Quote from: zigmund on April 06, 2023, 07:02:AMYaskawa V1000: The Yaskawa V1000 is a compact and cost-effective VFD that offers advanced control features and energy efficiency. It is suitable for a range of applications, including HVAC, water/wastewater, and material handling.

Yaskawa drives are relatively inexpensive compared to some of the others in the list, and work just fine.

Renshaw probes are common items, I don't know if there's something special about this one but I always look at the Ebay listings because you never know what you're going to see there.

Something like this AB part number should be fairly common, I would search Ebay for this one.

Nice idea, it's too bad nobody is capitalizing on this.

In another thread here, a member was looking for a way to activate RSlogix for free. Free RSlogix would be nice, I think AB would still sell PLC's because of the quality, but in reality that PLC software package isn't free.

Check Mcmaster Carr, they offer small basic PLC's with software included for free but these are very limited in capability.

Over at Automation Direct you can get "CLICK" PLC Programming Software which is used with Koyo CLICK PLC's.

Automation Direct also has DirectSOFT 100 Free, it has a 100 word limit though, so it's not going to get you very far.

Also at Automation Direct you can get "Do-More" Programming Software that goes with the associated PLC's.

Usually if you download free PLC software, they end up selling you a PLC to go with it so they get your money one way or another.

Supposedly if you've got a support contract they will provide you with updates to your version along with an activation file. The problem is you will have to purchase a support contract so it's not free.

As for a Rockwell activation hack, I'm not aware of any tricks you can do...

What version is the RSlogix? Does it use the EVmove program on a floppy disk to activate the software? or is it a USB activation?

Very cool, good post

All,
Just wondering where things are trending, what are the most popular frequency drives these days? Is there a certain manufacturer to avoid? or a certain model that stands out as bulletproof?

Looking for some opinions on freq drives based on experience. thanks!

512 alarm on ABB drives are usually low mains voltage, you changed fuses, is it possible they simply blew again? Or possible blown fuses upstream maybe?

I know what you mean, they are old-school perimeter safety switches. I don't think they are called safety pressure switches but they open when there is pressure against them. How about a safety band switch? Not sure myself.

I concur.... (haha) If you're looking for cheap mechanics tools, buy name brand tools used on eBay for cheap, avoid tool brands you never heard of.

So much of what you will need to know as a maintenance tech comes from OJT (on the job training for those of you who are wondering). Basic electronics, common sense mechanics, and safe work practices need to be instilled in any technician first, then you learn the specifics of your particular facility and equipment.

In my opinion, experience matters most and reading material for maintenance is secondary.

Armature voltage feedback has its place just like the other motor feedback options. I could see armature voltage feedback being an acceptable form of feedback in an application where the load doesn't change regularly since armature feedback is not as responsive as other external forms of feedback. It does work though, and it is reliable.

Quote from: billbrwn on February 27, 2017, 04:05:AM
Looking for information on an MTS Systems MPA-460 Servo Drive

What kind of info are you looking for exactly? Drive Troubleshooting? Drive Setup and Tuning?

Wow, the welder schematic is dated 7/23/46. Maybe it's time to upgrade your welder? That's 61 years old. Harry Truman was president when this welder rolled off the assembly line at Westinghouse.

Quote from: JJJ1977 on February 01, 2017, 04:30:AM
Yaskawa Drive Reviews

I have experience with only one Yaskawa AC drive over the years and it didn't fail in the equipment that I was dealing with. I did not have enough experience to tell you if it was easy to set up since it was included in the equipment from the manufacturer. So my Yaskawa drive review is more thumbs up than down. I don't have any reason to complain...

Hey drives-technician, you are very thorough! The 590 drive alarm list Looks good. Do you also have a list of the models this pertains to?

I always test for a field coil failure in two places...

I check at the motor terminal box like you did, then I also disconnect the wires at the drive and test there. I like to test at the drive because it will basically test the wiring that leads to the motor as well as the field winding itself.

There is always a possibility of a pinched wire or broken connection somewhere else besides inside the motor.

Where did you get the reading? Right in the motor terminal box?

Field Fail can mean a few things, one being that the motor field has failed. How did you determine that the field winding in the motor is not the cause? And why  do you immediately suspect that the drive has a problem?

Hello drives-technician,
Great job on the SSD Drive fault list! This is for 650 series only? or you're not certain?

There is no such thing as a polarized fuse. In my years, I've never seen or heard of a polarized fuse, so any diagram or illustration of components on the side of the fuse is most likely there to indicate that it protects components. If anyone can find a polarized fuse, please post a picture here.

What is a Current Trip Alarm?

A current trip alarm or current trip fault is usually self explanatory. This error would indicate excessive current flow in the circuit that is being monitored.

You need to identify which circuit or component is being monitored, then of course track down the reason for high current in the first place.

Use your technical skill to first identify whether an outside force, most likely mechanical problem, is causing stress or strain on an electrical circuit or motor.

Remove the mechanical load from the system for testing and go from there. If stress or strain isn't causing the current trip alarm, you need to begin electrical troubleshooting using basic electronic theory, in other words Ohm's law.

Good luck!

What does a current monitoring alarm mean?

A current monitoring alarm can mean two things. Either it can mean there is excessive AC or DC current in the circuit being monitored, or it could mean that the current monitoring system has failed.

You will have to get creative to determine which problem you have. You'll either need an ammeter, or spare parts to perform a "maintenance tech swap".

What is a bad shunt error?

Definition of bad shunt: This is an indication that the shunt circuit has failed. The shunt circuit provides a second path for current flow when the need arises due to demand or lack of demand.

In terms of motion control systems, servo drives, and motors. Shunt circuits are derived within the drive.Shunt circuits are comprised or resistors mainly to absorb excess current during motor braking or directional change.

Abrupt changes in direction or speed can cause motor inertia to produce back currents that exceed the rating of the drive's capacitors. Hence the resistance intervenes and absorbs the current.

A bad shunt alarm can simply mean a failed resistor or circuit board. Sometimes the culprit can simply be burned wires. Most of the time you can use your eyes to track down your shunt problem.

What does excessive ripple current mean?

Definition of excessive ripple current: Unwanted variation in current flow most often caused by an incomplete suppression of an AC voltage waveform. It is a common occurrence in DC circuits relating to motion control systems.

Excessive ripple current in a new motor system can be directly related to the tuning of the drive and should be addressed from there.

Excessive ripple current in an existing system may a symptom of changes in the loading of the motor or possibly the early stages of motor or drive failure.

What Does DC Bus Failure Mean?

Definition of DC Bus Failure: Relating to motion control systems, DC bus failure typically means that the DC bus voltage is either insufficient or has exceeded the drive's maximum rating. Fluctuations of DC bus voltage are sometimes instantaneous and difficult to detect with a standard multi-meter.

What causes DC bus failure alarms?

• DC bus going too high and out of range can be casued by deceleration too quickly under load. Excessive torque results from directional change or speed change at too high of a rate of speed.


• DC bus going too low can be caused by power supply problems as well as defective capacitors within the drive or power supply.

There may be other reasons for DC bus failure fault but I think these are the main culprits.

What does bad servo driver error mean?

Do you mean "bad servo driver"? or bad servo drive?

Bad servo drive is self explanatory, bad servo driver can simply be the same thing or it is an alarm I have never actually seen. A driver is typically a mechanism or force that provides or creates motion, so I would think a bad servo driver simply means that your frequency drive or SCR drive has failed.

What does Bad Personality Module mean?

Relating to motion control systems, a personality module more or less gets the drive settings close so they can be tweaked for optimum tuning in a specific application.

It is almost like a pre-tune module that can be inserted into a drive or interchanged between drives. It prepares a motion control system for a particular situation by doing the major tuning or programming, yet it leaves the drive open to fine tuning or more detailed programming.

Servo drive personality modules can be interchanged depending on the application. This is an advantage when interchanging drives in the event of a failure and limiting down-time is critical.

What to do if you've got a bad personality module alarm or message?

• If the module is a circuit board, check to see if it is seated properly. Sometimes that can vibrate loose or connections can become corroded.


• If the module is in the form of an integrated circuit (IC chip), once again check to see that the pins are seated properly in the socket. If the module has been removed from the socket for any reason, check to see that no pins are folded over and missing the socket completely.


• Unfortunately, there's not much else you can do except replace faulty personality modules if connections are not to blame.

How to test the contacts of a 3 pole contactor...

Here's another great test for a 3 pole contactor. You can actually test the contacts to see if they are beginning to fail. This 3 pole contactor test comes in handy when you've got an intermittent problem with motor overloading an you already tested the motor.

This test will be done under power.

• Apply power to the circuit or motor and enerize the 3 pole contactor.
• Put your voltmeter on the AC volts setting (DC Volts if it applies to your application)
• Put one meter lad on the feed side of the contactor (top side in most cases) and the other lead on the load side (bottom in most cases). Be sure both leads are on the same leg L1, L2, or L3
• Theoretically, with the contactor energized you should get 0 Volts. Test all 3 poles individually and verify something close to 0V. Obviously, if there is any large amount of voltage on one of these legs, you have found a problem.
• If you fail to find substantial voltage on any leg, switch your meter to milli-volt range and perfom the test again on each leg. Any notable difference in millivolts can be evidence of a contact beginning to corrode, decay, or beak down electrically..

Hope that helps...