User: Dsg319, Location: West Virginia
Asked on: Friday, April 11, 2025 at 8:09 pm EDT
Answered on: Friday, April 11, 2025 at 8:18 pm EDT
Question: I know to change rotation on a 3phase motor you obviously flop any two leads.Well instead of doing it in the pecker head today I done it in the VFD cabinet. It is all factory wired on line side and load side of VFD with special termination kits so I had to swap it on the load reactor after the VFD.I swapped two of the leads on the load side (motor side) of the load reactor.Than a co-worker suggested I also swap the same two phases on the line side of the load reactor.It was early and I agreed with him as he saw the different colors of phases beside each other and thought it would short circuit.But now that I’ve had time to ponder I believe the motor will still run backwards from swapping the line side of the load reactor after swapping the motor load side leads.It should have been just swap two phases on either side of the reactor and not both right?
You are absolutely correct. Swapping the leads on both sides of the load reactor effectively cancels out the change in rotation. Here's the breakdown: Your Initial Action (Correct)
Swapping two leads on the motor side (load side) of the load reactor correctly reverses the motor's rotation. The VFD is still producing the same output sequence, but the motor now sees a different phase order, causing it to spin the other way.
Your Co-worker's Suggestion (Incorrect)
Swapping the same two leads on the VFD side (line side) of the load reactor undoes your first swap. The load reactor is now receiving the same phase sequence as it was originally. It then inverts that sequence, back to its original arrangement. It's like flipping a switch twice; you end up where you started.
Think of it this way
VFD Output
The VFD puts out phases A, B, and C in a specific sequence.2.
Reactor with Line Side Swap
The reactor receives that sequence, and because you swapped two phases on the line side, it now delivers a re-arranged phase order (e.g., B, A, C, but also could be C, B, A depending on what two phases you swapped).3.
Reactor with Load Side Swap
You re-arranged it back to the original sequence.
Outcome
The motor is now receiving the same phase sequence it was receiving before you did anything. Therefore, it will spin in the original direction.
You need to undo the change your co-worker made on the line side of the load reactor.Safety Note: When working with VFDs and motors, always disconnect power and verify zero energy before making any wiring changes. Even with interlocks and safety features, mistakes can be dangerous. Double-check your work with wiring diagrams and schematics to ensure accuracy.Hopefully this explanation helps! Flag for review