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Drives & Soft Starters

In Depth

Drives and Soft Starters

Electrical drives control the speed, torque and direction of a downstream device, most typically a motor. Variable frequency drives (VFD) provide speed control for AC motors such as those in conveyors, fans and pumps. Soft starters provide energy-efficient control of motor operation. DC drives provide variable speed control for DC motors, ideal for applications requiring low speed control, torque and power.

AC Variable Frequency Drives (VFD)

AC Motor Soft Starters

DC Drives

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Drives and Soft Starters

Lastest Drive Videos

Variable Frequency AC Drives - 1/4 HP to 300 HP

AutomationDirect carries a range of AC variable frequency drives (VFD) for motor speed control and other industrial control applications.

Micro - CFW100 Series, CFW300 Series, GS1 Series, GS2 Series
General Purpose - DURApulse GS3 Series, GS20 Series
High Performance - DURApulse GS4 Series
NEMA 4X - DURApulse GS20X Series
The WEG-CFW100 and WEG-CFW300 AC drives offer high-performance in a reduced compact size and ease-of-use with built-in HMI operator interface and SoftPLC.
The high quality and low prices make our GS1 series mini AC drives and GS2 series micro variable speed drives an incredible deal.
DURApulse (GS3, GS4, GS20 and GS20X series) sensorless vector AC drives can handle applications from 1 horsepower up to 300 horsepower.
Single phase only, dual single / three phase, and three phase only AC drives are available.

AC Drives Overview and Selection Guide

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STELLAR Soft Starters, Motor Soft Starters

AC Motor Soft Starters

Semi-conductor solid state soft starters provide many advantages when used instead of electro-mechanical contactors.

Compact WEG SSW05 Series:
10-85A @ 230-460VAC
Compact SR22 Series:
1-phase 5-40A @ 110-240VAC ... New!
3-phase 5-40A @ 208-460VAC
Single Phase motor control capable for Cap Start/Cap Run or Cap Run Motors (without CAP removal) for most motors.
Basic WEG SSW07 Series:
17-412A @ 220-575VAC
Basic SR35 Series: ... New!
1-phase 17-361A @ 110-240 VAC,
or 3-phase @ 200-600 VAC
Single Phase motor control capable for Cap Start/Cap Run or Cap Run Motors (without CAP removal) for most motors.
Full-Featured SR55 Series:
17-477A @ 200-480VAC

Soft Starters Overview and Selection Guide

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IronHorse� GSD Series DC Drives - 1/50 HP to 3 HP

These IronHorse DC drives can accommodate 1/50 hp @ 12VDC all the way up to 3hp @ 240VAC. DC motors and drives can provide several advantages and benefits over AC:

Inexpensive
Low speed performance
Low speed power
Simple
- - our DC drives typically use potentiometers for configuration
- - no parameters or programming needed (for most models)
  - New Digital DC Drives loaded with features (some models include communications.)
  - Default programming handles most applications