Schneider Altivar VFD Guide — Choosing and Sourcing ATV310 to ATV930 in Dubai

Electrical Junction supplies Schneider Electric Altivar variable frequency drives from stock in Dubai, covering the ATV310, ATV320, ATV340, ATV610, ATV630 and ATV930 ranges from 0.18 kW to 315 kW. This guide explains which Altivar range fits which application, how to size a drive correctly, and what the legacy ATV31, ATV312, ATV61 and ATV71 references are replaced by today.

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Which Altivar Range Do You Actually Need?

Most VFD selection errors happen at this stage, not at the sizing stage. Picking a process drive for a simple conveyor wastes money; picking a value drive for a demanding hoist application causes nuisance tripping. The ranges are genuinely different products, not just price tiers.

The short version: ATV310 for simple and cheap, ATV320 or ATV340 for machines, ATV630 for pumps and fans, ATV930 for hard process duty. Power ranges vary by supply voltage and duty rating, so confirm the exact figure for your reference before ordering.

Not sure which range fits? Send us the motor nameplate photo and we will tell you what suits, including whether a cheaper range would do the job.

How to Size a VFD Correctly

Size on current, not on kW

This is the single most common sizing mistake. Motor kW is a nominal figure; the drive has to deliver the motor's actual full-load current. A 7.5 kW motor at 400 V might draw 15 A or 16.5 A depending on its efficiency class and design. Read the full-load current from the motor nameplate and match the drive's continuous output current rating to it, then check the kW figure as a sanity check rather than the other way round.

Check the duty rating you are being quoted

Drives are rated for normal duty and heavy duty, and the same physical drive gives a lower kW figure under heavy duty. Pumps and fans are variable-torque loads and normally duty; conveyors, mixers, compressors and hoists are constant-torque and usually need heavy duty. If a quote looks unusually cheap for the kW you asked for, check which duty rating it was priced at.

Account for overload requirement

A drive typically supports a stated overload for a limited period, for example 150% for 60 seconds. If your load has a heavy breakaway torque, such as a loaded conveyor starting from rest or a screw compressor, confirm the overload figure on the datasheet rather than assuming.

Match the supply voltage and phase

UAE supply is 400 V three-phase or 230 V single-phase. Most industrial Altivar references are 380–480 V three-phase. Single-phase input drives exist in the smaller ranges but with a three-phase output to the motor. Ordering a 200–240 V drive for a 400 V supply is a costly mistake that happens more often than it should.

Consider the panel environment

Drives derate at high ambient temperature, and Dubai panel rooms get hot. If the panel sits in an unconditioned plant room or outdoors, either specify a higher ambient rating, add panel cooling, or oversize. Dust and humidity matter too, which is where an IP54 drive such as the ATV650 earns its cost over an IP20 unit in an enclosure.

Replacing Obsolete Altivar References

A large share of the enquiries we handle are for drives that no longer exist. If you are maintaining an older panel, these are the current equivalents:

• ATV31 and ATV312 — replaced by the ATV320 range, or the ATV310 where the application is simple and cost matters more than features
• ATV32 — replaced by the ATV320
• ATV61 — replaced by the ATV630 for pump and fan duty
• ATV71 — replaced by the ATV930 for constant-torque and demanding process applications
• ATV212 — replaced within the ATV600 family for HVAC duty

A replacement is not always a drop-in. Physical dimensions, mounting centres, terminal layout and parameter structure all changed between generations, so budget for panel modification and re-commissioning rather than assuming a straight swap. We can advise on what changes in practice for a given retrofit.

We also hold some legacy stock. Send us the obsolete part number and we will tell you whether we can supply the original or what the correct replacement is.

Why VFDs Save Energy on Pumps and Fans

The energy case for VFDs is often stated vaguely. The actual physics is specific and worth understanding, because it explains why the savings are dramatic on some loads and negligible on others.

For centrifugal pumps and fans, the affinity laws apply:

• Flow varies in proportion to speed
• Pressure varies with the square of speed
• Power varies with the cube of speed

That cube relationship is where the money is. Run a pump at 80% speed and it draws roughly 51% of full power. At 70% speed it draws around 34%. Compare that with throttling a valve while the motor runs at full speed, which wastes the difference as heat and pressure drop, and the saving becomes obvious.

The important corollary: this only applies to variable-torque loads. A conveyor, a positive-displacement pump or a constant-torque compressor does not follow the cube law, and fitting a VFD to it for energy saving alone will disappoint. On those loads the justification is soft starting, controlled acceleration, reduced mechanical shock and process control, all of which are real benefits but not the same argument.

Other Benefits Worth Costing In

• Reduced mechanical stress. Direct-on-line starting hits the driveline with high inrush torque. Ramped starting extends bearing, coupling and belt life, and reduces water hammer in pumping systems.
• Lower starting current. DOL starting draws six to eight times full-load current. A VFD limits this, which matters where supply capacity is constrained.
• Process control. Closed-loop pressure or flow control from a single drive often removes the need for control valves and separate controllers.
• Monitoring. Modern Altivar drives report current, power, energy and fault history over Modbus or Ethernet, which turns a motor into a monitored asset.

Things That Cause Problems in Practice

• Cable length. Long motor cables cause voltage reflection that stresses motor insulation. Beyond typical limits you need an output filter or dV/dt reactor. Confirm the permitted length for your drive and cable type.
• Harmonics. Drives inject harmonic current into the supply. On a site with many drives this can breach utility limits and cause transformer heating. Line reactors or active front-end drives address this, and it should be assessed at design stage rather than after commissioning.
• Motor suitability. Older motors without inverter-duty insulation can fail prematurely on VFD supply, particularly at higher voltages.
• Earthing and screening. Unscreened motor cable, or screening that is not bonded at both ends, is a frequent cause of nuisance tripping and interference with nearby instrumentation.

Reading an Altivar Part Number

Altivar references encode the range, power and supply voltage. Taking ATV320U15N4 as an example:

• ATV320 — the range
• U15 — power. U denotes ratings below 10 kW, so U15 is 1.5 kW, U40 is 4 kW, U75 is 7.5 kW. D denotes 10 kW and above, so D11 is 11 kW
• N4 — supply voltage. N4 is 380–480 V three-phase, M2 is 200–240 V single-phase, M3 is 200–240 V three-phase

Additional suffix letters cover enclosure format and options. Always confirm the complete reference against the datasheet before ordering, as suffix conventions differ between ranges.

Buying Schneider VFDs in Dubai

We hold Altivar stock at our trade counter in Naif, Deira for collection, and deliver across the UAE. For GCC and African export we handle documentation and consolidation.

When you enquire, send the following and we can quote in one exchange rather than several:

• Motor full-load current and kW from the nameplate
• Supply voltage and phase
• What the motor drives (pump, fan, conveyor, compressor, hoist)
• Whether you need safety functions, a keypad, or fieldbus communication
• Panel environment, particularly ambient temperature

A photo of the motor nameplate covers most of this on its own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Schneider VFD is best for a water pump?

The Altivar ATV630 is Schneider's process drive for pump and fan applications, with built-in pump functions such as sleep and wake, pipe fill and dry-run detection. For simple pump duty without those functions, the ATV610 or ATV310 is a lower-cost option. Choose the ATV650 instead of the ATV630 where you need IP54 protection without a separate enclosure.

What replaces the Schneider ATV71 drive?

The Altivar ATV930 replaces the ATV71 for constant-torque and demanding process applications. It is not a drop-in replacement: dimensions, mounting and parameter structure differ, so allow for panel modification and re-commissioning when planning a retrofit.

What replaces the ATV312 drive?

The Altivar ATV320 replaces the ATV312 in most applications. Where the application is simple and cost is the priority, the ATV310 may be a suitable and cheaper alternative. Send us the original reference and duty and we will confirm which is appropriate.

How do I size a VFD for my motor?

Size the drive on the motor's full-load current from the nameplate, not on the kW rating alone. Confirm whether you need a normal-duty or heavy-duty rating, since the same drive gives a lower kW figure under heavy duty, and check the overload capability against your load's starting requirement.

Do VFDs really save energy?

On centrifugal pumps and fans, yes, and substantially. Power varies with the cube of speed on these loads, so running at 80% speed draws roughly half the power. On constant-torque loads such as conveyors and positive-displacement pumps the energy saving is minimal, and the justification is soft starting and process control instead.

What is the difference between ATV320 and ATV340?

The ATV320 covers 0.18 to 15 kW and suits general machine building with integrated safety functions. The ATV340 covers 0.75 to 75 kW and adds faster torque response and higher dynamic performance, which matters for hoists, robotics and high-speed packaging. For steady-state machine duty the ATV320 is usually sufficient.

Do you stock Schneider VFDs in Dubai?

Yes, Electrical Junction holds Altivar stock at our counter in Naif, Deira, Dubai for same-day collection, with delivery across the UAE and export to GCC and African markets. Call +971 4 267 6484 or send your motor details on WhatsApp for a same-day quotation.

Can I use a VFD with an older motor?

Often, but check the motor insulation class first. Motors not rated for inverter duty can suffer premature insulation failure under VFD supply, particularly at 400 V and above and with long cable runs. An output filter reduces the risk where replacing the motor is not practical.

Talk to Us

Send the motor nameplate and what it drives. You will get a drive recommendation and a price, and if a cheaper range would do the job we will say so.

Call +971 4 267 6484  |  WhatsApp us  |  Counter: Al Jamal Building 01, Shop 07, 12A Street, Naif, Deira, Dubai