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What VFD should I get- Automation Direct, Hitachi, Teco?
- Thread starter Nelson
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dickda1
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Have had a Hitachi x200 series for about 8 years now. I drive a couple of 3-phase motors off it and really like it. Has rpm display and braking.
AC Tech SMVector series would be my first choice.
http://www.ctiautomation.net/AC-Tech-SMVector-Drives.htm
Hitachi WJ200 series would be an another excellent choice.
http://www.clrwtr.com/Hitachi-WJ200.htm
I haven't had much luck with TECO Westinghouse drives. I haven't used Automation Direct drives.
http://www.ctiautomation.net/AC-Tech-SMVector-Drives.htm
Hitachi WJ200 series would be an another excellent choice.
http://www.clrwtr.com/Hitachi-WJ200.htm
I haven't had much luck with TECO Westinghouse drives. I haven't used Automation Direct drives.
My Teco FM50 has the braking option, but I don't have the resistor installed. Timed accel/deccel works smoothly. Display shows motor frequency. I have the parameters set from 10 to 90 Hz (it will go from 0 - 200 Hz). If you crank the frequency all the way up, you'd better have a motor that won't throw chunks at over three times normal speed.
I also have an old VSD 2000 from Power Resources that I picked up for $20. It comes to life when I power it from 240V single phase, but I don't have a spare 3-phase motor to try it out. It will put out up to 18 amps, good for 5 HP. The only mention I can find anywhere on the internet is the ad I got it from. The Taiwan company must not have gone computer.
I also have an old VSD 2000 from Power Resources that I picked up for $20. It comes to life when I power it from 240V single phase, but I don't have a spare 3-phase motor to try it out. It will put out up to 18 amps, good for 5 HP. The only mention I can find anywhere on the internet is the ad I got it from. The Taiwan company must not have gone computer.
I'm using a G.E. vat20 which is the same thing as the Teco fm50..
I'm not using the braking resistor option either, I dont really need it, I'm not in that big of a hurry..
my vfd is mounted inside an enclosure which is mounted on the wall and I have a remote box mounted on the mill..
I'm not using the braking resistor option either, I dont really need it, I'm not in that big of a hurry..
my vfd is mounted inside an enclosure which is mounted on the wall and I have a remote box mounted on the mill..
I have one of these for my mill
http://www.driveswarehouse.com/p-2526-wj200-015sf.aspx
I usually run it at 60Hz, because I have a variable speed head anyway. I am pretty happy with it, though the front panel controls are difficult to use, and I have not properly programmed it, so I have to set it up every time I run it. There is a PC based utility for all of the Hitachi drives that can be used to configure them. Ultimately I want to interface it with my CNC controller, but I havn't gotten there yet.
http://www.driveswarehouse.com/p-2526-wj200-015sf.aspx
I usually run it at 60Hz, because I have a variable speed head anyway. I am pretty happy with it, though the front panel controls are difficult to use, and I have not properly programmed it, so I have to set it up every time I run it. There is a PC based utility for all of the Hitachi drives that can be used to configure them. Ultimately I want to interface it with my CNC controller, but I havn't gotten there yet.
What VFD to get?
Thats a tough question to answer really. Its not just a general answer either. Questions like , do you want braking, instant reverse, constant torque. Depending on your needs snd wants, the choice can vary greatly.
I Have 2 Teco units, They are the FM500 models,not the fm50. A 240v 5 hp on the mill, and the Lathe has a 600v 7.5 hp. Both in Nema enclosures. I dont use the braking option on either, I have no use for instant reverse. Ramp up, and down, is all I feel is needed.
Both are volts/hertz VFDs and are not constant torque. They both can be set up to show RPM rather than hrtz, and I do use that. They both will do the vari-speed, but the mill is a vari-speed head, so I leave that VFD at 60 hrtz. The lathe I use the VFD for speed changes only if I cant get the speed from the gear box, or need a very hi-speed for certain work. I havnt seen any problem with these VFDs, though they are basic compared to others out there.
Complicated question, with a diverse amount of opinions, and answers.
This same question often comes up, but the end user needs to ask himself, What Im looking for out of a VFD? first. Then it can be narrowed down a bunch.
The Teco units I have are very easy to set up, and very user friendly.
Thats a tough question to answer really. Its not just a general answer either. Questions like , do you want braking, instant reverse, constant torque. Depending on your needs snd wants, the choice can vary greatly.
I Have 2 Teco units, They are the FM500 models,not the fm50. A 240v 5 hp on the mill, and the Lathe has a 600v 7.5 hp. Both in Nema enclosures. I dont use the braking option on either, I have no use for instant reverse. Ramp up, and down, is all I feel is needed.
Both are volts/hertz VFDs and are not constant torque. They both can be set up to show RPM rather than hrtz, and I do use that. They both will do the vari-speed, but the mill is a vari-speed head, so I leave that VFD at 60 hrtz. The lathe I use the VFD for speed changes only if I cant get the speed from the gear box, or need a very hi-speed for certain work. I havnt seen any problem with these VFDs, though they are basic compared to others out there.
Complicated question, with a diverse amount of opinions, and answers.
This same question often comes up, but the end user needs to ask himself, What Im looking for out of a VFD? first. Then it can be narrowed down a bunch.
The Teco units I have are very easy to set up, and very user friendly.
Last edited:
Hello All,
As Paul says, lots of variables to be considered and I have only very limited experience with a VFD.
Converted my lathe to VFD controlled 1HP 3 Phase using a Teco about a year or so ago and can only say I wished I had done it sooner! All kinds of additional capabilities (including dynamic braking, which I do NOT use as I have threaded on chucks!) The infinite speed control is a pleasure and now I never have to worry about motor overheating that was the norm with the OEM unit.
Teco is the end result of Westinghouse and Teco merging (being purchased?) some years back and the quality is evident.
My $0.02 for what it's worth.
As Paul says, lots of variables to be considered and I have only very limited experience with a VFD.
Converted my lathe to VFD controlled 1HP 3 Phase using a Teco about a year or so ago and can only say I wished I had done it sooner! All kinds of additional capabilities (including dynamic braking, which I do NOT use as I have threaded on chucks!) The infinite speed control is a pleasure and now I never have to worry about motor overheating that was the norm with the OEM unit.
Teco is the end result of Westinghouse and Teco merging (being purchased?) some years back and the quality is evident.
My $0.02 for what it's worth.
I have been waiting until I had enough capacitors for my 15 hsp 3 phase motor that was going to be my idler for my Rotary Phase Convertor. I was an industrial Maintenance Super visor for several years and I should have thought of using a VFD but until I read this thread it never entered my mind. Of course now after being off work for so long I seem to have only retained a small amount of what I once knew, it gets frustratring at times. A running 3 phase motor actual gives off current that it doesn't use or if a system is un balanced, that is why a "Y" wound idler motor you can actually run more machines at the same time because of this. This is much cheaper than any other solutions. I have been borrowing a rotary phase convertor and I am alway afraid it will fry on me.
I only had one question about the posting where a guy said his VFD was enclosed in an encloser, I am curious if he has problems with it heating up on him because the heat syncs on the VFD aren't going to work right I am wondering?
Thanks for the info,
Invent_4U
I only had one question about the posting where a guy said his VFD was enclosed in an encloser, I am curious if he has problems with it heating up on him because the heat syncs on the VFD aren't going to work right I am wondering?
Thanks for the info,
Invent_4U