Thread: VFD advice please

It will do it. A 15" impeller on a 150mm duct needs 3.25hp.

Originally Posted by BobL

Chris, Looking at the smaller (2kW) Powtran VFDs on the web and there look like there are two versions.

Ine is a dark grey sort of boxy looking unit around the $200 mark on ebay and the others are light grey slightly more slimline versions.
Is the dark grey one an older model or maybe even a knock off?

Thanks

Links please Bob.

There has been some model changes since I dealt with them. I can send an email and ask the experts if I don't know the answer. You will never buy a Powtran at the same price as a Huanyang or that was the case. I could have reverted to the Huanyang but I could not find a factory supply at the time and I was not prepared to risk a break in supply as had occurred and the Powtran came with a rotary speed controller already fitted which was the icing on the cake. I then developed such a good relationship with Powtran I swallowed the extra cost and the customer never saw the difference. They were at me for about twelve months to be the Australian distributor but that was never going to happen as I had no expertise in the area.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

Links please Bob.

There has been some model changes since I dealt with them. I can send an email and ask the experts if I don't know the answer. You will never buy a Powtran at the same price as a Huanyang or that was the case. I could have reverted to the Huanyang but I could not find a factory supply at the time and I was not prepared to risk a break in supply as had occurred and the Powtran came with a rotary speed controller already fitted which was the icing on the cake. I then developed such a good relationship with Powtran I swallowed the extra cost and the customer never saw the difference. They were at me for about twelve months to be the Australian distributor but that was never going to happen as I had no expertise in the area.

Sorry I meant to include them in the last post

Heres are the cheapies
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-5KW-2HP...item3f3dc66aa8
the 1HP (that's all I need) is even cheaper.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/0-75KW-1H...item4188578d20

And here is the other sort
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-5KW-2HP...item3f2e0a6650

Bob, they are being sold by someone in Melbourne, he has no official distributor rights as far as I know. The units are genuine (whatever that means in China speak) but they are superseded, certainly the P1800 has been superseded for over a year. The P1800 is the one we supplied and the model change happened right on the time I sold Clearvue. I can recall someone on these fora bought a unit from this vendor and had issues of some description. He has popped up since I stopped being involved.

Bob, the dark coloured units are mini versions. Reduced features but excellent if you don't want all the bells and whistles. I have one on my lathe. Only around 150mm x 100mm x 110mm deep.(dimensions are from memory as it's in storage) Easy to slot into available space.
The lighter ones are 'normal' sized with full features.

NCArcher is the Australian expert in Powtran VFD's as he has been involved from day one and did the original programming for me.

Thanks Chris, certainly no expert but I have been installing and programming VFDs for around 30 yrs and I find the Powtrans to be very good value. I think my expertise lies mainly in being able to translate Chinglish manuals. Had a lot of practice at that.

Rev, Looks a lot like Chris and NCArcher are working to steer you toward a Powtran. If you end up going with your first link in the original post, beware that while the listing title says 4HP/3KW, at the bottom of the listing under Package Contents, it lists 1 2.2KW unit. Might be sloppy cut and paste job from a 2.2KW listing, but I would check with seller before dealing.
Package Content
1*2.2KW Variable Frequency Drive Inverter
1*English Manual

Thanks for your eagle eye malb! I had not noticed that.
I have looked at several of these listings that look for all intents and purposes the same but from purportedly separate sellers.

Originally Posted by malb

Rev, Looks a lot like Chris and NCArcher are working to steer you toward a Powtran. If you end up going with your first link in the original post, beware that while the listing title says 4HP/3KW, at the bottom of the listing under Package Contents, it lists 1 2.2KW unit. Might be sloppy cut and paste job from a 2.2KW listing, but I would check with seller before dealing.
Package Content
1*2.2KW Variable Frequency Drive Inverter
1*English Manual

I hope I didn't give that impression, my contribution was only to give another option and my experience with both the Powtran and Huanyang and outline my experience of both. The Huanyang is always cheaper and does the same job in the end but the Powtran has more user features making it a more versatile unit. Very few people in Australia look beyond the Huanyang and it has proven to be a reliable unit on the whole. This seller would be dreaming wouldn't he....http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/4HP-3KW-V...55373136&rt=nc

Are the Powtran VFDs still available directly from China?

There appears to be a seller on Ebay who is in China.

If it helps, my Powtran 4 kW VFD (P9100 model) is rated for 35 amps input at 220volts +-10%, and 16 amps per phase output at 220V +-10% according to the manual. I'm not sure how this adds up to 4 kW (more like 6000 watts, if the manual is correct).

My Clearvue CV1800 with 16" impeller draws 18 amps at 60Hz from my 240v outlet to the VFD and outputs 8.6 amps per phase from the VFD. This is with a 6" system connected and one port open. The 16" impeller should demand more power than the 15" but it might give you a ball-park figure to work with.

Based on the operators manual, it appears the the 4 kW VFD is rated to run a 4 kW motor (rather than 4 kW input or 4 kW power output). Given that my "3 kW" Teco motor is rated at 10 amps per phase at full load, this actually means the motor consumes up to 4136 watts (10*1.732*240 ) I assume the VFD rated for a 4 kW motor should therefore be capable of delivering closer to 5500 watts, so the 6000 watt output rating on the Powtran 4kW VFD seems to make sense to me. Take my advice with a cup of salt however, as electronics and electricity is an area where I am nearly completely ignorant / uninterested. Maybe I shouldn't be commenting... If all VFD's are spec'd like this, then a 3kW VFD should be capable of running a 3kW motor.