Motors & Drives

20 Surges a Day: The Hidden Risk Facing Inverter HVAC

Sun, 03 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Your next compressor failure might start at the electrical panel.

Behind the Scenes: A Look at Regal Rexnord’s All-Electric Innovations

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0400

To serve customers who want to decarbonize and become more efficient, the folks at Regal Rexnord are leveraging new technology to meet new standards.

Troubleshooting PSC Fan Motors

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:00:00 -0400

Troubleshooting PSC fan motors is a common task for service technicians, and failures tend to be either electrical or mechanical.

HVAC Solutions Help Data Centers Achieve Sustainability

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 11:00:00 -0400

The rapid expansion of data centers has raised concerns about their massive energy use and carbon footprint. However, adopting sustainable HVAC solutions can reduce a data center’s environmental impact and energy consumption.

Comparing and Contrasting PSC, ECM 2.3, and X13 HVACR Motors

Sun, 07 May 2023 07:00:00 -0400

PSC motors can be referred to as constant speed motors; X13 ECMs can be referred to as constant torque motors; and ECM 2.3 variable-speed motors can be referred to as constant airflow motors.

ABB Acquires Siemens’ Low-Voltage NEMA Motor Business

Fri, 05 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

The business employs around 600 people and generated revenues of approximately $63 million in 2021.

ABB invests $170 million in the US

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400

ABB is accelerating its growth strategy in the U.S. by investing approximately $170 million and creating highly skilled jobs in manufacturing, innovation, and distribution operations.

How Inverter Technology Revolutionized HVAC Systems

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 11:00:00 -0400

Inverter technology is being incorporated into a wider range of HVAC systems, allowing the equipment to operate at lower speeds and consume less energy, which results in significant energy savings and lower carbon emissions.

Motor, Drive Selection Key to Future HVAC Fan Efficiency Standards

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 07:00:00 -0500

HVAC industry members are debating how the DOE’s new rules — the first-ever for commercial and industrial fans — will impact their operations.

Why Changing Refrigerants May Mean Your Existing Pump Needs Replacing

Sun, 23 May 2021 11:00:00 -0400

When changing the refrigerant within your pumping application, it is worth discussing the application with a process specialist.

Variable Speed Technology is Trending in Tomorrow’s Motors

GordonWhite@achrnews.com (Gordon White) — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 11:00:00 -0500

Here is the trending technology that three motor manufacturers are saying will improve the future of motors in HVAC.

The Secret to Energy and Cost Savings: Pump System Evaluation

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 11:00:00 -0400

Determining the right pump to save energy in a given application can be broken down into three general steps.

Why Remote Startup for Variable Frequency Drives is Essential

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 11:00:00 -0400

Selecting a VFD that features remote startup can decrease the number of individuals needed onsite and provide valuable safety benefits.

Which Should Be Replaced: The Blower Motor or the Entire System?

robertbeverly@achrnews.com (Robert Beverly) — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 15:00:00 -0400

The question of replacing a blower versus an entire system – versus the chance something else is the real culprit – remains a case-by-case challenge.

Motors, Drives Open Door to Thorough Indoor Air Quality

robertbeverly@achrnews.com (Robert Beverly) — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 15:00:00 -0400

With the recent surge of interest in IAQ options, consumers might easily forget that those components must still work within a system.

Infinitum Electric Closes Series B Round of Investing

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 13:00:00 -0500

Infinitum Electric announced that it has closed a $12.5 million Series B round of financing.

Reviewing the Effects of New Fan Efficiency Rating Requirements

robertbeverly@achrnews.com (Robert Beverly) — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 04:23:00 -0500

A few months on the other side of the summer’s FER implementation, we check-in with aftermarket motor veterans and a furnace manufacturer.

Why Actuators for Connected Industry Run on Brushless DC Motors

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 03:59:00 -0500

The flow control industry has stubbornly clung to pneumatic actuators, specifically in the American market, for decades.

Regal Beloit Corp.: Replacement ECM Motor

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 04:06:00 -0400

This electronically commutated motor (ECM) is an efficient, pre-programmed, dual-voltage, dual-rotation motor.

Siemens Corp.: Infrastructure Drive

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 04:04:00 -0400

This product is optimized for pump, fan, and compressor applications in industries such as water/wastewater, HVACR, and more.

Franklin Control Systems: Variable Frequency Drive

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 03:58:00 -0400

Now available up to 40 hp, this product has a smartphone interface and comes in stand-alone, disconnect, and bypass versions.

Refrigeration Technologies LLC: Refrigeration Control

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 03:58:00 -0400

This product introduces two fan speeds to evaporator fans: low speed when no refrigerant is needed and high speed only during active cooling.

Eaton: Frequency Drives

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 06:17:00 -0400

The enclosed drive configurations allows standardization on the PowerXL platform regardless of horsepower and harmonic mitigation requirements.

Overly Hautz Granted US Patent

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 12:00:00 -0400

Overly Hautz Co. announced that the U.S. Patent Office has issued US Patent 9,973,056, entitled “Motor Mounting Assembly and Method of Manufacture.”

Fuji Electric Corp. of America: High-Performance Drive

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 07:09:00 -0400

This low-voltage, slim-type inverter series was designed for energy savings and optimal control of fan and pump applications.

Control Techniques: Bypass Packages

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 07:14:00 -0400

This package has an intuitive operator touchscreen to access the HVAC H300 VFD and bypass setup options. It also displays complete system status information.

Three-Phase Power and Voltage Imbalances

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 07:00:00 -0400

In HVAC, we rarely need to have a deep understanding of electrical design. But there are a few cases where a little understanding can go a long way in identifying issues before they cause trouble, and that is the intent of this short article.

Regal Beloit Highlights FER Compliance With New Products

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 07:31:00 -0500

Regal Beloit Corp. has become an expert in FER compliance by redesigning its products to meet the new standards, including the Genteq^® Ensite^® motor, DEC Star^® blower assemblies, and a new electronically commutated motor (ECM) to provide FER compliance for entry-level fans. These products were on display at the 2019 AHR Expo.

HVAC Drives Technology Boosts Data and Safety

robertbeverly@achrnews.com (Robert Beverly) — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 07:29:00 -0500

Location isn’t everything, but it helps. Just ask homeowners selling their property, or restaurant owners. In the HVAC world, it also rings true for some motors and drives and the professionals who work with them. That includes contractors, even if maybe not in the way that one would expect. Some current and next-gen drives will make location matter in a new way: Contractors can spend more time further away from the equipment itself.

Apples to Apples: AHRI Talks Motors and Drives Certification

robertbeverly@achrnews.com (Robert Beverly) — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 07:27:00 -0500

For HVAC pros interested in motors and drives, Tuesday afternoon at this year’s AHR Expo in Atlanta featured a good chance to give the feet a rest and focus on the mind for a while. Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) presented a three-phase session called VFDs: Method of Laboratory Test and a Case Study.