Yaskawa Releases AC Microdrive For Single and Three-Phase Motors

AC motor drives allow the starting, stopping, and speed control of AC motors. Typically, these drives can take up quite a bit of space in the electrical cabinet and require on-site programming.

Yaskawa America’s new GA501 is a compact AC variable frequency drive (VFD) with integrated dual Ethernet ports, capable of supporting one of six industrial protocols. The GA501 is designed for modern automation and supports motor sizes from 1/6 HP to 40 HP.

Yaskawa’s industrial AC microdrive features dual-port embedded Ethernet. Image used courtesy of Yaskawa America

The GA501 AC Microdrive

Yaskawa’s GA501 industrial AC microdrive comes in three different versions supporting three voltage types: 240 VAC single-phase, 240 VAC three-phase, and 480 VAC three-phase. The different voltages support three motor ranges: 1/6 HP to 5 HP, 1/6 HP to 30 HP, and 1/2 HP to 40 HP, respectively.

The integrated dual Ethernet port allows virtually any control system to communicate with the drive. Simply set the dip switches to configure the drive for either Ethernet/IP, Profinet, EtherCAT, BACnet/IP, or MECHATROLINK-4. The dual Ethernet ports enable technicians to connect multiple GA501s or other devices in a ring topology.

An integrated status ring and network LED on the front of the device display the drive and network connection statuses at a glance. Programming the drive can be done with the LED display and integrated buttons or through Yaskawa’s desktop or mobile DriveWizard app.

A representation of the DriveWizard mobile app and how it stores and transfers parameters. Image used courtesy of Yaskawa America

Programming Without Power

Most drives have an LCD screen and some buttons to facilitate setting parameters on the drive, essentially programming the drive. This activity can only be performed with the drive installed and powered on. The GA501 drive uses the DriveWizard mobile application to allow a user to program the parameters without power applied to the drive. Simply connect a cable to the drive and a mobile device, and parameters can be set without even taking the drive out of the box, saving customer downtime and speeding up integration.

The mobile app also allows parameters and configurations to be saved to a cloud account for drive recovery or in the case of replacement. For locations that do not always have internet access, drive parameters can be downloaded to a device and then applied to the drive.

The GA501 is available in different enclosure types and ratings. Image used courtesy of Yaskawa America

Industrial AC Drives and Motors

AC drives today are more economical than they used to be, making them widely used across industrial and commercial applications. An AC motor uses the most current during startup: once it starts spinning, it takes less energy to keep it spinning, similar to how a car accelerates from a dead stop. Using a VFD to start a motor can greatly reduce the current drawn during startup. This reduction in startup current can be especially noticeable when multiple motors are used in a single facility.

Accurate speed control of an AC motor is only possible with a VFD. The dynamic frequency change from a control system allows designers to develop energy-efficient cooling fans and smart conveyors. As the VFD technology advances, I suspect we will find more VFDs in our daily lives.