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Written April 2020 | Steven Stanford, National Sales Manager - Industrial at Service Wire Company
The increased adoption of variable frequency drives (VFDs) over the past decade has increased the need for specifically engineered wire and cable solutions that ensure long-term performance. To avoid costly downtime, diagnosis, and repair of these critical operations, it is important to specify cable systems designed to address motor bearing failure, cable failure, stray current, and electromagnetic interference (EMI).
The higher switching speeds of VFDs inherently generate more high frequency currents that inevitably get radiated through the power cable damaging control systems and mechanical parts. To avoid these issues, an electrically balanced, copper tape shielded cable with NFPA 79 compliant crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation is the best solution to maximize drive performance.
Independent lab and field-testing by prominent manufacturing companies have proven that the ServiceDrive® VFD Tray Cable System is the best solution available. However, there are several less effective wiring methods commonly used for VFD applications that cannot provide the complete protection for commercial or industrial applications.
Continuously welded armor cable relies on aluminum as armor and the shield. However, a copper shield with proper termination provides a superior low impedance, low resistance path, allowing the current to flow back out of the system on a controlled path and avoiding damage to motor bearings and sensitive electronics. A flat copper tape shield with 50% overlap has been proven to be the best solution, providing better flexibility and ease of installation.
Braided tray cable presents additional issues that adversely impact performance in VFD applications. These cable designs will typically use an aluminum-backed mylar wrap, which has increased electrical resistance when compared to copper. Because the braid can only offer a percentage of total coverage and braid strands move when the cable is installed with bends, these gaps allow EMI to radiate and provide a less than desirable return path for high frequency currents, compounding the risk to the motor and surrounding equipment. By contrast, a flat copper tape shield with 50% overlap can be bent around corners during installation and maintain full electrical containment.
The ServiceDrive® VFD Tray Cable System is the only complete solution for issues commonly associate with VFD applications. The system consists of insulated cable with three NFPA 79 compliant XLPE conductors and three balanced grounds, 5-mil copper tape shield, and matching self-terminating connectors and termination kits.
When specifying cable systems for VFD applications, it is important to select an electrically balanced, copper tape shielded cable with XLPE insulation. This design will:
However, lesser cable constructions are used that can’t provide the protection required for VFDs.
Unshielded single and multiconductor cable does not address any of the issues associated with VFDs. Continuously welded armor relies on aluminum as a shield, instead of copper. Braided tray cable only offers a percentage of total coverage, allowing stray currents to occur.
The ServiceDrive® VFD Tray Cable System is the only off-the-shelf complete solution. The cable is made of thermoset insulation, and the conductor and ground configuration with overall copper tape shield provides the best low impedance return path.
Looking for armoured cable for your VFD application? Service Wire's line of Teck90 designed cable is C(UL) approved for VFD applications in Canada. The cable combines aluminum interlocked armour with an inner and outer jacket to deliver a rugged, compact, and flexible cable that resists corrosion, water, and mechanical abuse.
The cable core consists of three copper conductors, stranded and insulated with thermoset XLPE insulation (type RW90 or RWU90), phase identified and cabled together with suitable fillers and three symmetrical copper ground conductors. The core is covered with mylar binder tape, a 5-mil helical copper tape shield, inner jacket, armour, and overall outer jacket.
2018 NFPA 79 Requirements by Lee Perry | September 2018
ISO 9001:2015 What's the Difference? by Katy Martin | January 2019
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