Drive cables maximise system uptime

An Alpha Wire International product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Dec 1, 2004

A new range of enhanced design variable frequency drive cables are claimed to deliver optimum performance and durability in the most challenging manufacturing environments.

Alpha Wire International reckons it has made the best VFD cables even better.

The new Industrial Series - Series V enhanced design variable frequency drive (VFD) cables have a round, symmetrical geometry that improves cable performance and electrical characteristics and makes installation easier, more secure and air/watertight.

Alpha Wire engineers designed the Series V cables using nonhygroscopic filler materials to ensure a symmetrical profile and a corresponding roundness to the foil/braid shield to promote a fixed capacitance profile throughout the cable.

Whereas typical convoluted cables are difficult to work with, Alpha's Series V cables fit easily into grommets offering superior cable-to-electrical-junction/control box sealing.

The result is a tighter, cleaner connection that is protected from dirt, dust, oil, water and pollutants and meets IP67 and NEMA 6 installation standards.

Alpha Wire Industrial Series - Series V enhanced design variable frequency drive (VFD) cables deliver optimum performance and durability in the most challenging manufacturing environments.

Series V cables incorporate several critical design features that safeguard motors and system components, including thermoset crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation to help prevent meltdown during corona discharge and voltage spikes, tightly fitted shields to reduce the probability of corona discharge and large insulation walls to reduce capacitance.

Ideal for the most advanced AC drives, Alpha's Series V cables are acceptable for use with the Allen-Bradley ArmorStart distributed motor controller series with integrated variable frequency AC drives, manufactured by Rockwell Automation.

Series V cables are built with a state-of-the-art foil/braid shielding system and employ advanced XLPE insulation.

Power conductors are insulated with at least 0.1143mm of XLPE.

The result is a VFD cable that delivers unexcelled service life for today's sophisticated VFD drive systems.

The new Series V VFD cables virtually eliminate downtime caused by premature cable failure.

More importantly, XLPE lowers capacitance and has improved electrical characteristics for optimum signal transfer.

"The core of the new Series V VFD cables remains the thermoset XLPE insulation", explained Harry Quinn, General Manager.

"Alpha Wire's specially formulated XLPE insulated conductors improve performance by delivering consistent pulsed width modulation (PWM) and provide excellent low capacitance properties that ensure system performance".

"The cables will not degrade under heavy electrical load and increase system uptime by dispersing voltage spikes, harmonics, corona discharges and power distortion".

"With an ease of installation and tight seal that are only possible with a round geometry, these VFD cables are superior in every way to traditional, convoluted products".

Series V unique shielding system helps contain EMC signals from device to device by preventing extraneous noise currents from polluting either the external environment in immediate proximity or other control circuits in common trays or conduits.

"With the new Series V enhanced design we worked to create the ideal VFD cable, one that is easy to install, aesthetically pleasing and built to combat the continuous dielectric stresses that cause other cables to fail", adds Quinn.

"Cables should not be the weak link in the system and Alpha Wire's Industrial Series - Series V enhanced design VFD cables are built to specifically withstand the rigours of the VFD environment.

Motors last longer, connections are sealed and components are protected".

"System uptime is maximised so that our customers can realise the full cost savings of variable speed drives".