The VLT 2800 was a common small inverter on conveyors, pumps and fans in machines built in the 2000s, and a good number of those machines are still in service. Danfoss has replaced the range and names the VLT Midi Drive FC 280 as its successor. When one fails, there are three ways back, and the right one depends on how long the machine has left.
Read the whole type code first
VLT 2805 is only the start. The digits after 28 give the power size, and the type code that follows on the plate sets the mains voltage, the enclosure, the RFI filter, the display and the fieldbus. Two drives that both say VLT 2805 can differ in all of them. Copy the complete type code and the serial number from the plate before you search or ask for quotes.
Then save the parameters. If the control panel still works, write down every parameter that differs from the factory setting, or copy them with the panel if yours can. That list is what makes any of the three options quick.
Option one: the same type code
A new surplus or refurbished VLT 2800 with the identical type code fits the same holes and the same terminals and takes the same parameters. It is the fastest route back for a machine with a few years left. The catch is that you are buying more of a replaced range, so it makes sense to put one spare on the shelf at the same time.
Option two: repair
A repair keeps the drive the machine was commissioned with. It suits a plant that can run without the axis for a while, or that has a second unit to fit in the meantime. Ask the repairer the questions in the post on repairing a failed drive, and find the cause of the failure before the repaired unit goes back in.
Option three: VLT Midi Drive FC 280
The FC 280 is the successor Danfoss points to for the VLT 2800. It is a current product with current support, and fitting it is a project rather than a swap:
- compare its dimensions and mounting holes with the space in the cabinet;
- check that a variant exists with the fieldbus your controller uses;
- enter the parameters again by hand, because the FC series numbers them differently;
- read the Safe Torque Off section of the manual: a drive with STO does not run until its STO inputs are wired as the manual describes;
- update the circuit diagrams and the machine’s documentation.
For a simple fan or pump, the smaller VLT Micro Drive FC 51 can also be an option. Check its functions against everything the old drive was doing before you choose it.
Which one to choose
| Option | Work on site | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Same type code | Swap and load the parameters | A machine with a few years left |
| Repair | Swap back after the repair | A plant that can wait or has a second unit |
| FC 280 | Mounting, wiring, parameters, drawings | A machine that will run for many more years |
Whichever you choose, the guide to finding a replacement covers how to confirm that a successor fits, and a wanted request with the full type code lets suppliers who hold a VLT 2800 answer you.