


ABB (www.abb.com)
ACS100 series
1-phase, 200 - 240V, 0.25 - 3hp
3-phase 200 240V, 0.25 - 3hp
optional EMC filter, brake, remote keypad

ACS140 series
1-phase, 200 - 240V, 0.25 - 3hp
3-phase 200 240V, 0.25 - 3hp
optional EMC filter, brake, remote keypad

 

[rfrink]

pso,

This is a great resource that you've put together...thank you!

One note....the variable speed drives listed are the "variable Frequency" drives for use with 3phase motor control.

...Not to be mistaken for Variable speed "DC drives" that most of use are familiar with to use with DC motors.

Thanks again for taking the time to put this info together.

Sincerely,
Rob

 

[Mike Hull]

PSO, thanks, this is great.
One thing though, the Mitsubishi URL does not work.

 

[pso]

I am glad that some of you have found this useful. It's my way of paying back for all the stuff that I have learned from the other members of this forum.

Sorry for the confusion about the terminology. I have come across quite a number of terms such as VSD, VFD, ASD... Some customers or distributors only seem to know one or two of these terms! It pays to check before you put your money down.

The Mitsubishi link should work now.

One last note. You may come across some drives made by PDL of New Zealand, my current employer. They are also sold under "Phasetronics" brand name. The ELITE (MExx or ALSxx) can be configured to run from 230V with special software. Honestly, there have been some quality problems with these drives. They are also much more expensive than other drives of similar ratings (the marketing people don't give the pricing info to us geeks in R&D). Their advantage is that they offer advanced software features and an enclosure that is dust-proof and splash-proof. If you come across one of the EXTRAVERT range from PDL, run away... and fast! There have been quite a number of serious quality problems with this range. The EXTRAVERT's produce a lot of electrical noise and WILL wipe out your TV and radio reception.

Phil

 

[Don Powell]

Phil, thank you for all this information. I just sent e-mails
on this subject with questions, only one response. Can the output
of a 110v single phase unit also be 110v single phase. I have a
small Sears belt grinder, 110v single phase, I would like to power with a speed control. Thanks.