Danfoss 134U7731 VLT Midi Drive FC 280, 1.5 kW, PROFINET

The 1.5 kW VLT Midi Drive FC 280, a popular size for 400 V machine motors

Danfoss order number 134U7731 is FC-280P1K5T4E20H1BXCXXXSXXXXAL, the 1.5 kW (2 hp) member of the VLT Midi Drive FC 280 range with integrated PROFINET. 1.5 kW is among the most frequently installed motor sizes on conveyors, small pumps and fans, and this drive fits the same compact K1 frame as the 0.55 kW unit, so a machine can be scaled without changing the panel cut-out. The current rating of 3.7 A at 380-440 V is more than double that of the 0.55 kW version (1.7 A), while the footprint remains 75 mm wide.

Technical specifications

Reading the type code

Control features and sizing

The FC 280 control card provides six programmable digital inputs (seven when one analog input is configured as a digital input), two analog inputs, one analog output of 0/4-20 mA and one relay output, plus pulse and encoder inputs and a USB port for PC commissioning without an adapter. The motor control runs both induction and permanent magnet motors, with ramp times of 0.01-3600 s and an output frequency up to 500 Hz. Harmonics are reduced by an integrated DC choke on three-phase units.

The estimated loss of 52.9 W is the heat that must be removed from the panel at rated load; the fact sheet allows operation at up to 45 °C without derating. When the load is a high-inertia fan, review the brake resistor and the deceleration ramp. See also the Danfoss VLT Midi Drive FC 280 family page.

Commissioning is helped by application set-up wizards, the USB port and the optional VLT Memory Module, which transfers a parameter set between drives and can be programmed from a PC. Fieldbus alternatives to PROFINET in the FC 280 family are POWERLINK, EtherNet/IP, PROFIBUS and CANopen, with Modbus RTU and the FC protocol integrated as standard, so a different control-card code is needed if your PLC uses another network.

Installing the drive in the panel

Mount the FC 280 on a flat, vertical back plate with the free space above and below that the Danfoss design guide asks for, so cooling air can rise through the unit without being blocked by trunking or a neighbouring drive. Use shielded motor cable and terminate the screen properly at both ends, keeping motor leads apart from PROFINET, analog and encoder wiring. Run the network cable along its own route and use connectors suited to industrial Ethernet. Check that the supply voltage on site matches the T4 rating before applying power, and that upstream protection is sized according to the design guide rather than by habit.

Commissioning on a PROFINET network

Before the drive goes live, agree with the PLC programmer on the device name, the telegram and the process data the controller expects. Load the matching device description file into the engineering tool, assign the name, and confirm that the drive appears without errors. Enter the motor nameplate data, run the motor adaptation routine where the application allows it, then test start, stop and speed reference from the PLC with the load uncoupled or at low speed. Save the final parameter set to a PC through the USB port, or to the memory module if one is fitted, so a replacement can be set up the same way.

Heat, dust and humidity in Oman and the GCC

Panel temperature is the main concern for drives in the Gulf. Even when the room or shade temperature looks acceptable, a closed cabinet in a plant room or on an outdoor skid can run much hotter in summer, so allow for the 52.9 W loss of this drive together with every other heat source in the enclosure. Cabinet coolers, fans with filters or shading of outdoor panels are common answers; whichever you choose, keep inlet filters clean, because fine desert dust blocks them quickly. The coated PCB in this type code helps where the air carries moisture or salt near the coast, but it does not replace a sealed, well-ventilated enclosure. Avoid condensation by not opening panels to humid air when the inside is much cooler.

Routine maintenance

Plan regular checks rather than waiting for a trip. Inspect and clean filters and heat sinks, look for dust on the drive surface, and confirm that panel fans are running. Re-tighten power terminals at intervals recommended by Danfoss, since heating and cooling cycles can loosen them. Review the alarm log for repeated warnings such as over-temperature or over-current, which often point to a blocked filter, a stiff mechanical load or an unsuitable ramp. Keep a record of the parameter file and firmware details so the same settings can be restored quickly after any repair.

Selection checks before ordering

Compare the motor nameplate current with the drive output rating, confirm the network your PLC uses, and decide whether the load needs braking. If any of these points does not match this type code, ask us to review the alternative before an order is placed.

Documents and quotation

The Danfoss fact sheet is attached as a download. More drives are listed under AC drives. Send us the label data you need to match, and confirm the exact code with us before ordering.