Phase converter question

John

I will do a bit of digging this morning. I am off on vacation after lunch today. The VS7 is a discontinued product line so it is hard to find a manual. I will also confirm the channel that you would use to make this purchase. I will also confirm that the VS7S' are unused. I think there was only one refurbished unit that I listed.

Got to run. Morning meeting time.

Phil
 
If you happen across a refurbished single phase 240 input, 3 phase output for a 3 hp. I would be interested Phil.
Thanks
 
Hi Guys

Just got back from talking to one of the VFD salesguys. To purchase one of these VFD's call the main switchboard at 713 466 0277 and ask for the Drives Marketing Department. They will only accept credit card orders (I don't think that you want to set up an account) and can arrange the shipping by FEDEX or UPS. The actual shipping charges would be added on. I believe they get a better rate than a private individual would though. There would not be any warranties on the discontinued and refurbished units. They are selling for about 1/3 or 1/4 the original price. Many products are discontinued because some major part is no longer available. These VFD's are meant to be used in industrial environments and would normally be run all day long, every day so they should last a long time for you. Only the item indicated as being refurbished is so. All the others are unused. They should all come with a manual.

The S7 series VFD's are a discontinued product line. I have never actually seen one running since they were discontinued before I started working here. They have a three digit digital display that indicates motor speed amongst other things. The basic operation of all VFD's is to allow the motor to put out full rated torque from near zero rpm. There are other fancier control schemes that various drives incorporate into their software but most of you will probably not need such features. The S7s have a potentiometer on the control panel that may be programmed to control the motor speed. They also have terminals for connecting an external potentiometer. The manual shows how to make those connections and how to program the VFD.

I can e-mail a copy of the manual to those who are really serious about checking it out further. Be aware that the file is 4.1MB (61 pages). Just send me an e-mail at phil_ws_so@yahoo.com.

Toshiba does sell the dynamic braking resistors for these VFD's. I am not sure if they have the appropriate ones in stock. They buy them in and then mark them up quite significantly. I suspect that it would be less expensive to purchase a resistor from someone like Dealers. Dealers sell one for a 2hp VFD for $24. The manual has a table showing what kind of resistor one would need.



Mark

I had listed "VFS7 3hp, 3-phase 200-240V input (4 available) $143". These are new old stock but going for the same price as a refurbished 2hp unit. There are actually 30 pieces available. That is a great price. I think that they are just about recovering the raw component costs. When I was designing VFD's at my last job, the price for the appropriate transistor module was in the range of $30-$40, in quantities of 5000-10000.


Again, I should stress that I get no commissions or other financial incentives from doing this I don't even work in the VFD department here. It's just my way of helping out in return for all the stuff that i have learned from this forum. Besides, it's kind of fun and it shure is more pleasant and rewarding than babysitting some of the people here.
 
Phil, Just to clarify.

The VFS7 - Is that 3 phase input or single phase input?. definately dont want a 3 phase input model. If its is a single phase input. I'm all over one or two :)

Looks like unless the designation end with an S then they are 3 phase input.
 
Mark

You are correct. The single-phase input model is the S7S. The S7 indicates a three-phase input model.

The three-phase input models could be used with a single-phase supply but would usually have to be derated to about half output power. If we are lucky, they may be using the same input rectifiers as in some of the bigger models and that model would not have to be derated. I would have to look that up when I get back to work in January.

Oh yes, John (jmxcpter) had already expressed interest in the two single-phase input 2hp drives. It's up to you guys how you want to handle dividing them up. I doubt that there will be more of these showing up since they have been discontinued for several years. I don't think that any more product lines are due to be discontinued for a few years.
 
I tried to order the 2HP units yesterday and Angela in the Drives department told me she couldn't find them in inventory. She said she'd look into it and call me back, but hasn't. Bummer:(

John
 
John

I was speaking with Robert Bland and Mike Corrigan about these drives. It might be best to start with Robert since we discussed the specific models that are available. These items were on the "Fire Sale list" so some of the "order takers" might not know about them. Give it a try again Monday morning and let me know how it goes. I can give them a call from home if required. I will be travelling from Tuesday through to the next Sunday so I will be out of touch for a little while.

Good luck. Hope that you are able to get a nice Christmas present for yourself.

Phil
 
Phil,
Thanks a lot for the follow up and the contact names. Hopefully that should help a lot. I figured the issues was dead until you returned from vacation. Have a great trip whereever you're going.

John
 
Yeah! Victory! Phil is THE MAN! I was able to make it to Mr. Bland who directed me to Shane who verified that they had the units in stock, then to Stacy who took my credit card number and promptly called me back with a total including freight and tax. So I'll have my two new VFDs delivered UPS Orange before Christmas!

FYI, Shane indicated that he had an updated list and that there were sixteen of the 2HP single phase to three phase VFDs at the close out price. He also sweetented the deal with a bit better price as I was buying more than one unit. I'm tempted to order another one and look for a smaller three phase motor as it would be cool to have a variable speed drill press:) Anyone out theere looking for a variable speed drive of 2hp or less would be a fool not to jump on this deal.

Phil, you made my holiday. Thanks.

John
 
Alright!! I am glad that it worked out for you. I am not sure who Stacy or Angela are since I work with a different group. I believe that Shane is the Drives Marketing Manager so he ought to know what is going on.

You will really enjoy using a VFD controlled drill press. The mechanical tech at the last place I worked put together such a set-up. He used a multi-turn dial with his speed control potentiometer. I think that you can get such parts from Digi-Key. I can post more details when I get back from New Orleans next week.

Have a great Christmas.

Phil
 
Phil, you're being a bad influence. I don't have one coming for my drill press. The two I ordered are for my Bridgeport mill and the knife grinder I'm building. Don't encourage me any more. I don't need a third VFD, really I don't.

Would one make a difference on my surface grinder (with another one of them Phase A Matics on it now)? If I got one for my drill press and one for my surface grinder, that would get me back to multi unit pricing. for the second go round. Hmmmm...... How to explain this to my wife????? I got it, I'll tell her it was on SALE! Right? Women understand that.

I must think on this a while.

Thanks again Phil.

John
 
John

Just show your wife the original prices then show her "how much you saved" ;)

I'll bet you guys have been waiting for an opportunity to use that one as a come-back :D Just make sure you are not too close for her to smack you...

Off to New Orleans now.

Phil
 
I called today and talked to Stacy they still have about 12 VFD drives in 2hp
It took a while to find the model number vfs7s-2015up. I ordered 2 and couldn't be happier. Now just have to find a 2hp 3 phase motor.
 
Just got back from New Orleans this afternoon. Let me know how the drives work out for you guys. Look in your local yellow pages under "motor", "motor repair" or "motor rewinding". Someone near you should be able to sell you a used one for less than what it would cost to ship one to you.

Phil
 
Will

Thanks for posting the exact model number. It occurred to me that I had neglected to do that. There are quite a few different variants of those drives available.

Phil
 
I recieved my drives from Toshiba and I bought a 2hp maraton motor from Dealers, This setup rocks!!, of course I had to get my Uncle who is an electrican to wire it up for me.(Had to promise I'd make a knife for him). The 2hp motor is smooth and I can't stop it. Lots of Torque. I'll post some pics when I get time.
 
Wil

I am glad that it is working well for you. Pictures would be great.

Do try to keep the metal dust out of the drives since it may cause them to short out. Electrical/electronic equipment are designed to withstand an accumulation of NONconductive "pollution" only.

Phil
 
I got my drives just before Christmas, but there was a bit of a hitch. They were prepaid by credit card, but showed up UPS COD. I knew that they were in short supply and I really wanted them so I wrote a check on the spot and figured I'd fix it with Toshiba or Amex later. I tried calling Toshiba, but it was December 24 and they were closed, so i just paid. When I told a buddy about them, he said that instead of getting a credit on my card, just have two more sent and he'd pay me for them. The second pair arrived this evening. Now my quandry is, do I let him have them both, or keep a third one for myself? Hmmmm.......

To make matters more complicated, the same buddy called this morning to let me know that he'd finally rounded up that Oxy/ Actylene rig I've been after. At least everything but the tanks. Hmmm.....

We're supposed to hav ebreakfast tomorrow and figure it all out. Hopefully I'll get one of these things installed on the BP this weekend.

Thanks Phil.

John
 
Here are the pictures of my variable speed ac drive setup. How do you like my old drill press stand I used to hold the drive. It makes it nice cause I can move it just about any angle.
 

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