Thread: Drives Direct VFD arrived

Hi All,

First welcome to the forum GJM.

Having used PDL drives over many years, I can add that they are an excellent drive, designed and made in NZ, the ones I'm most familiar with are the microdrive series and the later elite series. They got bought out by Schneider and eventually closed down, some of the guys who used to work in the drives division now make large power factor correction systems. I think some of the others who used to work there are now making drives in NZ as well, but the brand name escapes me at present.

Since they are now defunct as a drive manufacturer, there are a lot of instances where PDL drives are being swapped out for Danfoss or ABB. There are still a few places that will repair PDL drives on a board replacement basis.

So, if you are looking for a VFD, and happen across a PDL, you should be able to get it at a good price.

Regards
Ray

Originally Posted by eskimo

GJM
the specification for your VFD says:
a) 240 (200)V single ph input to I assume 3 ph 250v output
b) 240 (200)V 3ph input to I assume 3ph 250v output
c) 3ph 240v (200) input to I assume 415v (480) 3 ph output


I suspect your motor is actually set up for "a"
most 3 ph small motors can be configured to run on either 240v 3 ph or 415V 3phase

I reckon your setup is in contrast to what the VFD from direct drives is doing..ie 240v single phase input to 3 phase 415 v output

Well, I have it set up on a 240v 1h in on a 3 pin plug, The motor is an OLD 1.5hp 440v 3ph motor that used to run the milking shed vacuum pump and then later on one of my wood lathes (on 440V 3ph), and certainly hasn't been changed since then and there are no terminals that allow star-delta conversion to run on 230v.
The voltage out put (as I recall) is set through the control panel setup. It has been a few years since I did the conversion when the Kobb variator finally expired after sounding like a coffee grinder for 10 years. If anyone wants any photos let me know.
The PDL microdrive I have on another machine is Vin=Vout.
If anyone has a Colchester Chippie - the effective speed range with the VFD isn't as wide as the variator, but it is so convenient, and so much quieter.
Geoff

Hi GJM,

If your motor is delta wound with 415V between phases, it will operate from a VFD with an output of 240V 3-phase, but at reduced power. If it's star wound with 415V between phases, it will operate at full power.

If I have got this wrong, I hope one of our learned members will set me straight.

Ken

Originally Posted by GJM

Well, I have it set up on a 240v 1h in on a 3 pin plug, The motor is an OLD 1.5hp 440v 3ph motor that used to run the milking shed vacuum pump and then later on one of my wood lathes (on 440V 3ph), and certainly hasn't been changed since then and there are no terminals that allow star-delta conversion to run on 230v.
The voltage out put (as I recall) is set through the control panel setup. It has been a few years since I did the conversion when the Kobb variator finally expired after sounding like a coffee grinder for 10 years. If anyone wants any photos let me know.
The PDL microdrive I have on another machine is Vin=Vout.
If anyone has a Colchester Chippie - the effective speed range with the VFD isn't as wide as the variator, but it is so convenient, and so much quieter.
Geoff

Geoff
the specs for that drive clearly says single phase in - 240v 3 phase out...and not 415V

have you measured the output?

Originally Posted by eskimo

Geoff
the specs for that drive clearly says single phase in - 240v 3 phase out...and not 415V

have you measured the output?

No I haven't - it was sold to me as a 230v-415V device, and the previous owner had been using it as such. Anyway, it works for me and the motor runs cool, however it is an old (50years or more) beast that weighs a ton, so it will take a lot to overheat.
I just checked the control settings - one of the settings is the nameplate info for the motor to set up the drive - settings are N2 = 400V, N1 = 3.99A. th e3.99A may be because that is all the drive will handle, - it has been several years.

Just spun it up, at 50hz (1430 motor RPM) it is doing around 0.6A with the motor idling (Clutch out) and 1.8A with the spindle running but not cuttting according to the readout.

I will see if my multimeter can handle 400V and measure it in the weekend if I have time - there are a couple of big welders in the way and like most workshops, a lot of stuff has to be moved to get to the bit you want. and it is under the kids bedroom, so it is a daytime job.

Hi Ken,
The little Plastic Tube on a Shoe Lace is called an " Aglett ".
Got it Trivial Pursuit Cards a while back. Spelling could be off ?.

Originally Posted by issatree

Hi Ken,
The little Plastic Tube on a Shoe Lace is called an " Aglett ".
Got it Trivial Pursuit Cards a while back. Spelling could be off ?.

Yep, "aglet", "aiglet" or "aiguillette" according to Chambers, from the French aiguilette, a diminutive of aiguille, a needle, from the Latin acucula, itself a diminutive of acus, Latin for needle.

Cheers,

David G.