What about this VFD unit???

KnghtWalkr

KnghtWalkr

Joined
Jan 6, 2008
Messages
63
Found this on craigslist for $100, it looks near new in the pic... I'm in the works of building a belt grinder. On a budget and don't mind just getting the three step pulley, but this is within budget if it works. :confused:Would this unit work if I found the right motor? Thanks for any advise.

INFINITELY VARIABLE SPEED ON YOUR DRILL PRESS, LATHE MILL!
Model GS1-22PO Single/three phase 230VAC input; 230 VAC three phase variable frequency output. Can be used to power up to 2 horse power (7.0 A)from three phase input or UP TO 1 HORSE POWER (4.2 A) MOTOR FROM SINGLE PHASE. Used, but working. Comes with complete programming manual. Great reliability and invaluable where you need soft start or need to accurately control speed. Has start/stop and variable speed pot on front of unit. Moved to 480 volts and no longer need. If you want to test drive it, bring your motor along! Otherwise I have a 1 hp motor to demonstrate.
 
I can't find any information based just on the model #. If the description is accurate, it sounds like a good one, especially with the variable speed pot (control knob) on the front. I paid about $100 for mine and it doesn't have the knob, only up and down buttons.

To tell the truth, I spend about the same amount of money geting a vfd and 3 phase motor from eBay as I would have getting a single phase motor and step pulleys.
 
I'm just using step pulleys right now, but I am nearly constantly on the search and trying to figure out something like what you're talking about. A couple of things come to mind about the device you're looking at. I understand you'll be putting single phase voltage in and 3 phase out. At single phase input the product description says it will drive up to a 1 hp motor. Will that be enough to meet your needs? Most folks seem to go with at least 1.5 hp, if not 2 hp. Also, a common recommendation many people make re the VFD is to make sure it has a NEMA enclosure. Apparently the metal dusts produced by grinding usually destroy the VFD over a period of time if it's not enclosed thoroughly.
 
Just to clarify for Phyl

NEMA
is the National Electrical Manufacturers Association
they set some standards

NEMA 1 is common and cheap. It meets the needs of many environments, but the box is not sealed

NEMA 4 is sealed and will keep out the metal dust- more expensive- heat sinks usually built in too
 
...also, you can not expect to just put a sealed box around a NEMA 1 unit and expect it to survive. The dust tight nature of a NEMA 4 unit is compensated for in its design. VFD's need to dissipate a lot of heat and if you seal up your NEMA 1 unit it will cook and seriously reduce it's service life.
 
If it's a NEMA 1 box, the programming manual may tell you how big of a box you need to build around it to dissapate the heat.
 
Knightwalker

I found someone selling the model that you are talking about. www.automationdirect.com

I have never seen that brand before and the prices looks really low. It makes me think that they cut some corners somewhere. For comparison, have a look at a "respectable brand" with models built to work with single phase inputs, without derating, at www.driveswarehouse.com.

The conductive dust that Farmer Phyl mentions WILL kill your drive. My day job is designing VFD's and all the drives we (and our competitors) make for "dirty environments" are put into NEMA 4 enclosures.

The brochure for the GS1-22PO shows how to install it in a fan ventilated (not NEMA 4) enclosure. There is also a chart showing the watt-loss (73 watts). You will need this information to choose a Nema 4 enclosure. An alternative would be to mount the drive up on a wall so that the stream of dust from your grinder is not directed at it. Then mount some on/off switches and a speed pot close to your grinder (see the wiring diagram in the brochure).

Phil
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top