How did you go from the ten gauge wire from the extension cord to the 14 gauge required by the VFD? Did you put the 14 gauge on the downstream side of those breakers? I can't really tell wire size because of the shadows. Is doing it that way ok? Can you use a terminal block to change the size of the wire?
Downsizing a wire size is fine. I sized the circuit larger so I could plug and play with larger machines if I wanted. I terminated the cord at the rotary disconnect and stepped down to an appropriate size for the motor load. In industry you would do this with terminal blocks at a central point in the panel, top or bottom to keep all of your terminations in one place, but for simplicity I just land directly on the RD. Remember that the circuit wire must be sized for all downstream loads, in this case the motor and small current from the VFD, not necessarily just the VFD.
Excellent explanation! I work with some very large VFDs at a power plant but am quite surprised how the 3 phase converters have come down in price and up in technology for the hobbyist/home owner/ craftsman.
This comment is regarding the enclosure. I have installed VFD's on numerous small machines, but have never installed one in an unvented enclosure. In the case in this video, it is a pretty large enclosure and the jointer is a machine that doesn't run high load continuously. If you can get away with it, without overheating the VFD, the sealed enclosure would keep it much cleaner. I don't know if this TECO VFD has its own cooling fan, but if it does and the enclosure has that much surface area on the sides, I can see how it could keep cool. I would like the idea of a sealed enclosure if there was either a VFD fan or a separate fan inside to move the air around to dissipate the heat. The large enclosure would help and maybe even a heat sink on the inside and outside of one of the enclosure sides. I have considered using a separate fan drawing air into an enclosure through a filter. Another option would be to install a digital temperature readout to monitor the VFD heat sink temperature. If you ever saw that reading getting too high, you could take additional measures to cool it. Digital panel temperature meters with sensors or an indoor/outdoor thermometer with an external sensor can be found cheap.
Bill you make a good point and good observations. The challenge with leaving it in the open air on a machine or in a wood shop is the obvious and the trade off of an enclosure is getting fresh air flow. This VFD has a tiny fan over the heat sink and with a jointer there is very low continuous load and most operation on the machine isn't continuous at all. I've never observed the VFD to heat up and as you said in a large metal box attached to a large metal machine the heat dissipates well. The box isn't sealed well either so air does get in, and with the cable penetrations some of the dust collection sucks air through the box (you can feel a slight draft). Overall the Teco is an incredible unit that's held up flawlessly with weekly use for years.
I have the exact same model you do. Great video. I'm running 220 20amp circuit to feed mine. Just want to make sure on the input wiring. Do I run each hot to L1 and L2 ....... then bond the ground to the bottom left chassis? Or do I just hook my green ground to L3? FWIW - output to 3 phase 3 wire motor
Bobby, Thanks for watching. Connect your 220VAC phase wires to L1, L2 and GND to the bonding screw of the chassis just as you noted. L3 is only used in a 3 wire/3phase input where you are just using it for functional purposes (speed control, ramp ups/downs, IO) and not just as a means to get 3ph output. (Or as L/N for single phase 120VAC Input models use L1/L3 for that too). You will love this drive, still going strong even after 3 years, great little VFD.
Hello Brian, I moved my shop and have f50 off power for 6 months, its powering up as before but im not getting full voltage out of it, is it possible that its settings got erased?
How did you hook up the remote on/off switch. I saw in the operation manual how to set up the programming but now where the wires go. Does one of the terminals supply power and you run that through a switch to return the power to another specific terminal?
There should be terminals for this, labeled in your manual. The switch is just to provide contact closure as a means of input to your VFD. You could literally touch two wires together connected to those two terminals and it would do the same thing. The important thing is t use a maintained switch so that it isn't momentary, as most VFD's are looking for that type of input. If you still can't figure it out please post the model number of the unit you're using and I will try to assist.
Brian, thanks for the video. I just finished restoring a PM-66 with a 5hp 3-Phase motor and I am in the process of doing the VFD programing and have a few questions if you dont mind. For my P0-00 it is asking whether it is constant torque or variable torque. What did you use for yours. 2nd is for P1-01 motor type, did you select common asynchronous, Var. freq asynchronous, or Perm Mag synchronous. My motor is not inverter rated, but the insulation is. Thanks, John
John, What is the brand vfd you are using? These are a bit more advanced functions, of which the Fm50 doesn't cover. Most of these time the defaults are fine for most applications. I would check with the company and tell them the application/machine type to choose appropriate settings for your machine and drive motor.
briancnc, Thanks for your reply. It is a VTDE brand VFD (Chinese Industrial) which seems like a few grades above the Huangyang models. I went to the manufacturers site and found a manual in English which made all of the difference. This one called for static and dynamic tests to determine the motor control best suited. Once I did that then it adjusted the presets to provide the best solution. Other than ramp up and down, I was able to utilize most of those. It is running fine with the 5 second ramps and draws only 4 to 5 amps. Thanks again fornyour help and reply. Going to look for a 3 phase joiner next!
I have been studying RU-vid for weeks on vfd's. I just received 2 FM50's today. 1 is a 1hp model for my drill press I want to convert to vs, and the 2nd is a 2hp model for a knife grinder I am building. I feel pretty comfortable about my set up. Yours looks very neat and professional!! Question. What size is your enclosure, where did you get it, and about how much was it? Are you going to put a gasket on the lid and keep it sealed? Do you plan for any kind of filter air flow through the box? Thank you very much for your time, and your VERY clean work!
+Toolferone Sorry I was traveling overseas, didn't have a chance to post the BOM for this. I will add it to the description in the next few minutes. Thank you for your comments! I don't plan to put a gasket on it as I like that it isn't air tight for at least some air flow. Keep in mind that every application is different. In the case of the jointer, unless I'm running a load of stock and working out a face and edge ready for milling, I rarely run the machine longer than a short cycle, so the VFD never really has a chance to get warm. When I am not using it I turn it off with the Rotary Disconnect too. This particular VFD is cooled internally while running and you will hear it run for a few seconds after it switches off the output. I don't feel this device needs any other cooling fan in the enclosure, but fresh cool filtered air is always a good thing for these components.
I have a PM60 with the same 1.5hp leeson, and was considering the same VFD - is that the 1.5 or 1hp you have? It's been two years - everything still good?
Size your vfd no smaller than your load, so yes a 1.5hp motor would need a 1.5hp VFD. Been using it daily for a while (as you noted 2 years at least) and it's running like a champ!
Chris it has never overheated and I've checked it multiple times after heavy use and it's still cool as can be. I don't have any issue with dust either. The enclosure is well closed but not sealed to air and the fan inside still can draw cool air in through holes/cracks around the enclosure. The dust seems to settle on the bottom of the enclosure (vertically) so I just clean it out once every few months, but it really does not collect much.
Hi i have 3Phase cold saw. instead of connecting the Variable Frequency Drive wires it to the motor, can i plug the cold saws power plug into the Variable Frequency Drive?
I am looking at buying one of these for a project I am working on. Its a mobile pump demo and I want to plug it into a standard 115 outlet have you used one of these?
That's a great method for doing this. What are the specs of the pump motor that you are using? You just want to make sure the VFD is sized correctly for your load but you will it very nice and easy to implement.
the pump's current draw on 230v is 4.7 and the biggest VFD in the FM50 series is 4.2 will this cause problems? the pump I am going to use is a flotec 1/2 hp www.thehardwarecity.com/products/FP5512-1-2-HP-Centrifugal-Pump/0003603?gclid=CLyq4f7B0s0CFQYIaQodHtMH_g
I am an intern for an engineering company they want to be able to change the speed of the pump to show that it needs to overcome static head. one of the constraint that they want to show. The entire model is just manipulating pumps so you can show different things that could cause problems not enough power, cavitation, ect... And everything I have read and people I have talked to said VFD's on a 1-phase motor is bad news and can dramatically shorten the life of the pump. It can never be simple right lol
thanks for the video. Can you help an idiot. i'm confused about the magnet contactor/switch I have in my spare parts bin and it's potential location in the system. I have 220 single phase going into my vfd and 220 three phase coming out. So do I put the mag switch before the vfd and if so doesn't that mean I'm only using 2 lines in and 2 lines out of the switch? and would that serve as my Rotary switch and breaker as in your set up
Billy T the vfd takes place of that motor starter, it really does all of the above. The disconnect is just for isolation locally and to turn the unit off, and the circuit breaker for local protection, which for this case is overkill. I only did it because it was a freebie I was given at the time. Any switch to the vfd will kill the power, it doesn't have to be a disconnect but the rotary type is most common in industry. You don't need a magnetic switch or contactor as the vfd will de-energize the motor output if power is lost. If you're feeding it 220v you will want a 2 pole switch to do this as you noted. there's nothing wrong with keeping the vfd powered up all the time I just like to know equipment is off for sure when I'm not around.
So really I just need an on off switch before the vfd that's rated for 220 20amp in this case, this will kill power to the vfd like a lightbulb lol. Then to control my motor I use the control lugs on the vfd with small wire like cat 5....lol Am I close
Absolutely, in theory it doesn't even have to be rated for 20A as you won't ever switch it off under load, (hopefully), but good to do at least what the circuit is rated for. CAT5 is probably fine, it's just contact closure that the VFD is looking for, but I tend to run 18ga AWG for control wire like this. The most important thing when wiring a VFD to remember is to NEVER put a switch on the output side between the VFD output and the load (motor in this case). VFD's are very sensitive to this and it can wreck the unit.
Yes you can. These teco vfd's can be configured for 50/60hz input just make sure you purchase the correct one for your application. Also keep in mind that a lot of equipment can run on either as well. Where in South America are you going? I only ask because in Brazil for example, they use 60hz.
+briancnc Hi, I am going to Chile, I am originally from there, and after 30 years in Toronto, I have decided to move there for health reasons. I need warmer weather LOL
ER1 means "Keypad operation error" sounds like you don't have a parameter set correctly. See the user manual for errors, cause and countermeasures it covers it all. I suggest going through the settings again to make sure everything is correct. Send me a private message if you need help troubleshooting. download.factorymation.com/acdrives/FM50manual.pdf
