Ip rating

[Indy]

Has anyone came across an enclosure that is rated to IP 67 and contains a vsd? My understanding is due to the fan requirement for cooling then the highest rating would be IP 56 ?

Thanks

 

[thebard3]

You probably need to use some kind of cabinet cooler (thermoelectric, AC, heat exchanger) to maintain the IP67 rating.

Brad Waybright

It's all okay as long as it's okay.

 

[jraef]

There are small VFDs in pre-packaged IP67 enclosures offered by some manufacturers, using an integrated external heat sink, no ventilation. Most stop at around 10HP (7.5kW), a few go a little larger (ABB goes to 30HP @ 480V in their ACS355 for example).

A few, like A-B PowerFlex, offer "fins out" versions of their chassis mount drives up to 350HP that you can install into UL type 4X enclosures, but most people consider NEMA 4X to be equivalent to IP66, not IP67, because they do have external Type 4X fans on the external heat sinks. IP67 allows for "brief submersion", which would equate to NEMA 6P and nobody is going to list a VFD that needs heat sink fans to NEMA 6P.

In my experience a TE cooler large enough to keep a VFD cool ends up costing more than the VFD itself! I generally use Compressor type A/C units, but those too are going to be IP66 at best, never IP67/NEMA 6P.


" We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don't know." -- W. H. Auden

 

[Indy]

Thanks for the replies. I have also never seen IP67. I believe that for a large drive >200kw this rating is not possible.

Thanks

 

[ScottyUK]

It's certainly possible - the mining drives achieve IP67 by housing the drive in an armoured steel 'box' with water cooling using whatever water service is available. You might not like the price so much.

http://www.baldwinandfrancis.com/solutions/380v-1100v-variable-speed-drives/

http://www.baldwinandfrancis.com/solutions/elite-3300v-variable-speed-drive/