TrolMaster VFD-1 Drive Station | Fan Speed Control for Hydro-X Pro

What the TrolMaster VFD-1 Talks To

A variable frequency drive is not something a grow controller can address directly. This station is the translator. It connects to a Hydro-X Pro controller over an ordinary RJ12 telephone cable and issues speed commands to an industrial drive. Three drives are supported by name: the TECO E510, the Delta ME300, and the ABB ACS355 when that unit carries an FMBA-01 communication module. Those are the models TrolMaster holds parameters for, so anything else sits outside the supported list. The station draws 12 volts DC at 0.2 amps and takes that from the control cable, so there is no separate supply to find a socket for. An LCD display on the front shows what is being commanded. A MicroSD slot handles firmware updates, with cards up to 32 gigabytes.

Putting Fan Speed Control Under One Controller

The reason to do this at all is that a large extraction fan is the biggest single load in most rooms. Running it flat out and letting temperature swing wastes power, and cycling it on and off is hard on the motor and on the room. Holding it at the speed the environment actually needs solves both problems together. With the station in place, that speed becomes another line in the same programme that already runs your lights and dehumidifiers. Operating conditions are 32 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit at under ninety percent relative humidity, which sits comfortably inside any grow room. Cable runs cost little, so put the station where the display can be read and let the RJ12 take the distance. A station tucked behind a drive cabinet is one you will stop checking. Remember that the drive itself is a separate item, and this station does nothing without one.

Key Features

• Named Drive Support: Parameters are held for the TECO E510, the Delta ME300 and the ABB ACS355 with an FMBA-01 module.
• No Extra Power Supply: The station draws 12 volts DC at 0.2 amps from the control cable, so no socket is needed.
• Standard RJ12 Link: It connects to a Hydro-X Pro over an ordinary phone cable, which costs little to run any distance.
• LCD Display: The front panel shows the speed being commanded rather than leaving you to read it at the drive.
• Firmware Updates: A MicroSD slot takes cards up to 32 gigabytes for firmware updates in the field.
• One Programme: Fan speed joins lights and dehumidification in the same controller schedule instead of standing apart.

Technical Specifications