Variable frequency drives and servo drives are the highest-failure-rate components in most automation systems, and the ones most likely to strand a line when the platform is discontinued.

Discontinued platforms, active plants

PowerFlex 40 and PowerFlex 700 are both discontinued and both still installed everywhere. Replacing one with a current-generation drive means re-parameterising, often re-wiring, and sometimes changing the network card — work nobody wants to do during a breakdown.

A tested same-catalogue-number drive goes back in with the existing parameters. We can also load a parameter file you supply before despatch, which turns a half-day job into a ten-minute swap.

Capacitors, fans and option cards

DC bus capacitors degrade with age and with time spent unpowered. We check them under load where practical and report cooling fan condition, because those two items determine how long a used drive actually lasts.

Option cards — EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, encoder feedback, safety — are separate part numbers and are often removed before disposal. Every listing states which are fitted.

Common questions

Can you load my parameter file before shipping?

Yes. Send the file or the printed parameter list and we will configure the drive before despatch.

Are communication option cards included?

Only where stated. They are separate part numbers and frequently removed, so we list them explicitly.

How long do used drives last?

Determined mostly by capacitor condition and cooling. We check both and report honestly, rather than quoting an age.

Related categories

PLCs & Controllers →I/O & Communication Modules →Power Quality & Energy Analyzers →

Ask about vfds, servo & motor control

Prices shown are indicative for a single tested unit. Quantity pricing, dealer terms and blanket orders are quoted individually. Send the list and we will respond within one business day.