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Thread: Powtran VFDs
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17th Oct 2017, 01:18 PM #1Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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Powtran VFDs
Gents, some of you may be interested in these great value full vector drive VFDs from Powtran.
I have purchased 3 them direct from the factory in china and the service has been excellent.
Recently I purchased a base model (PI160Z) 1.5kW 220V VFD with braking circuitry for US$78.
The will only use a full on shipping service like DHL which is ~US$40 but for less than the price of an HY, you get full vector drive and braking circuitry included
Here is Photo of the PI 160 compared to the 1.5kW HY.
IMG_2587.jpg
As well as this PI160 I have purchase a couple of PI930s which are industrial strength devices but are not that much more expensive.
The Manual is EXCELLENT except it is WAAAAY too thick and takes some wading through to find the usual info.
In the WWF I have set up a thread about VFDs and the Powtrans including some prices and the Powtran OS email contact.
VFD install summaries
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17th Oct 2017, 02:45 PM #2Senior Member
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Making us do a treasure hunt BobL ?
Might be looking to get a few VFD's in the future so figured I would have a look
Didn't find the info until page 5 of that topic
To save everyone else hunting I'll quote your post here
And another from page 6
Might have to do some more looking into them, price seems pretty good
Cheers
Wayne
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17th Oct 2017, 03:02 PM #3Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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Thanks Wayne, I was going to quote that info in my first post thread but I had to rush off.
One thing I forgot to mention in the post above was I've had a bit of a play with the PI 930 model and the dual line display is pretty handy when programming - one line shows the original value of a parameter while the other one shows the changed value. Being able to show two different parameters while running is also handy. The removable front panel also has a bunch of memories in which complete sets of settings can be stored which would make swapping around the VFD to different machines a lot easier. If you had a couple of spare panels you could even just swap out the panels for each machine type
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17th Oct 2017, 06:19 PM #4Senior Member
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I have an older powtran, it's manual wasn't spectacular but not bad. Good to see they are still around.
I am very happy with the vfd itself except I wish it had braking.
I've got it set to slow down too quickly, and if it is running faster than 50hz I get an overvoltage error. Suppose I had better dig out the manual and fix it
And finish my remote panel.
-russ
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17th Oct 2017, 08:26 PM #5Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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The manual on these is very good - better than the HY and comparable to a Honeywell VFD.
I am very happy with the vfd itself except I wish it had braking.
I've got it set to slow down too quickly, and if it is running faster than 50hz I get an overvoltage error. Suppose I had better dig out the manual and fix it
Over voltage error sounds normal for a standard VFD trying to decelerate a machine too fast. Unless it can take a brake there's naught you can really do about it. Constant OV errors can also eventually damage the VFD - one of mine connected to an 8" grinder blew a cap and something else doing this once too often. Eventually I removed the deceleration parameter altogether and let it free coast to a stop. Adding a brake to a grinder could result in wheels loosening so its better that it is not braking anyway.
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17th Oct 2017, 09:05 PM #6Senior Member
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18th Oct 2017, 12:24 PM #7Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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18th Apr 2018, 09:01 AM #8Senior Member
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Hi Bob
lt would seem there has been a jump in postage costs!
I emailed powtran to get a
quote on on of their 9130 vfds and a couple of braking resisters, the price was fine but the postage was $80 US ! l was expecting around the $40 which you paid. Not sure why there should be so much difference.
l also got a quote on 3 of the 9130 vfds, postage for them came in at $150 US !
l know it's still not a bad price for a good vfd, but l hate getting stung so much for postage (almost as much as the item)
Pete
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18th Apr 2018, 09:17 AM #9Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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28th Apr 2018, 06:33 PM #10Senior Member
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Looks like I am in the market for a new one...
Went to use the mill today, error e.lu low voltage.
Power cycled a couple of times and eventually got the motor to run, but sounded like it was hunting, or struggling to get to speed. Got my job done, left it running for a few minutes but no improvement. Then a power cycle and now just y04 in the display.
Was fine a couple of weeks ago, well, maybe 6. Although on reflection it didn't start up first time then either.
Russ
Ps, any issues if I get a 2.2kw model with a 1.5kw load?
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28th Apr 2018, 08:02 PM #11Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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I'd be doing a full factory reset, reinsert basic motor parameters and try again.
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28th Apr 2018, 08:58 PM #12Senior Member
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Couldn't hurt...
Maybe the long time switched off resulted in lost parameters...
Russ
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4th May 2018, 10:17 AM #13Senior Member
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I've just ordered a PI160 2R2G1Z via Nicole. @88 plus freight 28.
(usd)
As you noted, very quick and easy.
Initially she offered the 2.2kw 9000 @ about usd210 delivered including 80 freight , then apologised for mistake and offered the 160.
Russ
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4th May 2018, 12:54 PM #14Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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Excellent, I was just about to post the good news as it just so happens I have been negotiating a cheaper freight rate with Nicole over the last couple of days.
Info for anyone else, Powtran may still default to use DHL which have recently their freight to ~$80 for a VFD, so make sure you ask for a cheaper freight option.
The are proposing to use "Australian Special line" the first half kg is us$10 and additional weight is us$3/0.5kg so it sounds like you have about 3kg package.
I had lined up someone from the WWF else to place an order and told Nicole about it and that he would appreciate the reduced rate but he decided not to go ahead so am glad you did !!
I'm about to order another.
Did you try a full factory reset?
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4th May 2018, 02:43 PM #15Senior Member
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Hi Bob
You must be a bit of a sweet talker.
l was going to purchase a vfd from Nicole a couple of weeks ago, however us$80 was too steep for freight.
l received another email yesterday from her saying that after talking to her customer 'Bob' she has been able to reduce postage to $49
Cheers
Pete
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