ABB ACS355-03E-38A0-4 ACS355 18.5 kW Machinery Drive

ACS355-03E-38A0-4 for 18.5 kW machines: compact IP20 drive

A 18.5 kW motor on a 400 V network calls for the ABB ACS355-03E-38A0-4 when the machine builder wants a compact IP20 drive. It delivers 38 A continuously, allows 57 A for one minute in ten and belongs to frame R4, the largest of the ACS355 frame sizes.

The 03E coding stands for a 3-phase drive with the EMC filter connected, so it complies with category C3 for second-environment use without an extra filter.

Technical specifications

Current limits and sizing

Sizing starts from motor current. Rated output is 38 A; the drive can supply 57 A for one minute in ten and 66.5 A for two seconds at start. On the supply side expect 61 A without a choke, or 32 A when a choke is fitted.

Derating applies to switching frequencies above the 4 kHz default, at higher ambient temperature, and above 1000 m altitude, as ABB lists in the user manual.

For mounting, ABB lists 75 mm free space above and below, a back or DIN-rail style fastening for R0 to R3 only (R4 is screwed to the wall), and a NEMA 1 kit that raises the weight to 5.8 kg. Heat output is 440 W at nominal load with 96 m3/h air flow.

Recommended input protection: 100 A gG, or 100 A UL class T/CC. The manual allows a 50 m motor cable as standard and 100 m with output chokes.

Reading the ACS355-03E-38A0-4 order code

In ACS355-03E-38A0-4, ACS355 is the series, 03 the 3-phase input, E the connected EMC filter (U for US parametrization with the filter disconnected), 38A0 the output current and 4 the 380 to 480 V range. Options in ABB’s list include the ACS-CP-C basic and ACS-CP-A assistant panels, FPBA-01 PROFIBUS DP, FDNA-01 DeviceNet, FCAN-01 CANopen and FPNO-21 PROFINET IO modules.

The ACS355-03E-38A0-4 is a machinery drive, so the most useful details for a quotation are the motor current, the control signals needed, the cable length and any special option on the original unit. Send the label of the installed drive if it is a replacement, and say whether the EMC filter and the panel type must stay as before.

Step-by-step selection for an 18.5 kW axis

Drive selection should begin with the motor nameplate and the load, not with the kilowatt figure alone. A pump or fan with a smooth start has very different demands from a conveyor or mixer that starts loaded, so check the expected overload against the one-minute and start-up current figures in the table above. Where the motor current is close to the drive rating, or where derating for switching frequency, ambient temperature or altitude applies, the next frame up in the range may be the safer choice.

• Read the motor rated current, voltage and frequency from the nameplate.
• Describe the load and how often it starts, stops or reverses.
• Decide whether a supply choke will be used, since the input current figures differ with and without one.
• Confirm the motor cable length against the standard and output-choke limits.
• List the control signals and any fieldbus needed, so the right option module can be chosen.

Installation and commissioning

Mount the R4 frame by screwing it to the cabinet wall with the free space above and below that ABB specifies, and arrange the cabinet so the drive’s air flow is not drawn back in as warm exhaust. Use correctly sized copper cables and the recommended input fuses from the table, keep the motor cable separate from control wiring, and earth the drive and motor according to the user’s manual. Because the EMC filter is connected in the 03E version, check the supply earthing system with the manual before energising.

For commissioning, enter the motor nameplate data, set acceleration and deceleration times to suit the machine, and check the direction of rotation with the motor uncoupled where possible. Then run the machine through its normal cycle while watching motor current, and make sure protective functions and stop commands behave as intended. Save a copy of the final parameter settings with the machine documentation so a replacement drive can be set up quickly.

Running in hot and dusty GCC sites

Drives in Oman and the Gulf commonly sit in panels within workshops, pump stations and plant rooms that become very hot in summer. As an IP20 drive, the ACS355 relies on the cabinet for dust and moisture protection, and its 440 W of heat at nominal load has to be removed by the cabinet cooling. Size ventilation or air conditioning for the hottest season, apply ABB’s temperature derating where the cabinet air exceeds the rated level, and keep intake routes clean. Fine sand and dust collecting on the drive restricts cooling, so include cabinet cleaning in planned shutdowns. In humid coastal areas, avoid condensation by keeping cabinets closed and powered where practical.

Routine inspection

• Check terminal tightness and cable condition during shutdowns.
• Confirm the cabinet cooling is working before the hot season begins.
• Investigate repeated overcurrent or overtemperature trips instead of simply resetting them.

Documents and quotation

The attached catalogue and ABB’s ACS355 user’s manual provide these values. For smaller frames see the ACS355-03E-07A3-4 page or browse AC Drives.

Before ordering, check the type label and options of the drive you are replacing. Seven Star LLC (independent supplier, Muscat) states current availability and delivery time in each quotation.