VFD replacement Cancel The title field is required!

1. Stephen Johnson

   

   0 posts
   
   2/15/2016 11:02 AM

   What experiences have you had with your VFD failing?
   Ours has no output, but nothing else in the control panel appears damaged. Not sure if we had a power surge or why it has stopped working, but I'm told that they are not repairable, only option is to replace. At $5,000 - $6,000 I am searching for other options.
   Thanks for your responses.

   
   
   
   
2. Michael Kriz

   

   0 posts
   
   2/15/2016 12:02 PM

   Our experience was replace. One due to a maintenance mistake and the contractor ate that one, the other failure was attributed to a lightning strike and insurance covered that cost..

   
   
   
   
3. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   2/15/2016 1:02 PM

   I've had one repaired in the past to the tune of about $6,000. The second time it broke we ate the $12,000 and put in a new one. This particular VFD runs a 200 HP motor....

   
   
   
   
4. Christopher Thuer

   

   101 posts
   
   2/15/2016 9:02 PM

   We have replaced 3 over the last 15 years. The problem 2 years ago was the newer units are not compatible with the old software. We had to upgrade the software for even more $.

   
   Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
   
   
5. Kyle Fick

   

   4 posts
   
   2/18/2016 12:02 PM

   I've had one go down. The down time for repair, and the estimated cost for repair added up to be even costlier than a replacement. Newer models might be more reliable as well.

   
   
   
   
6. Dennis Petruzzelli

   

   5 posts
   
   2/18/2016 2:02 PM

   Are you gentlemen utilizing drive coolers ?
   I had to replace a VFD a year or two ago. The culprit in my opinion was the old drive cooler ruptured the coil (lack of winterization) and the previous course operator didn't want to spend the money on a new one. Eventually it puts more stress on the VFD in warm/hot weather and it's life gets reduced.
   
   Dennis Petruzzelli, CGCS
   CC of Woodbridge
   Woodbridge, CT

   
   
   
   
7. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   2/18/2016 2:02 PM

   Dennis Petruzzelli, CGCS said: Are you gentlemen utilizing drive coolers ?
   I had to replace a VFD a year or two ago. The culprit in my opinion was the old drive cooler ruptured the coil (lack of winterization) and the previous course operator didn't want to spend the money on a new one. Eventually it puts more stress on the VFD in warm/hot weather and it's life gets reduced.
   
   Dennis Petruzzelli, CGCS
   CC of Woodbridge
   Woodbridge, CT

   
   
   
   Yes, and that was the culprit our first time around. The coil in the heat exchanger had a pin hole leak and was blowing water all over the VFD. It shorted something out.
   
   On our other new system we put in a few years back they specified a heat exchanger. We paid extra for an actual A/C.

   
   
   
   
8. Kyle Fick

   

   4 posts
   
   2/18/2016 5:02 PM

   It's funny this conversation came up. My Asst. and I were just discussing putting A/C in our pump house and scrapping the drive cooler as well. Seems like the pin holes are a common thing. It didn't take our drive out, but we have had a leak fixed. Gotta think the entire apparatus is in bad shape.
   
   A nearby motel changed a bunch of wall units and are sitting on 80 of them. Thinking we should pick a half a dozen up and "cool" the pump house rather than using the exhaust hood that just pulls hot air into the building in the summer.
   
   What are all you fellas using for A/C in your sheds?

   
   
   
   
9. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   2/19/2016 6:02 AM

   Kyle Fick said: It's funny this conversation came up. My Asst. and I were just discussing putting A/C in our pump house and scrapping the drive cooler as well. Seems like the pin holes are a common thing. It didn't take our drive out, but we have had a leak fixed. Gotta think the entire apparatus is in bad shape.
   
   A nearby motel changed a bunch of wall units and are sitting on 80 of them. Thinking we should pick a half a dozen up and "cool" the pump house rather than using the exhaust hood that just pulls hot air into the building in the summer.
   
   What are all you fellas using for A/C in your sheds?

   
   
   
   Kyle,
   
   In our case, the A/C is actually attached to the cabinet where the heat exchanger would normally go. We also have a window (wall) unit that cools the pumps house as it doubles as an office for the irrigation tech.

   
   
   
   
10. Dennis Petruzzelli

    

    5 posts
    
    2/19/2016 8:02 AM

    "Very Cool" ! Sorry, I couldn't resist !
    I have fabricated our drive cooler so it's easily detachable to bring up to our shop for compressed air winterization and store it in my office. I learned my lesson in the past by leaving it at the non-heated pump house through the winter, thinking that I have done a decent job of evacuating all the water in the coils. WRONG. The replacement coil assmy was $1500. Boy was I pissed at myself ! Ever since, it gets pulled out at irrigation season end.
    
    All the best,
    
    Dennis Petruzzelli, CGCS
    CC of Woodbridge
    Woodbridge, CT