VFD & Soft Starters

Supply, installation, programming and commissioning of variable frequency drives and soft starters for pumps, fans, compressors and conveyors, cutting starting current and energy use while extending the life of the motors they control.

What we supply

• Low voltage variable frequency drives
• Soft starters with integrated bypass
• Drive panels and motor control centre sections
• Line reactors, harmonic filters and dv/dt filters
• Braking resistors and drive accessories

Installation and commissioning

• Load assessment and drive sizing against the actual duty
• Panel installation, ventilation and cooling checks
• Power and control cable termination with correct screening and earthing
• Parameter setting and motor auto-tuning
• Integration with PLC and SCADA over fieldbus or hardwired signals
• Run testing under load and recording of baseline data

Service and troubleshooting

• Fault diagnosis and trip analysis
• Replacement and retrofit of obsolete drives
• Harmonic measurement and mitigation
• Preventive maintenance, fan and capacitor checks

Choosing between a drive and a soft starter

A soft starter only controls how a motor starts and stops. A drive controls its speed the whole time it runs. If the load runs at full speed anyway, a soft starter is simpler, cheaper and easier to maintain. If the load varies, as most pumps and fans do, a drive usually pays for itself in energy savings. We look at how the equipment actually runs before recommending either, rather than defaulting to the more expensive option.