SVX Moeller AC Motor Drives

[dojedar]

Hi, I'm looking for some information about the performance and reliability of SVX Moeller drives. Im planning to install them on an industrial plant but I haven't any feedback about those drives. I will appreciate any comment about any experience with this drive model.

Thanks

 

[malcolmsanford]

I have not used these particular drives, but as a whole Moeller kit are normally spot on. I used their DF range quite a bit a few years back in the UK on a chemical batching process plant and I still think after 7 years nearly it is all original kit.

They are also tied up with Eaton which again is a good name.

 

[dojedar]

Thanks Malcolmsanford, I'm already in contact with an Eaton staff to get more info about it.

 

[Wazzajnr]

Just out of interest, why are you using moeller. Nothing wrong with them per se but drives isn't their core business so i would have slight concerns about support/spares etc.
Personally i try to stick with CT, siemens or Parker SSD

 

[dojedar]

Mainly because they have given me a good offer and I think it is licit to study this option. I have used Rockwell drives on previous projects with a good result but their price at this moment is higher. If other drives can run good improving the cost of project it will be perfect.

 

[Wazzajnr]

if you haven't bought them or commited to them, i would seriously consider the CT drives. The commander series are very competitive if you just need simple open loop drives.
Great variety of option modules available for CT drives too.

 

[dojedar]

I have used CT DC drives and are good equipment for DC voltage applications. On the other hand, I've considered the CT drives for this project (AC voltage) but there is a great difference with competitors in price. It makes very difficult to choose them for the project.

 

[Wazzajnr]

Is it open loop or closed loop??

I know for example that an open loop commander drive can be had from about 200 quid for a small one. depends on what size you need.
I know the UNIDRIVES are much more costly but they can do away with the need for a PLC so some of the cost is recouped there

 

[dojedar]

it is open loop with several sizes from 11 to 400KW. We have a PLC to control all the plant process including the drives

 

[Wazzajnr]

COMMANDER sk2402 11KW STANDARD DUTY LIST PRICE £935.00 Biggest size on pricelist for commanders is 132kw but i think CT would be able to produce a cabinet version beyond this.

UNIDRIVE SP9431 400KW STANDARD DUTY FREE STANDING CABINET LIST PRICE £19955.00

I can normally get at least 20% discount and my colleague regularly gets 40%+ as he buys much more kit from them so if you're spending that kind of money i would be very surprised if you cant get at least 40% discount

 

[vaughant]

We have those ct drives where I work and their not a bad bit of kit but I find a bit overcomplicated although their user manuals and support is pretty good.don't like the whole download/upload stuff though,that's very 1980's.
We used siemens stuff in ford and it was very good considering it had no maintenance whatsoever and ran in cabinets inch thick in metal dust with no aircon ever working!!!

 

[Wazzajnr]

We have those ct drives where I work and their not a bad bit of kit but I find a bit overcomplicated although their user manuals and support is pretty good.don't like the whole download/upload stuff though,that's very 1980's.
We used siemens stuff in ford and it was very good considering it had no maintenance whatsoever and ran in cabinets inch thick in metal dust with no aircon ever working!!!

To be fair, you click a button to upload, or click a button to download, i reallly can't see what's 80's about that?? And as for being overcomplicated??? Everything grouped into sensible menu's unlike siemens where the expert list is a billion parameters scattered everywhere!!!

 

[Knobhead]

What’s your connection with these units? Are you trying to flog them?

 

[Wazzajnr]

Not at all, having used many makes of drive of the last 10 years, i just find them best as an all rounder. If you noted in my first comment to this thread i did say that normally i try to stick to CT, Parker SSD or siemens. And probably in that order.
That said, as an installer/system integrator, if anyone asked me to supply them with drives or support, i'd be happy to do that!!!
I do agree that at first glance the CT drives can appear a bit "cluncky" to use but once you get used to the MM.PP stucture, it does make you wonder why all drive makers don't do the same??

 

[vaughant]

Why do you need to alter parameters on siemens drives?if the drive unit fails you just remove it,take the card out,put the card in the new drive and everything works the same,everything's kept in the control side of the user interface,or it was on 840c/d in fact even on system 3 as well!!!Like I said they (ct) do seem quite robust,but their only spinning a cylinder or driving a press where I am now whereas in ford they were continually ramping up&down,running in very poor conditions with zero maintenance and we very very rarely had any serious problems,never had drives "trip" etc yet I reset a ct every shift,although I accept that could be in the set up but it happens on nearly every machine that runs them at some point so I'm not convinced.Each to their own of course and one thing I will say is that I've never touched an SSD and they were all fitted in the 80's and the lads reckon they never touch them either.Indramat aren't bad either,but usually when they go thats it,pointless repairing just replace.

 

[Wazzajnr]

All taken on board and agreed with the caveat that on initial installation a drive has to be set up to the motor which involves changing parameters. And also the CT drives come supplied with a "smart card" (although i think it's only the more expensive unidrives that have them. They can be bought for commanders as an extra but they're still far cheaper than the siemens SD cards) This allows cloning of drives just the same as the siemens cards. I think the resetting is probably down to the drives not being set up correctly. I look after a factory in the north east and there is not a single PLC in the building, it is all done within the drives and every machine can talk to every other machine depending on what they are producing. I would guess there are upwards of 1000 unidrives in there and the only time they trip is when someone does something stupid.

I also agree that from a bombproof point of view, the SSD's are probably one of the best but the PC programming interface leaves a bit to be desired.

Anyway, back to the original question, my first reply was just that i reccomend them over what was asked about primarilly because i know them well and i find them very easy/reliable and versatile.

As stated though, each unto their own