Eric Nelson
Lifetime Supporting Member + Moderator
We got an old rebuilt silkscreen printer today. It's all mechanically sequenced, so the only electrical item on it is the 1/3 HP 230V 3-phase drive motor and contactor. Simple 3-wire control set up as 'cycle on demand'. A foot pedal to start, and a cam operated switch to stop (with an E-stop on the loop).
They decided to test run the machine in a place where I don't have 3-phase, and of course they want to try it out NOW. My quick solution was to stick a VFD on the motor so it can run on single phase. Added benefit is that we gain variable speed...
I found an old AB 161S drive on my junk shelf and started wiring it up. When I got around to connecting the 3-wire control to the inputs, I realized that this drive does NOT have the capability to use a 3-wire control!...
I have used quite a number of small drives throughout the years, and EVERY SINGLE ONE of them was able to use 3-wire control. Here's the kicker... I have NEVER NEEDED to use 3-wire control on any of these drives. I have ALWAYS used simple 2-wire run/stop.
Now, for the first time, I actually HAVE a need for 3-wire control, and the drive doesn't support it!...
Oh well. Now I'm off to add a relay...
If anyone cares to figure out a way to make this drive operate with a 3-wire control, the drive manual is HERE.
-Eric
They decided to test run the machine in a place where I don't have 3-phase, and of course they want to try it out NOW. My quick solution was to stick a VFD on the motor so it can run on single phase. Added benefit is that we gain variable speed...
I found an old AB 161S drive on my junk shelf and started wiring it up. When I got around to connecting the 3-wire control to the inputs, I realized that this drive does NOT have the capability to use a 3-wire control!...
I have used quite a number of small drives throughout the years, and EVERY SINGLE ONE of them was able to use 3-wire control. Here's the kicker... I have NEVER NEEDED to use 3-wire control on any of these drives. I have ALWAYS used simple 2-wire run/stop.
Now, for the first time, I actually HAVE a need for 3-wire control, and the drive doesn't support it!...
Oh well. Now I'm off to add a relay...
If anyone cares to figure out a way to make this drive operate with a 3-wire control, the drive manual is HERE.
-Eric