Drives Service & Support > Powerflex 40 > FAQ

1. Will the PowerFlex 40 have DeviceNet or other communications options?
The drive has integral RS485 communications as a standard feature. A DeviceNet adapter card will be available at the time of release. There are future plans for Ethernet and Profibus cards, but no specific schedule is available at this time. There are no plans at this point to offer either ControlNet or Remote I/O cards.

2. Does the PowerFlex 40 support dynamic braking?
Yes. Similar to the 160, the PowerFlex 40 has a 7th IGBT in all ratings 1 HP and above. For applications requiring dynamic braking on fraction HP motors, a 1 HP drive must be used. We will also be releasing for sale a new line of brake resistors that can be used across all PowerFlex products. In addition, both the PowerFlex 4 and PowerFlex 40 can also be used with the 160 brake modules.

3. What do the PowerFlex 4 and PowerFlex 40 have in common?
The PowerFlex 4 and PowerFlex 40 have commonality in the following areas:

• Parameter numbering – the PowerFlex 40 will have more parameters, but all PowerFlex 4 parameters will appear in the same order as they will in the PowerFlex 40
• Control terminal block numbering – All digital and analog control terminals on the PowerFlex 40 will have the same number and function as on the PowerFlex 4, but the PowerFlex 40 has a few additional terminals. So, if your customer only needs PowerFlex 4 functionality but needs up to 10hp, there is a zero learning curve.
• Frame size dimensions – there is no Frame A PowerFlex 40. All three phase rating sup to and including 5 HP are in a Frame B. The 3 HP, single-phase rating and 7.5 and 10 HP ratings are in the new Frame C.
• Same integral keypad and RS485 communications
• Accessories, such as dynamic brake resistors, line filters, EMC filters, remote HIMs and communication hardware.

4. What will be different about the PowerFlex 40 compared to the PowerFlex 4?
The PowerFlex 40 will offer the following additional capabilities:

• 7.5 and 10 hp ratings for both 230 and 460V applications
• Additional analog and digital I/O
• Sensorless vector control
• Add on communications options such as DeviceNet
• Additional application software features such as PID, timer, counter and logic functions, more preset speeds, secondary current limit, custom volts per hertz

5. Will there be 575 volt product offering?
Yes. It is planned to have ratings up to 10 HP. The target is 1st half of 2004.

6. Will there be higher horsepower offerings?
We do have plans to develop a definite purpose version of the PowerFlex 40 to serve the water/wastewater and HVAC markets. The present plan is to take the ratings to 50 HP, 230V and 100 HP, 460V. This product will have a modified PowerFlex 40 control board with I/O specific to the needs of these industries. This drive will have overload ratings of 110% for one minute as compared to the 150% for one minute rating of the standard PowerFlex 40.

7. How do I lock out someone from changing parameters in the PowerFlex 4/40 drive?
Regardless of which keypad is being used (local keypad or remote HIM), the PowerFlex 4/40 does not support password protection. The drives do have a program lock function. To enable this, set parameter A101 [Program Lock] to a 1 ("Locked"). This will lock out anyone from changing a parameter. To remove the program lock, set A101 back to a 0 ("Unlocked").

8. Is there any altitude derating I need to take into account for the PowerFlex 4 or 40?
The environmental specifications on the PowerFlex 4/40 drives show a maximum altitude of 1000 m (3300 ft) without derating. For altitudes above this level, the drive should be derated 1% for every extra 100 m (330 ft). So, 2000 m (6600 ft) would require a derate to 90% of drive current rating; 3000 m (9900 ft) would require a derate to 80% of drive current rating, etc.

9. Why are there no heatsink fans on the Powerflex 4 and 40 flange mount drives?

The heatsink is cooled by convection only on the flange mount drives.