Easier configuration of multiple DC drives

August 2005 Motion Control & Drives

Sprint Electric has simplified the simultaneous configuration, programming and monitoring of multiple DC drives with a facility that enables several of its PL and PLX digital drives to be 'daisy-chained' together. This feature reduces installation and commissioning time for OEMs and plant engineers by enabling the same settings and parameters to be loaded into multiple drives.

The Sprint drives are connected together using off-the-shelf RS232 to RS485 converters. Each converter is plugged into the PLX's serial port and its output connected to the input terminals of the next drive.

The drive at the end of the chain is connected to a PC running Sprint's easy-to-use, Windows-based configuration tool, PL Pilot, which now features a multiple view facility. All drives in the chain can then be programmed at the same time, with split screens in the software tool showing the status of each.

PL Pilot, available free on CD-ROM from Sprint Electric, can be used in either 'On-line' or 'Off-line' mode. In Off-line mode, the operator can create and save 'recipes' of parameters and block connections for downloading to a single or multiple drives later.

In On-line mode, PL Pilot can be used to set, monitor and adjust drive parameters with the drive/s connected and running. In this mode it also serves as a powerful realtime diagnostic tool, enabling the operator to troubleshoot the drive system and modify parameters and settings accordingly.

For more information contact Elquip Solutions, 011 827 7117.

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