VFD Book Review

[Rockyd]

I'm looking for any commentary on this book as to anybody else's experience with it. I'm not an engineer, but it looks like good bang for the buck (plan on purchasing, unless some serious negative comments).

Electrician's Technical Reference: Variable Frequency Drives

http://www.electricalstoreonline.com/common/images/Electricians_TR_Var_Freq_Drive.jpg

Thanks in advance,
Rocky

 

[Rockyd]

Too late,to say no. The Fed-ex guy should be coming now if they are as fast as their TV ad.

 

[tom baker]

What I typically see is the three step VFD training method:
1. There is the VFD
2. Here are the keys
3. Make it work

 

[petersonra]

I have noticed something about these type of books in general (may not apply to this book because I have not seen it).

They tend to either be very heavy on theory, to the point of not being practical for everyday use; or they are oriented around a very limited application.

 

[Rockyd]

Thanks for the comments.

To be site specific, I'm looking for a complete book on VFD's. How complete is that? Let me site give an example. -

During my apprenticeship, I bought a copy of "Electric Motor Repair" by Robert Rosenberg. The Author describes the book as " a practical book on the winding, repair, and troubleshooting of AC and DC, motors and controllers.It was one of my best purchases ever for books.

The book goes through everything. They go through on assembly, and describe the operation and theory in detail as they work through single phase, three phase, motor contol, same with the DC.

Looking for a book similiar to this on VFD's Something that will cover early day development, to current trend. Would like it to cover basics to PMW development, on through to troubleshooting. Wanting it to read at about a Richard A Cox level ( he wrote "Electricians guide to Conduit Bending" and "Electricians guide to AC Motor Controls"). Looking for a recommendation of such book, if one exists. This forum has the people, and am hoping someone can give a recommend direction so that I, single handedly, don't try to go out and reinvent the wheel.

 

[boater bill]

My best source of VFD information has been with manufacturers and their local reps. If you have a relationship with an electric house that supplies VFDs, get in touch with their applications/sales engineer for your area. If not, find your local Allen-Bradley guy, ABB guy etc. Some HVAC commercial contractors have contacts in the VFD industry, give that a try also. Online info can be found also. There is a VFD design and applications board online also. I know it's not what you were asking, but I haven't found a very good complete reference book yet on VFD's. Just OJT.

 

[Wes G]

This book is an upgrade to the Thomson / Delmar lineup with fair depth. I have here their Electronic Variable Speed Drives 2nd edition, 2002 by Brumbach. If you can you might want to get your hands on them and see which, if either, best meets your needs. They might have another I'm not aware of.

For an in depth look at electrical theory, Delmars Standard Textbook of Electricity, is very good. We use it as a referance book for our students.
___________________
Wes Gerrans
Electrical Technology Instructor
Northwest Kansas Technical College
Goodland, KS

 

[Rockyd]

Thanks Bill and Wes for a couple of directions. I've put quite a few in, but I suspect like all equipment, it'll need some kind of servicing. I want to be able to show up with a set of skills better in to the the real workings of the VFD. That means more than looking inside to see if someone has changed out capacitors besides by the fact that it is the clean one in the bunch, someone has already figured out the best PMW configuration, and what size reactors fit where in the line, etc.

Wes, I'll have to go hunt the book down, comments in a couple of weeks. I at least have a good start point.

Bill, from what I've seen, Yaskawa rules a portion of the smaller market, and ABB has the large end (worked on a 6500 HP this summer). Will keep pursuit.

Have a great weekend.

 

[boater bill]

For what it's worth the Yaskawa drive has the highest Positive inverse voltage (PIV) rating for its IGBT's than any other drive on the marketplace. Their web site is a good source of information to help you.

The VFD's on the market do the same things, and the trick is to figure out where their engineering and manufacturing is different.

If you need more help, just ask.

 

[Wes G]

For what it is worth, I talked with the people at Delmar Publishing about this, and their opinion was that the new third edition of Electronic Variable Speed Drives was the book they put out that most nearly fits the bill for what you are looking for.

On specific drives I agree with Bill. A good contact for ABB is: steve.weingarth@us.abb.com . Both ABB and Yaskawa Put out some very good material.
___________________
Wes Gerrans
Electrical Technology Instructor
Northwest Kansas Technical College
Goodland, KS

 

[DGrant041]

I'm partial to A-B drives. They've been reliable over the years and at one time, they advertised that you could swap-out a size 1 starter for a VFD for the same price. Now you can't beat that with a stick!

As far as required reading, I vote for the drive's Tech Man. I know, if all else fails. . .well, I've learned to start their first. Each drive may accomplish the same or similar function but they are configured differently. This was what I learned at the school of hard knocks for dummies. It was on a different thread here recently that I learned about some of the newer drives and things they could do. Color me impressed.

Best of luck.

 

[Rockyd]

Bought the book. Can't comment yet as am only to page 30. Looks like a good "getting on" point though. Thanks to all here for tossing me some direction on the issue.