Technical Guide Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Inverter Drive Systems Ltd

Dimensioning a variable speed drive

ABB’s Liam Blackshaw offers advice on how to dimension a variable speed drive correctly When assessing an application and choosing a variable speed drive (VSD) to suit, it is important to consider the following to avoid over-dimensioning that can lead to unnecessary expense, impaired performance and the risk of a decrease inefficiency. 1. Check the initial conditions Before selecting a VSD and motor, check the mains supply voltage level (230 to 690 V) and frequency…

ABB Training Webinars

Haven’t the last few months been rather surreal? I am guessing your company, like ours, are busy putting in new measures to keep staff and customers as safe as possible. In an effort kick start returning to a form of normality and to enable us to continue to add value to our customers, we are pleased to announce we are teaming up with the experts at ABB to provide a series of online inverter training…

Help My Variable Speed Drive Will Not Start

Help My Variable Speed Drive Will Not Start In this video, IDS MD and Engineer, Blaise Ford, shows us one of the most common reasons an ABB Variable Speed Drive won’t start! As Blaise states in the video, we get quite a few calls from our customers saying they can’t run their drives. Blaise shows us an example of this on our demonstration rig. The variable speed drive doesn’t switch on or off, it isn’t…

The 3 Most Common Faults on Inverters and how to Fix Them

At IDS we have a wealth of inverter experience. We have been an ABB Partner for over 20 years and are used to supporting clients with a variety of inverter-controlled applications. In this article we look at the 3 most common faults on inverters and how to fix them: 1. Overvoltage and Undervoltage Overvoltage This is caused by a high intermediate circuit DC voltage. This can arise from high inertia loads decelerating too quickly, the…

Why is my inverter drawing too much current?

At IDS we receive a lot of technical enquiries regarding inverters. Over the last few months we have addressed a wide variety of these in article form, hoping to give our readers a valuable resource to consult as and when required. The topic of these FAQ articles range from How To Run An Inverter On A Generator to How To Store Inverters in this article we take a look at another frequently asked question: Why…

How To Run An Inverter On A Generator

We are frequently asked how to run an inverter from a generator, IDS Engineer, Blaise Ford explains all: The main power supply to many applications are backed up using a generator in the event that the main power source is lost. It is essential to ensure that when main power is lost and the generator kicks in that the applications which are inverter fed, power up. How To Run An Inverter On A Generator When…

The Difference Between A Soft Starter And A Variable Speed Drive

When a motor is started is draws a large amount of electric current as it accelerates to full speed. This sudden demand for current can lead to voltage dips and other undesirable effects. The Difference Between A Soft Starter And A Variable Speed Drive Soft starts and variable speed drives can both be used to reduce inrush current and limit torque thereby reducing large electrical and mechanical stresses on the motor windings, cables and components…

Are Inverters Phase Sensitive?

In this article, Blaise Ford, MD of Inverter Drive Systems, answers a question we are frequently asked: Are Inverters Phase Sensitive? Blaise explains: “Inverters take single or three phase mains, rectify it and then chop it up again to give variable frequency, variable voltage output. The three phase rotation, brown-black-grey or brown-grey-black, is lost when it is rectified and becomes dc. This means that the rotation direction of a motor always needs to be performed…

Benefits of Inverter Control on Archimedes Screws

Introduction Invented thousands of years ago by the Greek mathematician Archimedes on the occasion of his visit to Egypt. It was used to lift a pool of water to higher levels, usually to transfer water into irrigation channels. It consists of a screw (a helical surface surrounding a central cylindrical shaft) inside a hollow pipe. The Roman screw was also used to dewater mines in Spain. The screw is usually turned by windmill, manual labour, cattle, or by…

Reducing Loses in the Energy Chain

When quenching our thirst, we rarely think about the power needed to fill a glass of water. In order to enjoy a glass of tap water, the water needs to be pumped. The pump itself needs to be run by a motor, but how much power must be produced for the motor to run? The power travels from the power plant through power lines to the motor. Along this journey, power losses occur. Reducing Loses…