Category: Control Techniques

Unidrive Classic

Unidrive Classic HF Trip Codes: HF82, HF83, HF84, HF88

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unidrive classic

Unidrive Classic HF Trip Codes: HF82, HF83, HF84, HF88

HF82 – Large option module missing:
The trip would be expected if one of the UD7x large option modules is removed while
the Drive is powered up. If this trip occurs at any other time than the case above, then
there is a problem with either the large option module or the UD90A control PCB.

HF83 – Power Board Code Failure:
This trip means that the UD90A control PCB could not recognize the power rating of
the power PCB it is connected to.
On Unidrive Sizes 1 to 4, the trip is probably due to the power PCB in the Drive but a
problem with the UD90A control PCB could also cause this trip.
On a Unidrive Size 5 the trip is caused by either UD99 PCB or the UD90A PCB. The
interconnects between the PCBs could also cause this trip and should be checked.

HF84 -Current Offset Trim Failure:
This trip means there is a problem with the current feedback on the Drive.
On Unidrive Sizes 1 to 4, the trip is probably due to the power PCB in the Drive but a
problem with the UD90A control PCB could also cause this trip.
On a Unidrive Size 5 the trip is cause by either UD99 PCB or the UD90A PCB. The
interconnects between the PCBs could also cause this trip and should be checked.

HF88 – Watchdog Failure:
This trip can result from a faulty UD7x Co-Processor.
With power off, remove Co-Processor and re-apply
power.
Hardware Faults are typically fatal. If powering down and letting the drive sit for 5
minutes before re-application of Power does not clear the HF Fault it would require
Drive repair.

MRO Electric stocks new and refurbished Classic Unidrives. We also provide pre-priced Control Techniques repairs. For more information or to request a quote, please call 800-691-8511 or email sales@mroelectric.com.

Control Techniques Unidrives and Environmental Responsibility

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Control Techniques Unidrive

Control Techniques Unidrives and Environmental Responsibility

Control Techniques is committed to minimizing the environmental impacts of their manufacturing operations and of their products throughout their life cycle. To this end, they operate an Environmental Management System (EMS) which is certified to the International Standard ISO 14001. Further information on the EMS, their Environmental Policy, and other relevant information is available on request or can be found at www.greendrives.com.

The electronic variable-speed drive manufactured by Control Techniques (such as the Control Techniques UNI1405) have the potential to save energy and reduce raw material consumption and scrap throughout their long working life through increase machine/process efficiency. In typical applications, these positive environmental effects far outweigh the negative impacts of product manufacture and end-of-life disposal.

Nevertheless, when the products eventually reach the end of their useful life, they can be very easily dismantled into their major components for efficient recycling. Many parts snap together and can be separated without the use of tools, whilst other parts are secured with conventional screws. Virtually all parts of the product are suitable for recycling.

Product packaging is of good quality and can be re-used. Large products are packaged in wooden crates; whilst smaller products come in strong cardboard cartons which themselves have a high recycled fiber content. If not re-used, these containers can be recycled. Polyethylene, used on the protective film and bags for wrapping product, can be recycled in the same way. Control Techniques’ packaging strategy favors easily-recyclable materials of low environmental impact, and regular reviews identify opportunities for improvements which are consistently being made.

When preparing to recycle or dispose of any product or packaging, please observe local legislation and best practice.

MRO Electric and Supply has new and refurbished Control Techniques products available. We also offer repair pricing. For more information, please call 800-691-8511 or email sales@mroelectric.com.

Unidrive SP AC Drives Used in Belgian Theme Park Ride

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Unidrive SP AC Drives Used in Belgian Theme Park Ride

Wondering what Control Techniques Unidrive SP Drives are actually used for? Well here’s a pretty cool application for those of you that enjoy theme parks. This zero-gravity ride at the Walibi Theme Park in Belgium was recently refurbished using Unidrive SP Drives. Previously, the ride had been using Unidrive Classic Drives to run the motors which hoisted riders over 250 feet in the air.

emerson drives on rides
Dalton Terror Ride powered by Unidrive SP Drives

More information about the retrofit:

The drop tower is based at the Walibi theme park; the ride is a round tower of 77m in height and has five rows of seats, each with four-person capacity, in a ring around the tower.

The seats, weighing 1.5 tonnes empty, are hoisted by speed-controlled Leroy Somer geared motors to the top of the tower, where they are released to drop in freefall at a maximum speed of 110km/hr, generating complete weightlessness.

Magnetic current brakes that comprise permanent magnets fitted in the seats generating powerful Foucault currents in the metallic frame of the tower provide fault-free guaranteed braking, independent of the power supply, bringing the ride to a safe slow speed with hydraulic shock absorbers providing the final soft stop at the base.

This, Control Techniques said, makes the ride a ’zero-risk’ attraction.

The Dalton Terror was originally installed in the park in 1998 and featured the previous Classic Unidrives to haul the seats to the top of the tower.

Compagnie des Alpes has been investing heavily in the upgrading of many of the rides, with the accent heavily on safety.

When it decided to refurbish the Dalton Terror, the precise movement of speed profile of the previous Control Techniques drives was a key factor in the selection of the latest-generation of AC drives and five heavy-duty 75kW Unidrive SPs, operating in closed-loop flux vector mode, were fitted as part of the total renewal of the control panels.

Signals from encoders fitted to each of the Leroy Somer LSMV motors feed back to the drives and, using SM Universal Encoder Plus option modules, are re-transmitted to the PLCs that control the safety of the whole process.

Here’s a video of the ride in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agSTlMNbPpQ

MRO Electric and Supply has new and refurbished Control Techniques parts available including the Unidrive and Unidrive SP series. We also offer repair pricing. For more information, please call 800-691-8511 or email sales@mroelectric.com

8 Standard Unidrive Macros for Uni2403 or any Classic UniDrive

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control techniques unidrive

8 Standard Unidrive Macros for Uni2403 or any Classic UniDrive

Here at MRO Electric, we get a lot of questions about Unidrive Macros for the legacy Classic drives. This post explains the 8 available macros for programming a Uni2403 or another Unidrive part. You can refer to the product manual for the parameters common to all of these macros. This table shows the available Unidrive macros and their codes:

TypeDescription
FaultsWhat happens when a fault occurs?
- The appropriate fault reaction is initiated
- Status signal ZSW1.3 is set.
- The fault is entered in the fault buffer.

How are faults eliminated?
- Remove the original cause of the fault
- Acknowledge the fault
AlarmsWhat happens when an alarm occurs?
- Status signal ZSW1.7 is set.
- Alarms are "Self Acknowledging" meaning they are reset when the cause of the alarm has been eliminated.

Now that you know the code for each macro, here’s a little information about how you would use each one:

Macro 1 – Easy Mode

The Easy mode macro for Unidrive classic gives the simplest operation of the drive for basic applications. It is identical to the default condition except that menu 0 has fewer parameters.

Macro 2 – Motorised potentiometer

The Motorised potentiometer macro enables the drive’s own internal motorized potentiometer to control the speed of the drive via digital inputs. A digital input selects between an analog speed reference and the motorized potentiometer reference.

Macro 3 – Preset frequencies/speeds

The Preset reference Unidrive macro enables the use of preset references to control the speed of the motor via digital inputs. A digital input selects between an analog speed reference and the present references.

Macro 4 – Torque control

The Torque control macro configures the drive for use in Torque control mode, selectable via a digital input. Analog input 1 is configured for the torque reference. When in speed control analog 2 is the speed reference. When in torque control with the drive in closed loop mode analog input 2 is the speed override reference. Enabling torque mode with the drive-in open loop mode will put the drive into pure torque control. In closed loop mode, the drive will be put into torque control with speed override.

Macro 5 – PID (set-point control)

The PID control macro enables the drive’s own internal PID controller to control the speed of the motor. Analog input 1 is configured for the main speed reference, analog input 2 is the PID reference and analog input 3 is the PID feedback. A digital input selects between an analog speed reference and the PID control.

Macro 6 – Axis-limit control

The Axis limit control macro configures the drive for use with limit switches so that the drive is stopped when a position limit has been reached. The speed reference can be either unipolar or bipolar.

Macro 7 – Brake control

The brake control macro configures the drive to apply or release a mechanical brake on a motor in a crane or hoist application. The drive issues a brake release signal via a digital output when the relevant conditions are met.

Macro 8 – Digital lock/shaft orientation

^Only available in closed loop vector or servo operating modes.

Digital lock:

The drive operates as a slave in a closed loop master-slave system. The slave motor is digitally locked to the master motor.

Shaft orientation:

The motor speed is controlled in the same way as for default operation, but the motor shaft can be orientated to a specified angular position before and/or after running the motor.

MRO Electric and Supply has new and refurbished Control Techniques parts available including Control Techniques Unidrive and Unidrive SP series. We also offer repair pricing. For more information, please call 800-691-8511 or email sales@mroelectric.com.

Unidrive Classic

Troubleshooting a Unidrive with Hardware Fault Trip Codes

Joe Kaminski 10 Comments

unidrive trip codes

Troubleshooting a Unidrive with Hardware Fault Trip Codes

Unidrive Classics are going to trip at one time or another. Refer to this list of Unidrive trip codes next time your Uni1405 or other Unidrive is throwing a mysterious trip error.

HF81 – Software Error (odd address word)
HF82 – Large option module removed
HF83 – Power Board Code Failure
HF84 – Current Offset Trim Failure
HF85 – A to D failure (ES-CC step)
HF86 – Interrupt Watchdog failure
HF87 – Internal ROM check error
HF88 – Watchdog Failure
HF89 – Unused Interrupts (nmi as source)
HF90 – Stack Overflow
HF91 – Stack Underflow
HF92 – Software Error (undefined op code)
HF93 – Software Error (protection fault)
HF94 – Software Error (odd address word)
HF95 – Software Error (odd address inst.)
HF96 – Software Error (illegal ext bus)
HF97 – Level 1 Noise
HF98 – Interrupt Crash
HF99 – Level 1 Crash

A few notes on these Unidrive trip codes:

  • HF trips are internal hardware faults within the drive. Powering the drive down and re-applying power could clear the fault.
  • Resetting the drive will not clear a HF trip.
  • If a HF trip occurs, the Drive Healthy relay will open to indicate this
  • The serial communications will not function during a HF trip
  • The only HF trip that can be caused by the user is a HF82 trip where a
    large option module is removed while the drive is powered up.The drive should be powered down, the module re-fitted correctly and the power reapplied to clear the trip

MRO Electric and Supply has new and refurbished Control Techniques, parts available including the Control Techniques Unidrive Classic and Control Techniques Unidrive SP series. We also offer repair pricing. For more information, please call 800-691-8511 or email sales@mroelectric.com.