New Product Focus
(Issue 1, 2004)

New AC drive and motor lines up to 100 hp offer big savings when purchased together

Jennifer Gerborg
Senior Editor
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AutomationDirect recently released the custom-built DURApulse™ drives line, and announced a partnership with Marathon Electric® to offer a wide range of Marathon's vector and inverter-duty motors. These new drives and motors are available up to 100 hp and, when purchased in approved combinations, feature some of the lowest prices in the industry.

The new DURApulse™ series of sensorless vector AC drives builds on the simplicity and flexibility of AutomationDirect's GS1 and GS2 series drives. DURApulse™ drives are available in 1 to 100 hp models and offer sensorless vector and autotuning, as well as optional encoder feedback for closed-loop speed control.

Also featured are automatic torque and slip compensation, an internal dynamic braking circuit for models under 20 hp and programmable jog speed. DURApulse™ drives provide three analog inputs (0-10 VDC, -10 to +10 VDC or 4-20 mA), 16 preset speeds, 11 programmable digital inputs, four programmable outputs (three digital and one relay) and one analog output. Default values were carefully selected so the drives run "out of the box" for most applications, with default values set for the U.S. industrial market.

Click here for more information on DURApulse drives

DURApulse™ series drives have a removable keypad for programming parameters. The keypad features real language parameter groupings, can store up to four different application programs for any DURApulse™ model and can be remotely mounted for easy access to data and parameters. Configuration settings are a superset of the GS series, so programming for the same parameters is identical across all drive lines. The digital keypad includes a two line x 16 character LCD display, five status LED indicators, and nine function keys. The keypad is designed with defaults for the North American customer and
allows you to configure the drive, set the speed, start and stop the drive, and monitor critical parameters for your application.

Open serial communications are available with a standard RS-485 MODBUS serial interface, which offers communications up to 38.4 K baud. An Ethernet option, available through the use of AutomationDirect's GS-EDRV Ethernet module, allows access parameters via MODBUS TCP/IP or a built-in Web server. The Ethernet option can be combined with AutomationDirect's KEPDirect EBC I/O server to connect the drives to any OPC client.

For PC-based drive configuration and maintenance, the GSoft Windows-based programming package, available for $50, can be used with the DURApulse™ drives. GSoft features a drive setup wizard, PID tuning screens and a schematic view of the drive with external connections that can visually lead the user through drive setup. The schematic view can be printed, which will give a hard copy of the completed drive setup with parameters, which can then be posted near the equipment installation.

DURApulse™ drives are UL and CE listed and come with a two-year replacement warranty. Prices range from $289 to $3,999.

The Marathon Electric motor lines have been carefully selected to be performance-matched with the DURApulse™ and GS series AC drives. The offering includes models ranging from ¼ hp to 100 hp, that feature dual 230/460 VAC voltages and a base speed of 1800 RPM. Models are available from several different lines: The microMAX™ motors (1/4 to 10 hp) are ideal replacements for PMDC (permanent magnet DC) systems, since no brushes or commutator changes are needed. The motors also offer dual mounting options, C-face rigid base and C-face round body, cooler running and lighter weight design, allowing an easy transition from PMDC. The microMAX™ motors also feature top-mounted conduit boxes for easy wiring and installation. They range in price from $99 to $789.

Click here for more information on Motors

Black Max® motors are designed for inverter or vector applications where up to a 1000:1constant torque speed range is required. They are available from ¼ to 30 hp. They feature Class F MAX GUARD insulation system, constant torque operation from 0 to base speed on vector drive and constant horsepower operation to twice the base RPM. Black Max® motors with Dynapar HS35 encoders are also available, in sizes from ¼ to 30 hp. Black Max motors are priced from $149 to $2,369. Blue Max® 2000 vector-duty motors (40 to 100 hp) are designed for inverter or vector applications and also feature the Class H MAX GUARD insulation system. They offer constant horsepower operation to 1.5 times base RPM, as well as constant torque operation from 0 to base speed on vector drive, including TEFC (on V/Hz drives, TEFC motors are limited to 20:1 constant torque). Blue Max® motors range in price from $2,999 to $5,069.

Blue Chip XRI® inverter-duty motors are available from 40 to 100 hp and meet NEMA Premium® efficiencies. They feature 10:1 variable torque and 20:1 constant torque on VFD with 1.0 service factor. Blue Chip® motors offer Class F insulation and continuous duty at 40º C ambient. Blue Chip® motors range in price from $1,819 to $4,059.

All Marathon motors carry a 3-year warranty and meet all UL, CSA and NEMA requirements.

For users interested in purchasing performance-matched drive/motor combinations, significant discounts are available, making these packages some of the most cost-effective in the industry. For more information, contact AutomationDirect at 800-633-0405 or visit online at: www.automationdirect.com.

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