Variable Frequency Drive
Adjustable-speed drive controlling motor speed, torque, and operating modes by converting supply frequency and voltage.
A variable frequency drive (VFD) generates controlled output voltage and frequency to regulate motor speed and torque.
Depending on model, it may support scalar and vector control, different feedback methods, motor autotuning, flying start, and an integrated PID controller.
The power stage is characterized by overload capability, DC-bus parameters, switching frequency, braking and regeneration functions, and compatibility with braking resistors, reactors, and output filters. With long motor cables, permissible cable length, dV/dt, motor-terminal peak voltage, and insulation requirements become important.
Advanced functions may include a common DC bus, four-quadrant operation, power-loss ride-through, kinetic-energy buffering, load sharing, droop control, and automatic restart. Selection considers motor type, duty class, current and power, overload capability, control algorithm, EMC, safety, and communication integration.
Variable frequency drives for speed and torque control of AC motors and other compatible electrical machines.
Variable Frequency Drive
Dimensions4
External horizontal dimension of the product between its outermost lateral points.
External vertical dimension of the product from its lowest to its highest point.
External distance between the foremost and rearmost surfaces of the product.
Mass of the product itself, excluding transport packaging, additional accessories, and external equipment.
Materials and Finish7
Primary material from which the product is manufactured.
Grade, alloy, class, or technical designation of the product's primary material.
Primary visually perceived colour of the product's external surface.
Designation of the product's primary surface colour according to the RAL colour system.
Type of final surface finish of the product determining its appearance and service properties.
Technological surface treatment applied to modify its protective, mechanical, or decorative properties.
Type of protective, functional, or decorative coating applied to the surface.
Mounting and Installation29
Installation arrangement permitted by the product design, such as wall-mounted, flush-mounted, floor-mounted, or another specified mounting type.
Method used to mechanically secure the product to a support, surface, or load-bearing structure.
Type of surface or supporting base to which the product may be fixed.
Permissible spatial orientation of the component during installation and operation.
Number of holes provided in the product for mechanical fixing.
Diameter of the hole provided for a fixing element used when mounting the product.
Distance between the centres of mounting holes in the horizontal direction.
Distance between the centres of mounting holes in the vertical direction.
Horizontal dimension of the mounting pattern between the outermost fixing points of the product.
Vertical dimension of the mounting pattern between the outermost fixing points of the product.
Size designation of the screw, bolt, or other threaded fastener used for mounting the product.
Designation of the thread provided in the product's mounting holes or fixing elements.
Tightening torque recommended or permitted for fasteners during product installation.
Indicates whether the required fasteners are included with the product.
Indicates whether the design provides for mounting equipment on a DIN rail.
Indicates whether equipment may be mounted directly to the mounting surface without an intermediate DIN rail.
Minimum free space required above the product for installation, cooling, or servicing.
Minimum free space required below the product for installation, cooling, or servicing.
Minimum free space required to the left of the product for installation or servicing.
Minimum free space required to the right of the product for installation or servicing.
Minimum free space required in front of the product for installation and normal operation.
Minimum free space required behind the product for installation and normal operation.
Maximum angle permitted by the manufacturer by which the product may deviate from the specified reference orientation during installation.
Minimum unobstructed installation clearance required above the product for ventilation or heat dissipation.
Minimum unobstructed installation clearance required below the product for ventilation or heat dissipation.
Minimum unobstructed installation clearance required on the left side for normal cooling.
Minimum unobstructed installation clearance required on the right side for normal cooling.
Minimum unobstructed installation clearance required in front of the product for normal cooling.
Minimum unobstructed installation clearance required behind the product for normal cooling.
Electrical Parameters108
Type of electrical current for which the product's main supply circuit is intended.
Voltage value assigned to the product by the manufacturer for specified application conditions and characteristics.
Operating-circuit voltage with reference to which the product's performance characteristics are specified.
Minimum voltage at which the manufacturer guarantees the intended operating mode of the product.
Maximum voltage at which continuous operation of the product is permitted under the conditions declared by the manufacturer.
AC frequency assigned to the product for normal operating conditions.
Lower limit of the electrical network or signal frequency at which product operation is permitted.
Upper limit of the electrical network or signal frequency at which product operation is permitted.
Current assigned to the product by the manufacturer for the declared operating and thermal conditions.
Current that the product can carry continuously under the manufacturer's declared conditions without exceeding permissible temperature rise.
Voltage with reference to which the product's insulation clearances and dielectric properties are specified.
Peak value of an impulse voltage of specified waveform that the product insulation must withstand without breakdown.
Test voltage applied to verify the dielectric strength of the product insulation.
Minimum permissible insulation resistance between the specified electrically separated parts.
Category characterizing the expected level of impulse overvoltages at the product's point of use.
Degree of pollution of the surrounding microenvironment considered when selecting insulation distances and product characteristics.
Class of protection against electric shock determined by the product design and protective connection method.
Motor technologies and motor types that the product is designed to control, start, protect or drive.
Electrical phase configurations of motors supported by the product.
Motor winding connection configurations supported by the product.
Minimum motor rated voltage supported by the product.
Maximum motor rated voltage supported by the product.
Minimum motor rated current supported by the product.
Maximum motor rated current supported by the product.
Minimum motor rated power supported by the product.
Maximum motor rated power supported by the product.
Minimum motor rated frequency supported by the product.
Maximum motor rated frequency supported by the product.
Minimum motor rated rotational speed supported by the product.
Maximum motor rated rotational speed supported by the product.
Minimum number of motor poles supported by the product.
Maximum number of motor poles supported by the product.
Minimum motor service factor supported or configurable for motor protection or control.
Maximum motor service factor supported or configurable for motor protection or control.
Motor starting methods that the product can provide or manage.
Motor stopping and braking methods supported by the product, including coast stop, controlled deceleration and electrical, regenerative or mechanical braking methods.
Motor rotation directions that the product can control.
Manufacturer-declared motor power associated with the stated operational voltage and utilization category. UI may display the value in kW.
Operational voltage associated with the stored rated motor power.
Utilization category to which the stored rated motor power applies.
Conductor connection technology used specifically for the main power terminals of the switching device.
Minimum conductor cross-section accepted by the main power terminal.
Maximum conductor cross-section accepted by the main power terminal.
Manufacturer-declared tightening torque specifically for screw, bolt or clamp-type main power terminals.
Conductor connection technology used specifically for the control-circuit terminals.
Minimum conductor cross-section accepted by the control-circuit terminal.
Maximum conductor cross-section accepted by the control-circuit terminal.
Manufacturer-declared tightening torque specifically for a screw-type control-circuit terminal.
Manufacturer-declared VFD duty class associated with output-current and overload capability.
Maximum short-duration output current expressed as a percentage of the applicable rated VFD output current.
Maximum duration for which the declared VFD overload-capacity ratio may be sustained.
Manufacturer-declared nominal voltage of the product DC bus or DC-link, whether internal or externally accessible.
Minimum DC-bus voltage within the manufacturer-declared operating range.
Maximum DC-bus voltage within the manufacturer-declared operating range.
Indicates that the VFD provides externally accessible DC-link terminals.
Indicates support for a braking chopper used to dissipate regenerated motor energy in a braking resistor.
Indicates that a braking chopper is integrated into the VFD.
Indicates that an external or integrated braking resistor may be used with the drive.
Minimum braking-resistor resistance permitted by the manufacturer.
Maximum braking-resistor resistance supported or recommended by the manufacturer.
Maximum manufacturer-declared continuous braking-resistor power associated with the supported braking system.
Minimum configurable DC injection braking current expressed as a percentage of the applicable motor current reference.
Maximum configurable DC injection braking current expressed as a percentage of the applicable motor current reference.
Motor output frequency at or below which DC injection braking begins during deceleration.
Minimum configurable duration of DC injection braking.
Maximum configurable duration of DC injection braking.
Minimum configurable motor-preheating current expressed as a percentage of the applicable motor current reference.
Maximum configurable motor-preheating current expressed as a percentage of the applicable motor current reference.
Nominal electrical input voltage for which the power conversion device is designed.
Minimum continuous input voltage within the manufacturer-declared operating input range.
Maximum continuous input voltage within the manufacturer-declared operating input range.
Maximum manufacturer-declared input current under the specified operating conditions.
Maximum active electrical power drawn by the device from its input source under manufacturer-declared conditions.
Manufacturer-declared input power factor at the specified load and supply conditions.
Electrical current type delivered at the product output.
Nominal output voltage delivered under manufacturer-declared operating conditions.
Minimum output voltage available or permitted within the specified output operating range.
Maximum output voltage available or permitted within the specified output operating range.
Continuous output current for which the product is rated under the specified operating conditions.
Maximum output current permitted or available under manufacturer-declared conditions.
Continuous rated active output power of the power conversion device.
Maximum short-duration active output power available under manufacturer-declared conditions.
Continuous rated apparent output power for AC-output power conversion equipment.
Manufacturer-declared power conversion efficiency at the specified operating point.
Nominal AC output frequency delivered by the UPS.
Minimum output frequency supported within the manufacturer-declared operating or adjustment range.
Maximum output frequency supported within the manufacturer-declared operating or adjustment range.
General electrical power conversion technology used by the product.
Primary converter circuit topology used for power conversion.
Rectification method used in the power conversion circuit where applicable.
Nominal switching frequency of the power conversion stage under manufacturer-declared operating conditions.
Minimum switching frequency used by a variable-frequency power conversion stage.
Maximum switching frequency used by a variable-frequency power conversion stage.
Total harmonic distortion of the input current under the manufacturer-declared input voltage and load conditions.
Maximum manufacturer-supported cable length between the drive and motor under the stated installation and filtering conditions.
Maximum manufacturer-supported motor cable length when a shielded motor cable is used.
Maximum manufacturer-supported motor cable length when an unshielded motor cable is permitted.
Maximum supported motor cable length when the manufacturer-specified output reactor is used.
Maximum supported motor cable length when a manufacturer-approved dV/dt output filter is used.
Maximum supported motor cable length when a manufacturer-approved sine-wave output filter is used.
Indicates that a shielded motor cable is required by the manufacturer for the applicable installation or EMC declaration.
Types of drive-output filtering or conditioning devices supported between the VFD and motor.
Maximum manufacturer-declared voltage slew rate at the motor-side output under the stated cable and filter conditions.
Maximum manufacturer-declared peak motor-terminal voltage under the specified cable and output-filter conditions.
Minimum motor-insulation peak-voltage withstand capability required or recommended for operation with the drive under the declared conditions.
Minimum motor-insulation voltage-slew withstand capability required or recommended by the drive manufacturer.
Indicates manufacturer-approved operation from an unearthed or impedance-earthed IT supply system under the specified configuration.
Indicates manufacturer-approved operation on a corner-grounded supply system.
Protection and Safety26
Degree of enclosure protection against access to hazardous parts and ingress of solid objects and water, designated by the IP code.
IP degree of protection provided by the accessible front side of the product after its intended installation.
Class of enclosure resistance to external mechanical impacts designated by the IK code.
Indicates whether the declared ingress protection of the enclosure has been verified by certification or testing.
Method or level of protection of the user against direct contact with hazardous live parts.
Set of protection functions integrated into the product or provided by it in its normal intended configuration.
Reset or restart modes supported after the condition that caused a trip, protection action, alarm or safety stop has been cleared.
Indicates whether a local mechanical or electronic indicator shows that the circuit breaker has tripped protectively.
Manufacturer-declared permissible short-circuit current value for the product or assembly under specified conditions.
Conditions associated with the declared short-circuit withstand rating or SCCR, including required type, class, rating, or other restrictions of the upstream protective device.
Indicates that the drive can automatically modify acceleration, deceleration, frequency or torque command to prevent an overcurrent or overvoltage stall condition.
Manufacturer-declared current flowing from the product electrical circuits to protective earth under the specified operating condition.
Manufacturer-declared current that may flow through a person or measuring network when touching accessible conductive parts under the specified condition.
Indicates whether the current-limiting threshold can be adjusted.
Minimum available electronic current-limit setting.
Maximum available electronic current-limit setting.
Characteristic describing product behaviour when the set current-limit threshold is reached.
Number of independent safety-related input channels used by the Safe Torque Off function.
Maximum manufacturer-declared time from a valid STO demand until torque-generating drive output is disabled.
Functional-safety functions provided, monitored, evaluated or supported by the product, including machine-safety devices, safety relays and safety-related drive functions.
Maximum manufacturer-declared Performance Level PL according to ISO 13849-1 for the applicable safety function and architecture.
Maximum or applicable control-system architecture category according to ISO 13849-1.
Maximum manufacturer-declared Safety Integrity Level applicable to the product or safety function.
Maximum SIL Claim Limit declared for the safety-related subsystem according to IEC 62061 where applicable.
Average probability of a dangerous failure per hour. Stored numerically in units of 10^-9 per hour to preserve precision with the current decimal value storage.
Manufacturer-declared mission time or useful lifetime used for the functional-safety calculation or claim.
Environmental Conditions27
Minimum ambient temperature at which normal operation of the product is permitted.
Maximum ambient temperature at which normal operation of the product is permitted.
Minimum ambient temperature permitted during storage of the product while not in operation.
Maximum ambient temperature permitted during storage of the product while not in operation.
Minimum relative air humidity permitted for the declared operating or test condition.
Maximum relative air humidity permitted for the declared operating or test condition.
Temperature at which the corresponding relative humidity value is specified or standardized.
Nature of the humidity conditions for which product operation or resistance is declared.
Indicates whether the permissible humidity value applies only to non-condensing conditions.
Maximum altitude above sea level at which the product may be installed without exceeding the declared conditions.
Indicates whether the permissible product load must be reduced as installation altitude increases.
Altitude above sea level above which the permissible product load must be reduced.
Indicates whether the product's resistance to vibration has been verified under the declared conditions.
Lower limit of vibration frequency applied or permitted in the relevant test.
Upper limit of vibration frequency applied or permitted in the relevant test.
Amplitude or test-method-specified acceleration of vibration applied during product testing.
Indicates whether the product's resistance to short-duration mechanical shocks has been verified.
Maximum acceleration generated during mechanical shock testing of the product.
Duration of an individual mechanical shock pulse during product testing.
Primary cooling method used by the product during normal operation.
Maximum manufacturer-declared acoustic noise level under the specified operating and measurement conditions.
Principal airflow direction through or around the product for normal manufacturer-declared cooling.
Percentage reduction of usable output capability per kelvin above the manufacturer-declared derating threshold.
Percentage reduction of usable output capability per 1000 metres above the manufacturer-declared derating altitude.
Indicates that one or more internal printed circuit boards are protected by a conformal coating.
Principal conformal coating material applied to internal printed circuit boards.
Indicates that the product incorporates manufacturer-declared measures intended for operation in hot and humid tropical environments.
Included Equipment3
Indicates that the VFD incorporates an active regenerative input stage capable of bidirectional power flow.
Indicates that an EMC/RFI input filter is integrated into the drive.
Indicates that a manufacturer-approved external EMC/RFI filter can be used with the drive.
Special Features85
Number of available digital inputs of the product.
Number of available digital outputs of the product.
Indicates whether user-configurable functions can be assigned to one or more digital inputs.
Indicates whether user-configurable functions can be assigned to one or more digital outputs.
Number of independent relay outputs or sets of switching contacts provided by the product.
Contact configurations provided for the product relay outputs.
Functions permanently assigned or assignable to the product relay outputs.
Number of integrated analogue input channels.
Analogue signal, sensor or resistance input types supported by the product.
Number of integrated analog outputs provided by the product.
Types of analog signals supported by the product outputs.
Indicates whether the product supports digital data exchange with external devices or systems.
List of supported digital data communication protocols.
List of supported physical or logical digital communication interfaces.
Indicates whether the product can store an internal event log.
Maximum number of event records that can be stored in the product's internal log.
Indicates whether accumulated product operating time or loaded operating time is counted according to the manufacturer's definition.
Indicates whether the number of protective trips of the product is counted.
Indicates whether the product performs internal diagnostic checks to detect or report internal faults.
Motor-control algorithms or control strategies supported by the product, such as scalar V/f, vector control, field-oriented control, direct torque control or open-loop step control.
Controlled motor quantities supported by the product, such as speed, torque, position or current.
Motor rotor-position, speed or motion feedback methods supported by the product, including physical feedback devices and sensorless estimation.
Indicates that the programmable device provides configurable PID control functionality.
Indicates manufacturer-supported connection of multiple drives or compatible power-conversion devices to a common DC bus.
Indicates that the drive may be powered through an external DC-link supply under manufacturer-declared conditions.
Indicates that regenerated motor energy can be returned toward the electrical supply or common DC system rather than only dissipated as heat.
Indicates support for motoring and regenerative operation in both rotational directions.
Indicates that the drive can automatically identify or estimate motor electrical parameters for control configuration.
Motor parameter identification procedures supported by the drive.
Indicates that the drive can detect and synchronize with a motor that is already rotating before active drive control is applied.
Indicates that the drive can automatically restart motor operation after restoration of acceptable supply following a power interruption.
Indicates support for increased low-frequency motor voltage or equivalent compensation intended to improve starting or low-speed torque.
Maximum configurable torque-boost or equivalent low-frequency voltage-boost setting expressed relative to the manufacturer-defined reference.
Indicates support for automatic adjustment of torque boost based on motor load or internal control calculations.
Indicates support for compensating induction-motor speed variation caused by load-dependent rotor slip.
Indicates that the amount or gain of motor slip compensation can be configured.
Indicates support for excluding one or more output-frequency ranges to avoid mechanical resonance or undesirable operating speeds.
Maximum number of independently configurable output-frequency exclusion bands.
Minimum configurable motor acceleration time from the applicable lower to upper speed or frequency reference.
Maximum configurable motor acceleration time.
Minimum configurable controlled motor deceleration time.
Maximum configurable controlled motor deceleration time.
Indicates support for an S-shaped acceleration profile to reduce mechanical jerk.
Indicates support for an S-shaped deceleration profile to reduce mechanical jerk.
Sources from which the VFD can receive its output-frequency or speed reference.
Sources from which the drive can receive run, stop and direction commands.
Number of internally selectable preset motor speed or frequency references.
Number of independent motor parameter sets that can be stored and selected by the drive.
Feedback signal sources supported by the internal VFD PID controller.
Sources from which the internal VFD PID controller can receive its process setpoint.
Indicates that the drive can stop or reduce motor operation when the PID-controlled process demand remains below a configurable sleep condition.
Output-frequency threshold below which the drive may enter PID sleep mode.
Time for which the sleep condition must persist before the drive enters PID sleep mode.
Process deviation from the applicable PID setpoint that can cause the drive to wake from sleep mode.
Delay before restarting PID-controlled motor operation after the wake condition is detected.
Indicates support for automatically optimizing motor magnetization, voltage or related control parameters to reduce energy consumption at partial load.
Indicates that controlled current can be applied to a stopped motor to reduce condensation or maintain winding temperature.
Indicates that the VFD can maintain or recover controlled operation through a short input-power interruption without a normal shutdown sequence.
Manufacturer-declared maximum power-loss duration for which ride-through operation is supported under the stated conditions.
Indicates that motor or load kinetic energy can be used to support the DC bus during a temporary loss of input power.
Indicates support for coordinated load or torque sharing between multiple motor drives.
Methods supported for sharing torque, speed or load between coordinated drives.
Indicates support for intentionally reducing speed or frequency reference as load increases to facilitate load sharing.
Minimum configurable droop characteristic or gain expressed relative to the manufacturer-defined reference.
Maximum configurable droop characteristic or gain expressed relative to the manufacturer-defined reference.
Maximum configurable number of automatic motor restart attempts following an eligible fault or interruption.
Minimum configurable delay before an automatic restart attempt.
Maximum configurable delay before an automatic restart attempt.
Indicates that actual input voltage is measured and available locally or through a supported interface.
Indicates that actual input current is measured and available locally or through a supported interface.
Indicates that electrical input power is measured or calculated by the product.
Indicates that electrical energy consumed at the input can be accumulated or reported.
Indicates that AC input frequency is measured and available to the user or control system.
Indicates that actual output voltage is measured and available locally or through a supported interface.
Indicates that actual output current is measured and available locally or through a supported interface.
Indicates that electrical output power is measured or calculated by the product.
Indicates that electrical energy delivered through the output can be accumulated or reported.
Indicates that AC output frequency is measured and available to the user or control system.
Indicates that actual output loading can be calculated and reported as a percentage of the applicable rated output capability.
Indicates that one or more internal product temperatures are measured and available for monitoring.
Indicates that actual conversion efficiency can be calculated or reported from measured input and output electrical quantities.
Indicates that the drive provides a dedicated configuration or operating mode for long motor cables.
Indicates that the internal EMC filter connection to earth can be disconnected or configured when required for supported supply systems.
Indicates that the drive or supported output-conditioning arrangement provides measures intended to reduce common-mode or motor bearing currents.
Indicates that insulated motor bearings are recommended by the manufacturer under the applicable drive, motor or cable conditions.
Standards and Compliance25
Primary normative document or standard according to which the manufacturer classifies or assesses the product.
Additional normative documents and standards declared by the manufacturer as applicable to the product.
Indicates whether an official declaration of conformity is available for the product.
Indicates whether a certificate relating to the declared certification or conformity of the product is available.
Indicates whether the CE marking is applied to the product where applicable.
Indicates whether the UKCA marking is applied to the product where applicable.
Indicates whether the EAC marking is applied to the product where applicable.
Indicates whether the product has a declared UL Listed certification or recognition status.
Indicates whether the product has a declared UL Recognized certification or recognition status.
Indicates whether the cULus mark is applied to the product where applicable.
Indicates whether the manufacturer declares product compliance with IEC 60529.
Indicates whether the manufacturer declares product compliance with IEC 62262.
Indicates whether the product has been tested according to applicable methods of the IEC 60068 series.
Indicates whether product compliance with applicable RoHS restrictions on hazardous substances has been declared.
Indicates whether the manufacturer declares compliance of the product with applicable REACH Regulation requirements.
Indicates whether the product falls within the scope of WEEE requirements for waste electrical and electronic equipment.
Manufacturer-declared EMC environment category or drive EMC category according to the applicable adjustable-speed electrical power drive system standard, where specified.
Compliance with applicable IEC 61800-3 EMC requirements for adjustable-speed electrical power drive systems.
Compliance with applicable IEC 61800-5-1 safety requirements for adjustable-speed electrical power drive systems.
Compliance with applicable IEC 61800-5-2 functional-safety requirements for safety-related power drive systems.
Compliance with applicable UL 61800-5-1 requirements for adjustable-speed electrical power drive systems.
Compliance with ISO 13849-1 requirements applicable to safety-related parts of control systems.
Compliance with IEC 62061 requirements applicable to functional safety of safety-related control systems for machinery.
Compliance with applicable requirements of the IEC 61508 functional-safety series.
Compliance with applicable IEC 60204-1 requirements for electrical equipment of machines.