Lovato VLB30022A480 2.2 kW VLB3 Variable Speed Drive

A compact VLB3 drive rated 2.2 kW and 5.6 A

Variable speed from a three-phase supply is what the VLB30022A480 (VLB3 series, 2.2 kW (3 (heavy load) HP), 5.6 A) provides; input 400-480VAC 50/60Hz, output 0-599 Hz. It lets a squirrel-cage motor accelerate and run at controlled speed.

Radio-frequency interference is handled by the built-in EMC suppressor cat. C2 inside the housing, and the serial port is RS485, Modbus-RTU.

Overload capacity is 150% for 60s; 200% for 3s, with a switching frequency of 2-16kHz.

Technical specifications

Matching the drive to the motor

With 5.6 A available at the output, motors up to about 2.2 kW fit, but always confirm by nameplate current and duty (the overload figure is 150% for 60s; 200% for 3s). A mains choke reduces the input current figure of 7.8 A and is a common choice on weak supplies.

Control modes listed: V/f linear, quadratic torque, sensorless vector control, ECO mode, servo control with encoder feedback, multipoint V/f curve, V/f closed loop control with encoder feedback, torque setpoint, sensorless.

A brake chopper is built in and the safe-torque-off function is optional.

Where it fits and how to install it

Use cases range from single booster pumps to packaging-line conveyors and fan walls. Check the motor control modes listed below and the maximum motor cable length table, because both depend on the type of motor and cable installed.

Installation data: 60 x 278 x 130 mm, 1.38 Kg, IP20. Vertical mounting is required; allow airflow above and below the unit and observe the altitude derating stated in the table.

Commissioning the VLB30022A480 step by step

Start with the drive isolated and check that the incoming supply sits inside the 340-528 VAC operating range printed in the datasheet. Wire the three-phase mains to the input terminals, the motor to the output, and bring the protective earth to both the drive and the motor frame. Because the unit carries a built-in C2 EMC suppressor, use screened motor cable bonded at both ends so the filter can do its job; an unscreened cable largely defeats it.

• Enter the motor nameplate data first: rated current, voltage, frequency and speed.
• Select the control mode that matches the load, for example quadratic torque for centrifugal fans and pumps, or sensorless vector control for conveyors that need torque at low speed.
• Set acceleration and deceleration ramps; if the deceleration is short on a high-inertia load, plan a braking resistor for the built-in chopper.
• Configure the digital inputs for PNP or NPN logic to suit the control system before connecting field devices.
• Run the motor uncoupled first to verify rotation direction, then couple and test under load.

Using the pump functions

For booster sets, the PID controller with sleep function lets the drive stop the pump when demand falls away and restart it when pressure drops, which saves energy and reduces wear on seals. The multi-pump mode described in the datasheet regulates one main pump by frequency and switches the two auxiliary pumps on direct when demand rises, which suits small water-supply stations without a separate pump controller. A pressure transmitter on a 4-20 mA analog input is the usual feedback source.

Maintenance and fault finding

The protections list covers overcurrent, short circuit and earth leakage, overvoltage, undervoltage, phase loss and motor i2t overload, and each of these points to a different root cause. Repeated overvoltage trips during stopping usually mean the ramp is too short for the inertia, or a braking resistor is needed. Undervoltage or phase-loss trips point to the supply or loose input terminals. Earth leakage trips often trace back to damaged motor cable or moisture in the motor terminal box.

• Keep the heat sink and air path clean; dust build-up raises internal temperature and triggers derating.
• Retighten power terminals at planned shutdowns.
• Use the relay output to signal a fault to the control room so trips are not missed.

Operating in Oman and GCC conditions

The datasheet allows operation up to +55 °C but applies current derating above 45 °C at low switching frequencies and above 40 °C at higher ones. In a summer panel in Oman, internal temperatures can easily pass those points, so either size the drive with margin, keep the switching frequency low, or provide cabinet cooling. With IP20 protection the drive must sit inside an enclosure; in dusty locations use filtered fans and change the filter mats regularly. On coastal sites, where humidity is high and condensation can form overnight, an anti-condensation heater in the panel helps keep the drive within its non-condensing humidity rating.

Documents and quotation

The figures above are those printed in the manufacturer’s datasheet for VLB30022A480, supplied here as an attached English PDF from the Lovato catalogue. Please confirm the motor nameplate current, the supply type and voltage, the EMC category needed for your cable lengths and whether a keypad or safe-torque-off option is required before you order, and note that the manufacturer may revise datasheet values. Related items are listed under ac drives. To request VLB30022A480, send the quantity and delivery location with the quotation form; Seven Star LLC is an independent supplier based in Muscat.