Well, it finally happened. I've been using a NEMA 1 enclosure Chinese VFD for the last 5 or 6 yrs (used several times/wk) and today it finally blew - with a BANG! I pulled apart enough to see metal dust got inside to short across PC board traces and blew a PCB trace and an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) in one leg of circuit. Perhaps I could repair the trace and replace the IGBT, but there's also a small SMD diode that's also blown and I'm not sure what it is. I might try it one day - maybe a good winter project?
While the last couple of VFDs I've installed I took time to make a good filter around the air inlets, this one I've never been very careful about dust in this VFD. I've been planning to replace the "slapped on" filter with the type I used on last two VFDs, just never "got around to it" type of thing. It's been working for years so no rush? Well, today it happened. 5 (6?) yrs from a cheap VFD and poor filter installation isn't too bad. I ordered another today and should be here next week. I'll do a better job of inlet filters and maybe it will last 10 yrs? Those things are getting cheaper - I think this one is $60 shipped?
Later
While the last couple of VFDs I've installed I took time to make a good filter around the air inlets, this one I've never been very careful about dust in this VFD. I've been planning to replace the "slapped on" filter with the type I used on last two VFDs, just never "got around to it" type of thing. It's been working for years so no rush? Well, today it happened. 5 (6?) yrs from a cheap VFD and poor filter installation isn't too bad. I ordered another today and should be here next week. I'll do a better job of inlet filters and maybe it will last 10 yrs? Those things are getting cheaper - I think this one is $60 shipped?
Later