ABB ACS880-01-038A-3 ACS880-01 18.5 kW Frame R3 AC Drive

What the ACS880-01-038A-3 offers: 38 A, 18.5 kW, frame R3

For a 18.5 kW induction or permanent-magnet motor fed from 380 to 415 V, the ABB ACS880-01-038A-3 is one of the sizes ABB catalogues in the ACS880-01 family. It is a frame R3 drive with 38 A nominal output.

Because it uses the ACS880 common architecture, panels, fieldbus adapters and PC tools match those of the other family members. Coated circuit boards and a DC choke are part of the standard delivery.

Technical specifications

Selection notes for this ACS880-01 size

Overload capability is expressed through duty classes. Here the heavy-duty class carries 32 A (15 kW), the light-duty class 36 A (18.5 kW) and nominal use 38 A (18.5 kW), all at 400 V.

This -3 variant is specified for 380 to 415 V, so it is not the choice for a 480 V or 500 V network; the -5 variants cover those voltages.

The standard enclosure measures 173 x 475 x 261 mm and weighs 10.8 kg. ABB specifies 134 m3/h of cooling air, a typical power loss of 515 W and 60 dB(A) of noise. Leave 200 mm free above the drive and 300 mm below it, measured from the base without the cable entry box.

The minimum prospective short-circuit current for the 50 A gG fuse is 400 A. A 63 A ultrarapid fuse, Bussmann 170M1565, is the alternative, and 3×10 mm2 copper cable is the size ABB gives. Frames R1 to R4 include a brake chopper as standard, and this drive belongs to that group.

The motor cable limit is 150 m for this frame. Output frequency is 0 to 598 Hz, or 0 to 120 Hz with a du/dt or sine filter.

Reading the ACS880-01-038A-3 order code

After the basic code, ABB adds plus codes. Examples from the hardware manual are +B056 for IP55 (UL Type 12), +D150 for brake choppers, +E200 for a category C3 EMC filter, +E202 for a C2 filter, +C135 for flange mounting, +0J400 for no control panel, and +K490, +K492 or +L502 for FEIP-21, FPNO-21 or FEN-31 modules. Availability varies by type and region.

Installing the frame R3 drive on a wall or in a panel

The ACS880-01 is a wall-mounted drive, but in practice many units in Oman end up inside MCC rooms, kiosks or field panels. Whichever arrangement is used, mount the drive vertically on a solid, non-flammable surface, keep the free space above and below that ABB specifies, and make sure the cooling air entering the drive is not the hot exhaust from another drive or a power supply. In an enclosure, the cooling system must remove the heat loss listed in the table as well as the heat from other equipment in the same panel.

Size the input protection and cables according to the hardware manual, and route the motor cable separately from control and communication cables. Use shielded motor cable with the shield terminated as ABB describes, which limits interference with nearby instruments and helps the drive meet its EMC rating. If the motor is far from the drive, check the cable length against the frame limit before installation rather than after.

Safe torque off wiring

The built-in safe torque off function only provides its intended safety level when wired and validated according to the ABB safety documentation and the machine risk assessment. Do not use a temporary jumper as a permanent solution, and record the validation test results in the machine file.

Commissioning with the assistant control panel

Before first start, check insulation of the motor and motor cable as described in the manual, with the drive disconnected. Enter the motor nameplate data through the ACS-AP-W panel, select the control mode suited to the load, and run the motor identification routine where the mechanical arrangement allows it. Set acceleration, deceleration, current limits and protection functions to match the driven equipment. For pumps and fans, take time to configure the process control settings that the application requires, then save a backup of the parameters to the panel or a PC tool.

Dust, heat and humidity in Gulf installations

Ambient temperature is the factor that most often limits drive performance in the GCC. The stated ambient range applies with derating at the upper end, so a drive placed in a hot, poorly ventilated room may not deliver its catalogue current. Calculate the derating for the real room temperature and altitude, or improve the cooling. Fine dust and sand can block the cooling air path and reduce cooling capacity, and humid coastal air can cause condensation when equipment cools down at night. The coated circuit boards included as standard help against these conditions, but they do not replace a clean, dry installation environment.

Preventive maintenance

Inspect and clean the cooling air path at intervals set by the actual dust level of the site, check terminal tightness during planned shutdowns, and follow the preventive maintenance schedule in the ABB documentation. Keep the parameter backup up to date whenever settings are changed.

Documents and quotation

The catalogue attached to this page and the abb.com record for ACS880-01-038A-3 document the type. Neighbouring products sit under AC Drives, with the family overview on the ACS880-01 page.

Always verify the duty class, supply voltage and options against your application. Seven Star LLC, independent supplier in Muscat, provides pricing and lead time on request.