8.1: Motor Drives
A frequently-used component in any modern industry are motor drives, sometimes called variable frequency drives or VFDs. In order to understand how VFDs control the speed of a motor, you must first understand what happens inside an AC induction motor.
Below, Jim Pytel explains an example motor drive by Omron. Use this information as an introduction to the topic. There are MANY different types of motor drives, and they all have their own little idiosyncrasies. Even VFDs made by the same manufacturer may have very different programming steps. READ THE MANUAL for the drive you’re working with. As you become more familiar with these, you’ll be able to quickly find the information you need to set-up your particular drive.