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1 VFD powers up, the other doesn't?

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TheEquineFencer

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I just got around to finishing installing the two VFDs for the BP and the LeBlond lathe. The BP VFD powers up but that's it. It has a LU code blinking. I have 240V 1ph power to it and cannot get it to show the voltage like the quick start guide says it should. The other one doesn't even power up. Suggestions?

The 3HP, 230V , NEMA 1, Teco, N3-203-CS-U Doesn't power up.

The 2 HP, 230 Volts, NEMA 1, Teco, N3-202-CS-U powers up but keeps blinking the LU code.

Is there something missing from the picture I'm not seeing?

I have all the wires landed where they should be.

I just went back and checked, I have 246V going to each on it's own 20A double pole breaker, I checked the grounds on each VFD and they are grounded. The one that powers up, the only thing I can get to work through the touch pad is to move from FWD to REV LEDs changing state. I have 3 "hots" and a ground going out to the 20A twistlock receptacle and have not tried hooking the BP to it yet. Is there a connection or jumper I missed somewhere?
 
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WhoWhatNow

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WAG: Do they need to be hooked to the motors? I believe the VFD senses the motor loads in order to adjust frequency. Just a guess I know almost nothing about electronics and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn last night.
 
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dw1

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Look at the pre charge resistor or check all fuses inside the controller
 
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TheEquineFencer

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It's a new VFD, I just finished putting power to it after getting sidetracked on some other jobs and took a few minutes last night to power it up. I'll call the company I got them from Monday and see what they have to say. The second VFD doesn't even power up, no LEDs lit or anything.


We got it to run at 5 Hz. The Sequence LED was staying lit. Hitting a few buttons got it to go out and it started turning the mill at 5Hz We also found out the MANUAL push button starter on the BP is screwed up. I'll have to sort that out. I think they wired around the contacts. I'll get back on this later today.


I pulled the cover off the push button. It seems they ran the 3Ph through that box and on to the Fwd/Off/Rev controls and that box controls the motor for the power feed. It looks like they disconnected the toggle switch that was on the Power feed itself. I set the VFD to 60Hz and it ramps up at the factory default of 10 seconds, I can live with that for now.
 
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_Dock_

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Take any switches, contractors, drum reverse, out of the circuit... You change your speed and direction from the vfd.

Start with the obvious. Post the part number for the drives and the nameplates on the motors.

Are you sure you bought 1ph to 3ph and not 3ph to ph?
 
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roscoe2000

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Have you set up the VFD, glancing thru the O&M manual, there are drive parameters that need to be adjusted for the intended application. Most of the time the factory defaults act as safe guard prior to set up. You will need to input a pass code to gain access to CPU to input any changes.
 
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600SL

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VFD connects directly to the motor with nothing in between. Drum switch connects to the low voltage control terminals only on the VFD.
 

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TheEquineFencer

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Update: I have the Bridgeport operational. After closer inspection, the start/stop is just for the power to the power crossfeed. Power comes in and passes through to the Fwd/Stop/Rev switch on the Bridgeport. Later I will program some more of the parameters as needed. Right now I just need it for powering from 1Ph to get 3Ph. Originally there was 240V applied to L1 and L2, and a Neutral wire landed on L3 which is also marked LN. I switched it to L1 and LN and lifted the Neutral from the panel and it quit flashing the LV code and I was eventually able to get it to program.

The 3HP Teco will not power up as far as I can tell, no flashing lights or nothing when 240V is applied. This is the one I now need to get to run. It's like it doesn't see the 240V incoming. I have verified the 240V incoming to the VFD, grounds ect.

TECO# N3-203-CS-U
3hp RATED
 

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TheEquineFencer

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UPDATE: After playing phone tag/email with Dealers and TECO, I got a call yesterday from Dealers, they are sending me a new VFD to replace the 3hp one that doesn't work.

I emailed Dealers that Friday to no avail, then again Monday, no reply. I called them and was directed to call TECO with the phone number they gave me. I called TECO, got voicemail, left my number and they called back. The Tech support guy asked me to check some voltage test points on the VFD. I did. As I was doing the test on the unit with 240V supplied to it, I had him on speaker phone, the unit "popped." It sounded like a small firecracker or voltage arc. I asked him if he heard that? He said, "yes, what was that." I told him the VFD. He then asked if I'd shorted the test leads I was using. I told him no, I just pressed them to the test points. I was then told "the unit is unsafe to operate, cut it off and call Dealers back and tell them Brian at TECO said to send another VFD." I then called Dealers and told them what was said. I was asked who I'd talked to and they would get back with me later that day. I didn't hear back by 4:15PM so I called and found out everyone I'd spoke with was gone for the day. They did call back later the next day and told me they were sending a new VFD and to just "toss" the old one, that I might want to save the touchpad. I guess after I get the new one I'll start looking at the broken one to see why it didn't power up. Hopefully the new drive will get here soon. They were fast getting the first ones here, they were here like two days after I ordered them.
 
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laser3kw

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just a thought.
on some vfd's if you "cycle power", apply main power and shut off, in to short a time interval, they will pop the capacitors. When you disconnect main power, you should wait till the display goes blank and then wait another minute or so to let the caps discharge fully before reapplying power.
 
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TheEquineFencer

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laser3kw said:
just a thought.
on some vfd's if you "cycle power", apply main power and shut off, in to short a time interval, they will pop the capacitors. When you disconnect main power, you should wait till the display goes blank and then wait another minute or so to let the caps discharge fully before reapplying power.
Click to expand...

This one never powered up to start with. None of the display or LEDs ever came on. After I get the new on installed, I think I'll start taking this one apart and see if I can follow the power flow through the VFD.
 
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larry_g

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TheEquineFencer said:
Update: Power comes in and passes through to the Fwd/Stop/Rev switch on the Bridgeport.

Right now I just need it for powering from 1Ph to get 3Ph.
Click to expand...

You do know that you cannot use the on/off switch located on the machine tool? Read the manual and it should state this somewhere. Turn the BP on and then lock the switch, or better yet wire from the VFD directly to the motor, by passing the switch altogether.

lg
no neat sig line
 
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pete379

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wire the vfd directly to the motor, use the vfd touch pad,or wire remote switch to vfd. interrupting power between the vfd and motor is not good for the vfd
pete
 
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laser3kw

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This one never powered up to start with. None of the display or LEDs ever came on. After I get the new on installed, I think I'll start taking this one apart and see if I can follow the power flow through the VFD.
Click to expand...

duly noted - take pictures of the carnage and post up.
 
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TheEquineFencer

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alfredeneuman said:
Posts 9,11,13,and 18 tried to warn you not to do this.
Click to expand...

_Dock_ said:
This is comical!
Click to expand...

I'm curious what it does internally to the VFD?

I'll rewire the BP as the power feed is run off the same VFD. I'll have to check and see if that's a 3ph motor or single phase.

I've not had a lot of time to spend on this project other than trying to get them to power up because of other pressing projects.
 
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alfredeneuman

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TheEquineFencer said:
I'm curious what it does internally to the VFD?
Click to expand...


The issue is that it does a little bit of damage to the output transistors every time it's shut off.
You can get away with it once in a while as an emergency stop, but if you use it every time you run the drive it will fail relatively quickly.
 
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larry_g

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TheEquineFencer said:
I'm curious what it does internally to the VFD?

I'll rewire the BP as the power feed is run off the same VFD. I'll have to check and see if that's a 3ph motor or single phase.

I've not had a lot of time to spend on this project other than trying to get them to power up because of other pressing projects.
Click to expand...

This is where so many people fail in this converting of single phase to three phase. The VFD will convert single to three phase but it will do so for only one motor at a time. If you have multiple motors to drive then you need a real phase converter. A real phase converter will drive many motors at the same time and doesn't care if you switch them on/off at random. A VFD is a motor driver that happens to also outputs 3 phase from single phase, but due to the need to have direct connection to the motor it has limitations of just one motor. Some may drive more than one motor but I would suspect the motors would have to be seen as one load and run at the same speed.

lg
no neat sig line
 
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TheEquineFencer

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larry_g said:
This is where so many people fail in this converting of single phase to three phase. The VFD will convert single to three phase but it will do so for only one motor at a time. If you have multiple motors to drive then you need a real phase converter. A real phase converter will drive many motors at the same time and doesn't care if you switch them on/off at random. A VFD is a motor driver that happens to also outputs 3 phase from single phase, but due to the need to have direct connection to the motor it has limitations of just one motor. Some may drive more than one motor but I would suspect the motors would have to be seen as one load and run at the same speed.

lg
no neat sig line
Click to expand...

Previously before the shop fire, I had a high end VFD. I talked with the manufacturer and was told I could use the BP Mill and lathe I had at that time like normal with that VFD. But then again, it was 5HP rated on 1ph OR 3ph and cost just over $2K. I guess you get what you pay for...
 
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laser3kw

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Never put a disconnect of any kind downstream of a vfd!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
or run multiple motors of the same vfd unless all motors are switched on (by the vfd) and controlled by the vfd.
Separate motors running independently will impose surge / sag to the vfd when each is turned on or off. And you cannot start / stop each motor independently (cannot interrupt the output of the vfd) . Or you cannot control speed or direction to each motor, all for one or none at all.
one vfd = one motor only.
 
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