If you’ve ever shopped for variable frequency drives (VFDs) for industrial motors, you’ve probably heard of the Altivar series. As someone who’s been supplying these low-voltage VFDs for almost 10 years, I get tons of questions—none more common than, “What’s the frequency range for Altivar series LV VFDs?” It’s a fair question, too, because getting this wrong can throw your whole operation off. Whether you’re running a conveyor belt in a packaging plant, a fan in a warehouse, or a pump in a municipal water system, the frequency range directly ties to how well your motor performs, how much energy you waste, and how long your equipment lasts. Let me break this down straight, no stuffy jargon, just real answers from someone who works with these drives every day. Altivar Series Low Voltage VFDs
First, let’s start with the basics to make sure we’re all on the same page. “Low voltage” here means Altivar drives rated for 1000V or less, right up to 690V max, which covers like 95% of standard industrial and commercial applications. Frequency, in VFD terms, is what controls motor speed. Standard AC motors are built to run on 50Hz or 60Hz grid power—usually 50Hz in Europe, Asia, Africa, and 60Hz in North America. A VFD takes that fixed grid power, converts it to DC, then spits out adjustable AC power at different frequencies to spin the motor faster or slower. So the frequency range isn’t just a random number; it’s the window where the drive can output that AC power without frying the motor or the drive itself.
Now, the short answer: most Altivar series low-voltage VFDs work across a frequency range of 0Hz up to 500Hz. Wait, but hold on—there are caveats here, because not every Altivar model is the same, and that range can shift depending on what you’re powering. Let’s dive into the specifics, because that’s where people get tripped up.
Let’s go through the main Altivar lines we supply, since these are the ones our customers ask about most. First up is the Altivar 12, that’s the compact, entry-level model for small applications like small pumps, fans, or conveyor motors up to 15kW. For the Altivar 12, the frequency range is 0 to 500Hz, same as most others, but here’s the catch: you don’t want to run a standard 50Hz/60Hz motor much above 100Hz, right? Most off-the-shelf motors are designed to handle a bit of extra speed, but over 100Hz, you start dealing with excessive vibration, extra heat from higher RPMs, and bearing wear. The Altivar 12 is set up to handle that, but our team always tells entry-level customers: adjust your frequency within reason, don’t push a standard motor past 120Hz unless you checked with your motor supplier.
Next, the Altivar 312—this is the workhorse mid-range model, super popular for machine tools, packaging lines, and material handling. That’s the model we ship most for small to medium production facilities. Altivar 312 has the same 0 to 500Hz range, but it has a little extra tuning for variable torque loads, which is what most pumps and fans use. We had a customer last year who was using it on a 75Hz fan to speed up their ventilation in a new warehouse, and it ran smoothly all year with no issues. The 312 also has a built-in encoder feedback option for applications that need super precise speed, so you can lock that frequency in within tiny increments, which is huge for things like conveyor positioning or printing presses.
Then there’s the Altivar 610 and 61, the heavy hitters for high-power applications. Think big fans in power plants, water treatment pump stations, or large HVAC systems. These models are rated up to 1MW, right? Their frequency range is still 0 to 500Hz, but they’re built to handle continuous operation at higher frequencies without overheating. We supplied a 500kW Altivar 61 to a municipal water plant last year that needed to run a lift pump at 120Hz to get enough flow to a new storage tank, and it’s been running 24/7 for 18 months with zero downtime. The key difference here is the built-in cooling and power circuitry that’s sized for higher loads at the upper end of the frequency range.
Now, what about the outliers? There are two common exceptions to the 0-500Hz rule, and these are the ones that trip up even experienced operators. First, if you’re using a specialty motor, like a high-speed spindle for a CNC machine or a centrifugal compressor, some Altivar models can go even higher—up to 1000Hz. Wait, that’s only for specific models, right? Yeah, the Altivar 660, which is their high-performance line for motion control, can hit up to 1000Hz when paired with a compatible high-speed synchronous motor. We sold a set of Altivar 660s to a local machine shop last quarter for their new CNC spindles, and they’re running at 800Hz to get the spindle speed they need for machining hard metals, which would be impossible with a standard drive. The second exception is for applications that need to slow a motor way down—like a mixer or a agitator for a chemical plant. You can run an Altivar drive at 0.1Hz, even lower, which is way slower than the standard motor’s minimum speed. I had a customer making liquid soap who was having trouble with their mixer running too slow at startup, and we adjusted their Altivar 31 to run at 0.5Hz during startup, which solved their problem without stalling the motor.
But wait, let’s talk about what happens if you push beyond those ranges. I’ve seen this happen enough times to know it’s not worth the risk. If you run an Altivar drive above 500Hz with a standard motor, you’re going to get excess inductive heat in the motor windings, because the higher frequency means the current is switching faster, and the windings can’t dissipate that heat properly. We had a customer last year who tried to run their Altivar 312 at 700Hz on a standard 50Hz motor, and the windings burned out in 2 weeks. Total cost for the replacement motor plus lost production was over $12,000, and they blamed the drive at first, but once we showed them the motor specs, it was clear they pushed it way past its limit. On the flip side, running below 0.1Hz? That can cause the motor to draw too much current (that’s called stall current) and trip the drive, or even damage the motor’s bearings from insufficient lubrication at very low speeds. The Altivar drives have built-in protection to prevent this, but it’s still something you have to plan for.
Now, why does Altivar’s frequency range matter more than other brands’? Let’s be real, there are plenty of VFD makers out there, from ABB to Siemens to smaller local brands. The thing about Altivar, though, is that the frequency range is calibrated to work seamlessly with their own motor lines, and most compatible standard motors too, right? A lot of brands will advertise a 0 to 500Hz range, but you have to buy their specific motor to get that performance, which adds cost. Altivar lets you use standard NEMA or IEC motors for most applications, so you don’t have to upgrade your whole motor fleet to get that range. That’s a big selling point for our customers, especially small to medium businesses that don’t want to dump money on new motors every time they replace a drive.
Another thing that a lot of people don’t mention is that the frequency range also affects energy savings. That’s the whole point of using a VFD, right? You only use as much power as you need, instead of running a motor at full speed all the time. For example, if you have a fan that only needs to move 70% of its maximum air, you can drop the frequency from 50Hz (standard) to 35Hz, and cut energy use by almost 60%. Altivar drives have very flat frequency response, meaning they adjust smoothly across that range without voltage drops or power surges, so you get consistent energy savings no matter where you set the frequency. We had a small manufacturing plant that switched from fixed-speed motors to Altivar 312 drives last year, and their electric bill dropped 22% in the first 6 months, all because they could adjust the frequency to match their production needs.
Now, let’s cover some common myths I hear all the time. First myth: “Altivar drives can only run at 50Hz or 60Hz.” No, that’s what the motor is rated for, but the drive can output way more (or less) than that. The drive’s frequency range is its output limit, not the motor’s. Second myth: “Higher frequency always means better performance.” No, like I said earlier, standard motors can’t handle more than 100-120Hz without issues, so higher frequency is only useful for specialty applications like high-speed machining or some pumps. Third myth: “All Altivar models have the same frequency range.” Definitely not, the compact entry-level ones might have a slightly lower top end (still 500Hz, but less tuning for high-speed motion) while the high-performance motion control models go up to 1000Hz.
If you’re still not sure what frequency range you need, here’s the quick checklist we give our customers when they call: 1) What’s your motor type? Standard, variable torque, high-speed spindle, specialty? 2) What’s your motor’s base frequency (50 or 60Hz)? 3) Do you need to run the motor slower than 10Hz? Or faster than 100Hz? That’s usually all we need to match you to the right Altivar model. We also offer free consultation for anyone who’s not sure, no pressure, just helping them avoid the mistakes I’ve seen other customers make.
At the end of the day, Altivar series low voltage VFDs are one of the most flexible drives on the market when it comes to frequency range, with most models covering 0 to 500Hz, and specialty models going higher if needed. But the key is matching the drive’s range to your application and your motor, not just grabbing whatever number the box says. I’ve been doing this long enough to know that the best drive is the one that fits your specific needs, not the one with the biggest number on its spec sheet.
If you’re working on a project and you need to confirm the frequency range for a specific Altivar model, or you have questions about matching a drive to your motor, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. We work with all kinds of clients, from small machine shops to large municipal facilities, and we can help you get the right setup without overspending or underpowering your system. We’re here to help you make the right call, not just make a sale.
B&R Servo Motor References:
- Schneider Electric. Altivar Series Low Voltage VFD Technical Datasheets. 2024.
- National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). Standard for Adjustable Speed AC Drives. 2023.
- Industrial Motor Control Association (IMCA). VFD Frequency Range and Motor Compatibility Guidelines. 2022.
- Schneider Electric. Altivar Application Guide for Variable Torque Loads. 2023.
Yuntengbao Automation (Xiamen) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 013, 4th Floor, No. 606-4, Xinglong Road, Huli District, Xiamen City, Fujian Province, China
E-mail: lrene@plcsupplychain.com
WebSite: https://www.plcsupplychain.com/
