Engineering technicians have many nightmare stories when it comes to on-site troubleshooting. In this instance, I was called to help troubleshoot a Closed Loop (Sensorless Vector) Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) on a production line that was so large, it seemed to go so far down the plant, it never ended. After overcoming the intimidation associated with the sheer size of the line, it became a question of focusing […]
One of the more common problems seen in our Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) repair division is the failure of the IGBT (Insulated Gate Bi-polar Transistor) power section modules. If the Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) is blowing fuses, or the VFD simply is not turning on, the following test may aid you in finding the root of the problem. A digital voltmeter test can tell if a short […]
A properly applied Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) will significantly reduce operating costs. This is particularly true for variable torque loads such as: Fans Blowers Pumps Blowers, for example, are often used with dampers to control air flow. These dampers may be operated either manually or automatically. When dampers are closed, 50% motor current will drop to approximately […]
Many electricians apply Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) to AC Motors that are not inverter rated. Many are not even aware that inverter rated motors exist. Inverter rated motors are not required for inverter applications, however, when a VFD is applied to an inverter rated motor, the inverter rated motor has less chance of premature winding failure. Inverter rated motors have […]
Machinery imported into the United States is often rated at an operating frequency of 50 Hertz. Unless engineered for operation at 60 Hz., this can be problematic for electric motors. This is especially true when operating pump and fan loads. Too often the distributors and purchasers of this machinery assume that the Original Equipment Manufacturer has taken […]
It has become common knowledge that the poor economy is causing businesses all over the United States to suffer. As a result of the credit crunch, industrial manufacturing, automation, processing, and other related markets have been seeking alternatives, and found them online. Historically, industrial markets have relied heavily on the local businesses they have been […]
For those of you who are familiar or unfamiliar with Lenze / AC Techs SMVector series drive they have come a long way since their conception. All AC Tech products are manufactured in Uxbridge Massachusettes. Today we discuss how to read the nameplate data off of the drive. It is not as complicated as most […]
Thank you all for stopping by. Today we are going to show you how to access the terminal strip on your AC Tech SMVector Series Variable Frequency Drive (VFD). This is a basic introduction to the drive itself and for those of you who have not worked with this product before. You will find doing […]
In this video we go step by step in showing you how to land 120 volts onto your SMVector variable frequency drive. Ensure you are qualified to handle this electrical equipment before working on it. This process is both easy and painless. The tools you will need are a phillips head screwdriver, wire strippers, your […]
In this video we give you a simplified answer to the question “What is a Variable Frequency Drive” In the video we use an AC Tech SMVector series drive for an example. Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) are electronic devices used to control the speed of an Alternating Current Motor (AC Motor). Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) are also […]
Today’s video is an overview of the NEMA 1 AC Tech SMVector series variable speed drive features, functions and specifications. The NEMA 1 AC Tech SMVector series variable speed drive comes equipped with a large amount of functionality including volts / hertz mode, vector mode, sensorless vector mode and advanced volts per hertz mode. There are a large number […]
About a week ago, I was given the opportunity to work on a startup with a customer who works in the world of automated foaming. As with any other job, the preliminary overview of the project is often where the scope of the project is determined. One of the most critical things a customer can […]
