How can multiple drives installed in the same facility from one central location be started, stopped, and installed? The prevalence of electronic drives, such as soft starters and variable speed drives, has brought significant benefits in terms of both energy efficiency and reduction of mechanical stresses for motors, thanks to the gradual start and stop ramp. Reducing maintenance costs, reducing downtime and using energy responsibly are key goals for modern industry.

Drive systems and programming

An industrial plant can have a large number of drives, and if electromechanical systems are used, managing them can be very complicated. The availability of devices such as soft starters and variable speed drives (inverters) greatly simplified such problems, making it possible to gradually start and stop motors, reverse their working direction, adjust the frequency using advanced functions such as sequencers, etc., signal alarms and the management of complex processes.

LOVATO Electric solution for easier control of drive systems

Lovato Elektrik has integrated its range of soft starters and variable speed drives with the EXCRDU1 remote viewing unit designed to monitor and remotely control the network of ADXL series soft starters and VLB series variable speed drives.

EXCRDU1 has an IP65-rated, graphic LCD touch screen and is equipped with an RS-485 communication port to connect up to 32 ADXL and VLB drives, even in a mixed configuration. The farthest unit can be from EXCRDU1 up to 600 meters. To communicate with the EXCRDU1 unit, the soft starter must be equipped with the EXC1042 module (RS-485 communication interface), and the VLB variable speed drives must be equipped with the RTU logic unit with RS-485 communication port using the MODBUS protocol.

EXCRDU1 is self-configuring and does not require any programming software or settings. After setting the communication parameters in the drives, EXCRDU1 automatically recognizes the type of unit (ADXL or VLB) connected to it and configures itself automatically, displaying the graphical interface sheets for the type of product connected. It is also an ideal solution for local, simultaneous control of multiple drives within the same plant due to its ease of installation without the need for precisely moving devices.

Functions of the EXCRDU1 remote imaging unit

ADXL for soft starters

• Starting and stopping the engine via buttons on the touch screen

• Engine status in graphic and text format (engine ready, acceleration ramp, bypass, etc.)

• Reporting of any active alarms

• The LEDs (POWER, START AND ALARM) on the soft starter are shown on the display.

• Engine and SCR temperatures are displayed in the form of a graph bar.

• Configuration of parameters

• Display of the list of events

• Possibility to send commands

• Monitoring of main electrical measurements

For VLB variable speed drives

• Starting and stopping the engine via buttons on the touch screen

• Reversing the operating direction

• Frequency adjustment

• Reporting of any active alarms

• The LEDs on the variable speed drive (ERR, START, READY) are shown on the display.

• Engine and coolant temperatures are displayed in the form of a graph bar.

• PID control – the set point can be set directly in the unit of measurement of the value to be controlled (e.g. Pressure, temperature, etc.) - monitoring the feedback signal

• Monitoring of main electrical measurements