quality motor drive manufacturer? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2019, 05:25:09 pm
content: What is a quality motor drive manufacturer that allows for PID tuning of a motor?I am looking to pay for high quality assembly/parts rather then advanced software packages (I suspect it can go both ways).Or would you typically connect a standard VFD (do these have PID?) to a PID connected to a process sensor?In that case, what would be a good quality feedbackless VFD?Not sure how the industry works.

author: KC0PPH
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 04, 2019, 05:42:37 pm
content: Assuming your talking about 1/4 HP and larger motors I can give some guidance.ABB VFD's are my favorite overall. Their programming is easy and you can extend their capability with onboard controllers. Allen Bradley are also top notch (754) although I have never used the VFD to do PID control itself (always had a PLC doing it).Emerson/Control Techniques are also really powerful VFD's, however they are a PAIN IN THE ASS and so I would avoid them at all cost.So Yeah go with ABB, if its a Pump or Fan application they have macros pre-defined to make that easy.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2019, 05:44:52 pm
content: But are the semiconductors and capacitors of high quality?Ease of use is important but not as important as blown parts. I don't want shady transistors, bad thermal design, etc.ABB is good on these? Guess I am mainly worried about the electrolytic capacitors and the main drive power transistors. I am thinking about it like another bit of test gear to put on a bench then application specific, if that helps model/manufacturer choice any

author: KC0PPH
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 04, 2019, 06:05:46 pm
content: I guess I am a bit confused on what you are asking. I have never heard anyone in industry ask about something "inside" a device. If you take this discussion to a place more centric around industrial use I am sure you would not find many who would say anything bad about an ABB or AB VFD.I have never opened up one to check that the components inside are name brand. I always just buy quality name brand items and trust that their engineers are using decent components. I have had drives in service for a Long time and a lot are in environments which are very unfriendly, and the loads are highly variable. Failures are rare.Can you describe what you plan on using it for? Items that could be helpful include. Odds are I could give you a PN off the top of my head.Motor HPMotor VoltageSupply VoltageDescribe the LoadSensor which you want to use for PID Feedback (what is the analog range on it)

author: pansku
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2019, 06:14:35 pm
content: At least for the ACS880 series ABB specifies 9-year maintanence interval so that speaks for itself. As far as I know, pretty much all key components go through rigorous testing before being accepted for production. I can't say too much about the other model series

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2019, 09:21:33 pm
content: No concrete use in mind, I never got to play with drives and its about time to get some electromechanical test capability in my lab.Just wanna know what to look out an eye for. Kinda like knowing keysight, milwakee and tektronix = good most of the time if not always. You don't expect to buy a HP gear and then find Trashxon capacitors but excellent software in it, usually its a balance between decent part and functional interface stuff.