Intelligent drive calls for service
June 2005
Motion Control & Drives
The latest offering from Elquip Solutions is Hitachi's range of IP54 drives with built-in e-mail functionality. The L300IP Inverter can now come with the option of the Hitachi Web Controller built-in, which would allow the inverter to send an e-mail informing users and engineers of its status.
This feature is primarily aimed at the HVAC market due to the obvious benefits it would bring. Being able to send an e-mail when an Inverter has tripped either once or a set amount of times within a fixed time period or e-mailing the maintenance contractors with operating statistics ie, hours run time, powered up time, number of trips and time until next service.
Having the Web Controller built-in also allows further benefits to be realised. The Web Controller is at heart a Web Server and as such, with access to the LAN, the site engineers or maintenance contractors would be able to dial into the LAN and interrogate the Inverter at any time. The Web Controller is also a PLC with six digital inputs and four relay outputs so ladder logic can also be introduced and once dialled into the LAN certain functions can be performed from the remote site, rather than spending hours in a car to check the status after a trip has occurred.
Featuring an integrated Class B EMC filter, providing an out-of-the-box inverter solution for HVAC, building services, food and drink, and water treatment applications, as well as many other general-purpose industrial tasks. Available in power ratings ranging from 1,5 kW to 132 kW, the Hitachi L300IP combines ease of use with high levels of functionality, and offer a number of modular options to allow the products to be tailored to the requirements of the application.
Elquip Solutions is Hitachi's sole agent for drives and automation products in the UK. Managing director Stuart Harvey comments: "HVAC services and water treatment applications are big potential markets, and Hitachi are trying very hard to be involved in this market."
These industries place particular importance on reliability, simplicity of installation and set up. The L300IP with the Web Controller make a great partnership, the drive may be taken straight out of the box, bolted to the wall, mains supply, motor and LAN cables connected, and that is it. It takes 5 minutes using a Web browser, such as IE to set up.
The L300IP includes a user-friendly, integrated display that makes it simple to adjust parameters on the fly, the built-in RS422/485 communications interface allows a standard PC to be connected for set-up and commissioning with Windows-based programming software.
The RS422/485 interfaces also allow quick connection to a PLC or other control equipment, whilst Fieldbus interfaces for Profibus, LonWorks, DeviceNet and others are available as modular options. Further options include an harmonic line reactor, and an embedded PLC board which turns the drive into a powerful, single box, control system. The L300IP conforms to global standards, including CE, UL, c-UL and CTick, allowing their use anywhere in the world.
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