Decentralised drives that need no panel enclosure come into their own in big conveyor installations such as airports and warehouses. It is here that Lenze have positioned the new 8400 protec frequency inverter incorporating features and performance that match the application needs.

Cost savings are achieved by reducing the times for installation and commissioning plus ensuring minimum downtime in operation. Further savings are available from integrated safety functionality.

The Lenze 8400 protec is available for standard ac motors up to 4kW which covers 98% of conveyor installations. It is designed for wall mounting close to the motor and has IP65 enclosure. Installation is made easier by looping power cables from one inverter to the next and, provided the inverter is positioned close to the motor, no shielded cables are needed. Drives can be networked by the built-in CAN bus or optional PROFBUS and PROFINET. The rugged alloy housing suits operation in ambient temperatures from -25 to +55 ºC. Downtime is kept to a minimum by clear diagnostics with status LED’s and plug connections for power and signals.

Cost effective decentralised positioning applications can be implemented using the 8400 protec with standard asynchronous motors. Switch-off positioning, table positioning and absolute positioning are available with optional feedback from incremental and absolute encoders. Programming is easy with Lenze’s L-force Engineer software which has freely editable function block interconnections.

The 8400 protec has safety on board and meets the requirements of EN ISO 13849-1 conforming to SIL3. Safety signals, for example from light guards and proximity switches can be connected directly to the drive, taking out the cost of safety relays and monitors. A 48W power supply for sensors is integrated. Safe torque off means that there is no need to interrupt the mains supply in the event of a safety incident. Alternatively Safe Stop 1 brings the load to a controlled stop, or Emergency Stop can be activated. 8400 protec can be linked into a safe bus system such as PROFIsafe.

For large conveyor installations, decentralised drives offer savings in cabling, panel space and installation time. The new Lenze 8400 protec inverters go further with options for positioning and safety that reduce the component count and save money.

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