The way we control the speed of fan motors or pump motors has tremendously changed in the past two decades with the introduction of variable-frequency drives (VFDs), aka variable-frequency controllers ...

What is a variable frequency drive? Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems' air supply used to be constant volume into a space. Now a variable air volume control is being used to provide ...

In today’s world, motors are ubiquitous, powering everything from household appliances to industrial machinery. The importance of optimizing motor control for energy efficiency cannot be overstated, ...

In this episode of “EC&M Tech Talk,” Randy Barnett, a journeyman electrician, electrical instructor, inspector, author, trainer, and electrical safety expert, first briefly discusses the background of ...

Variable speed drives (VSDs), sometimes also known as variable frequency drives, are electronic devices used to regulate the speed of an ac induction motor. Electric motors consume approximately 25% ...

David Greenfield: Welcome to the Automation World Gets Your Questions Answered podcast, where we connect with industry experts to get the answers you need about industrial automation technologies. And ...

Controlling motor speed with variable frequency drives (VFDs) can save energy. But it’s not as easy as just adding a VFD. This article examines what else needs to be ...

When it comes to making decisions among various automation technologies to perform a task, the answer is rarely clear cut. Ultimately, the decision is often tied to the specifics of the application ...

A typical low-voltage variable-frequency drive. Industrial facilities commonly use variable-frequency drives (VFDs) to control the speed at which alternating current motors operate. Let’s examine a ...

Matching drive to motor is essential to gain the best combination of torque, speed, and efficiency. Selecting the right drive is essential to getting the best performance and efficiency from an ...

When powering AC motors, the electrical supply can be at full power to run at full speed or at variable power to run at variable speed. Applications with varying loads benefit from the variable speed ...

A variable frequency driven (VFD) is a type of motor that controls the levels of frequency and voltage that alter the speed of an electric motor. The drive alters torque and motor speed and can be ...