ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by gfretwell - 03/28/24 12:43 AM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 255 guests, and 16 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
#63093 03/06/06 06:25 PM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 273
C
Member
i have a question about variable frequency drives.can one unit run more than more than one motor of the same horsepower & voltage?the reason i ask is we have a machine that turns spindles for buffing stainless steel. we use a 40:1 ratio gearbox now , but that is still too fast.this machine has 12 spindles. i belive each motor is 3hp 3 phase 440 volts 1725 rpm.if a VFD can control more than one, how many max?THANKS for any replies!

#63094 03/06/06 07:41 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 73
S
Member
I am no expert on vfd's.You usually install one for each motor.But I have also not installed them on such small motors.I would think a cheaper type of speed control would be better.I do not see why you could'nt supply two motors with one.Just my two cents I guess.

#63095 03/06/06 08:01 PM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 153
W
Member
You can. But you will have to add motor protection for each motor, whereas with just one motor the vfd usually will do that job also.

#63096 03/06/06 08:52 PM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 273
C
Member
wolfgang,would you add up the total horsepower of all the motors & buy that size unit or would the single motor size work?the example would be 3hp X 12 for a total of 36 hp.surfinsparky, what kind of speed control could be mounted in a starter cabinet? all 12 of these motors run at once.

#63097 03/06/06 09:21 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 2
Cat Servant
Member
I have never tried multiple motors on one VFD....and I'm not sure I'd want to!
Regardless of the nominal RPM of a motor, every motor is going to run a little bit different. Likewise, the load applied to each motor is going to vary slightly.
Invariably, production lines have some means to adjust the line between stages, to account for these factors. Yet, I still would not count on every motor running at the same speed. I'd really like there to be separate VFD's.

#63098 03/06/06 10:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8
Junior Member
circuit man, I have seen it done but all the motors were working on the same load. We had a large diameter pipe puller with eight tractors each with its own motor. I am not sure that it would be a good idea if all the motors were not under the same load. If your loads are close enough together it might be better to link your gearboxes with driveshafts and run only one motor.

#63099 03/07/06 10:15 AM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 599
J
JBD Offline
Member
VFDs supply current. Simply add up all of the motor currents (do not use HP) and purchase a single drive of at least that size. Check with the VFD manufacturer, it would be normal for them to require some type of load reactor/filter (maybe even one per motor).

Also each motor will require it's own overload protection.

All motors need to start at the same time, do not have the VFD "at speed" and then turn on motors. This is called "slamming" and requires more complicated sizing.

#63100 03/07/06 05:32 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,803
Member
Have you tried smaller diameter mops?


Wood work but can't!
#63101 03/07/06 07:21 PM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 273
C
Member
hi guys! thanks for all the info.we can't use a single motor because it's a revolving table.the motors all start at once.there connected by a collector ring.what's a mop?

#63102 03/07/06 08:18 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,803
Member
circuit man. I imagined, from your description, a machine using 'mops' or rag-wheels to polish stainless-steel components. Reducing the 'mop' diameter reduces the peripheral speed.

Alan


Wood work but can't!

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5