Thanks Thanks:  0
Needs Pictures Needs Pictures:  0
Picture(s) thanks Picture(s) thanks:  0
Results 1 to 13 of 13
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Charlestown NSW
    Age
    65
    Posts
    1,669

    Default Huanyang VFD problem

    Gday All.
    About two years ago I bought a Huanyang VFD/phase changer for my Bridgeport clone mill. I also fitted an almost new 2.2Kw 3 ph motor.
    Spent a fair bit of time getting it all set up and until today I haven't had a problem with it. I have a remote mounted speed control pot as well as a remote mounted reversing switch with the centre being another motor "off". I also have two remote mounted start/stop switches.
    I have only had the VFD set up to use a frequency range from 50Hz to 100hz.
    I haven't used the mill much since I fitted the VFD. In fact until this arvo I haven't used it since late January when it was working fine. When its not in use the machine is unplugged from the wall socket.
    So this arvo I went to do a small job and thats when I discovered the VFD is not working properly now.

    1) I no longer have speed control at my remote controller
    2) The does the direction switch work properly. The motor runs but I think its only running at 50 Hz. The direction switch doesn't switch the motor off when I put it in the centre "Off" position. If I stop the motor using the stop button and then change the direction switch, then restart, the motor runs the other way.
    Bugger.
    Now I haven't had a chance to have a look at it yet so I cant supply any more info at this point, but I thought I'd put this up in case someone else has knowledge of an issue like this.
    I'm really hoping its just some sort of programming glitch and not a component failure
    As I haven't touched it from a setting up perspective for over 2 years its going to be a bit like starting out from scratch again.
    Any info would be greatly appreciated.
    I'm hoping to have some time to have a look at it tomorrow arvo.
    peter

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,102

    Default

    Hi Peter,
    certainly sounds like some bad/corroded connections. Undo all the control connections at the VFD, wriggle the wires and tighten the connection screws again. Then try again. If that doesn't change anything, check all other control connections at your switches and potentiometer.
    Since the VFD itself works and starts and stops the motor, the single and three phase voltage and connections must be OK.
    Good luck tracing the control issue.
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  3. #3
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,182

    Default

    I agree with Joe.

    I hope it doesn't come to this but if all goes totally pear shaped you can always do a factory reset and rewire the thing again from scratch

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Charlestown NSW
    Age
    65
    Posts
    1,669

    Default

    Thanks Joe and Bob.
    I'm hoping that it is just a bad connection as we are fairly close to the ocean here and everything rusts pretty quickly. I really hope I dont have to rewire it. aaaaaagggggggg. lol
    I'll keep you posted .
    peter

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Charlestown NSW
    Age
    65
    Posts
    1,669

    Default

    Had a bit of a play with it this arvo. Doesn't help that I cant find a lot of the diagrams that I did when I originally set it up.
    Checked the control side connections - all good there.
    Anyway if I change the settings to control the speed from the front panel rather than the remote pot, then it works fine. My remote start stop buttons are also ok. So I'm wondering if maybe the potentiometer has carked it. I'll have a look at that over the weekend if I get a chance.
    peter

  6. #6
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,182

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bollie7 View Post
    Had a bit of a play with it this arvo. Doesn't help that I cant find a lot of the diagrams that I did when I originally set it up.
    Checked the control side connections - all good there.
    Anyway if I change the settings to control the speed from the front panel rather than the remote pot, then it works fine. My remote start stop buttons are also ok. So I'm wondering if maybe the potentiometer has carked it. I'll have a look at that over the weekend if I get a chance.
    peter
    Last year one of my VFD pots started behaving strangely - I think it got dirty from me handling it with dirty hands. The effect was the motor would slowly speed up. A couple of squirts of contact cleaner and then bowing it out with compressed air fixed it.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,102

    Default

    ow that you mention that, BobL, I'd forgotten about that. It happened one one of mine too (on the surface grinder). It developed a "dead spot" where the motor would stop about the position of the 3600rpm speed I use most often. I just replaced it and all was fine again.
    I wish I knew where you can get the quality pot that is in my valve radio from the mid-40s.... it's still perfectly good. Nowadays, I've had quite a few failures: worn out wipers, scratched through resistive tracks, broken off track ends (very mild vibration environment), etc....
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Charlestown NSW
    Age
    65
    Posts
    1,669

    Default

    If it is the pot that has carked it on mine, I'll be happy as that's a cheap fix. But on the other hand, I'll also be a bit ticked off as I've probably only used the mill for less than three hours total since I fitted the VFD. Thats not so good from the "quality" <$3 pot.
    peter

  9. #9
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,182

    Default

    I've had trouble free performance using the standard Altronics 1W pots on my VFDs and electronics projects.
    At work we would usually buy something in the $20 range from Element14.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Charlestown NSW
    Age
    65
    Posts
    1,669

    Default

    Well this morning I disconnected the pot from the VFD to test it. It tested fine. Reconnected the wires to the VFD (these are ones I also disconnected, checked and reconnected yesterday with no change in the fault) tried it out and its now working fine again. I have no idea what the problem was or what I did that fixed it.
    Bugger - dont you hate that?
    Anyway, thanks for the suggestions.
    I'll just see how it goes I guess.
    peter

  11. #11
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,182

    Default

    Yeah I hate that.
    I suspect a loose connection or it could be that the the pot just needed a few turns?

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Charlestown NSW
    Age
    65
    Posts
    1,669

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    Yeah I hate that.
    I suspect a loose connection or it could be that the the pot just needed a few turns?
    I really don't know Bob. All the connections appeared to be fine, screws tight etc and I certainly gave the pot a lot of turns before I started undoing connections.
    It was probably that little Gremlin that moves stuff on my bench or maybe the one that ties any loose cables and wires into almost impossible to unravel knots. lol.
    peter

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,436

    Default

    Hi Peter,

    Based on your comments, I would guess at micro corrosion between wires and screw terminals, particularly since you mentioned living quite near to the coast.

    Here I notice this effect the most on the ends of batteries, where the microscopic film effectively disconnects the battery. Spinning the battery in its holder usually clears the disconnection. Its particularly annoying when you put a battery in the charger and when you come back to take it out find that it is still uncharged.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

Similar Threads

  1. HuanYang questions.
    By mcostello in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 25th May 2015, 03:16 AM
  2. Huanyang VFD pot
    By morrisman in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 10th Mar 2015, 01:15 PM
  3. Huanyang VFD - SPDT for/rev
    By leeko in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 16th Jul 2012, 10:07 PM
  4. Huanyang VFD earthing
    By morrisman in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 6th Apr 2012, 10:54 PM
  5. House for Huanyang
    By whitey56 in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 23rd Jan 2012, 03:28 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •