Drives & motion
AC drives (VFD)
Variable frequency drives for speed and torque control of AC induction and permanent-magnet motors.
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16 product lines listed
- InovanceMD660 AC DrivePhoto to be supplied
Buying guide
How to choose: AC drives
What an AC drive does
An AC drive (variable frequency drive, VFD) changes the frequency and voltage supplied to an AC motor to control its speed and torque. It is used for controlled starting and stopping, speed control of pumps, fans, conveyors and machine tools, and for saving energy on variable-torque loads such as fans and centrifugal pumps.
How to choose one
Start from the motor nameplate: rated power, voltage and full-load current. Select a drive whose rated output current is at or above the motor full-load current, not only one that matches kW or HP. Confirm the supply (single-phase 230 V or three-phase 380–480 V class) and the duty: normal duty for fans and pumps, heavy duty for conveyors, crushers, hoists and machine tools. Then check the control mode (V/f for general use, sensorless vector for better low-speed torque, closed-loop vector with an encoder for precise speed or torque), the need for a braking unit and resistor, the enclosure rating (IP20 for inside a panel, IP55 for wall mounting in dusty areas) and the communication interface your PLC needs.
Installation points that avoid trouble
Use screened motor cable and keep it as short as practical. For long motor cables add an output reactor or dv/dt filter. Keep control wiring away from motor cables, provide panel ventilation for the heat the drive dissipates, and set the motor parameters and overload protection from the nameplate during commissioning.
Before you enquire
What to include in your enquiry
Having these details ready lets us confirm a model and quote in one step.
- Motor rating in kW or HP, voltage and full-load current
- Supply: single-phase or three-phase, and voltage
- Application: fan, pump, conveyor, machine tool, hoist or other
- Speed reference (0–10 V, 4–20 mA, keypad, communication) and any PLC link
- Whether braking, an EMC filter or an IP55 enclosure is needed
- Brand or series if you are replacing an existing drive, with its model code