Elevator drives eliminate the need for contactors
19 January 2024 
The Brazilian motors and drives manufacturer WEG has announced a new series of lift drives that, it says, “redefine elevator technology”. The ADL500 drives use a technology called Enhanced Elevator Position Control (EPC) that eliminates the need for contactors in what WEG calls a “zero contactors concept”. The EPC algorithms ensure passenger comfort and precise floor levelling, even in the most demanding environments.
There are three models – the ADL550, ADL530 and ADL510 – tailored for high-rise, medium-rise, low-rise or modernisation projects.
“The ADL550 is equipped with a comprehensive safety package and enhanced EPC,” explains Karim Boudaoud, WEG Automation Europe’s product manager. “This model is ideal for high-rise buildings, while the ADL530 accommodates both asynchronous and synchronous motors, featuring an integrated universal multi-encoder interface, with a range of encoders (EnDat, SinCos, BiSS and Digital Incremental) already integrated into the inverter. This innovative design eliminates the need for additional cards, streamlining stock management and setup.”
The ADL510 is designed for asynchronous motors typical of low-rise buildings or modernisation projects and covers ratings from 4–22kW. It is said to be easy to install.
The drives, which are certified to European standards EN81-20 and EN81-50, combine elements of the series’ predecessor, the ADL300, with functions such as Safe Torque Off (STO), Safe Brake Test (SBT) and the Safe Brake Control (SBC) and an accessory (EBC500) which allow operators to check brake status and avoid unintentional movements.
Efficiency has been designed into the new drives, including a standby function that eliminates idle-state energy consumption. Rechargeable external supercapacitors provide energy peak shaving to avoid spikes in consumption. Regeneration is possible for smaller elevators using WEG’s new AFE200 active front end.
An app (called WEG_Liftouch) for Android, IOS and Windows platforms allows remote start-up, monitoring, tuning and alarm checks. Whether onsite using a Wi-Fi connection, or remotely via WEG’s Drives RMS (Remote Management System) portal, operators can manage operations easily and precisely.
