AC drives incorporate safeguard function indicators which usually include motor overload, overheat, overcurrent, undercurrent, phase loss, as well as ground fault protection.  The more modern AC drives used nowadays have the ability to provide up to 150 percent starting torque without requiring the overload protection necessary in many eddy current operations.  What’s more is that flexible drive bypass options gives the motor the ability to be switched to line power for drive maintenance or in pump or fan applications requiring uninterrupted operation.

AC drives can reduce the downtime, which is usually expensive, by permitting many adjustments to be made through software rather than hardware.  The installation and setup process thereof is quite simple and provide instant access to operating parameters through LED readouts.  They also offer digital inputs for simple, accurate entry of operational settings, which is in stark contrast to less flexible eddy current drives.  In addition, digital control provides zero drift for improved application consistency and repeatability throughout the speed range.

Digital repeatability facilitates the process regarding accurate entry of parameter settings which includes jog, braking, momentary power loss override, remote speed reference inputs, overtorque detection, multi-step speed settings, and acceleration/deceleration time selection.

AC drives are able to easily support serial communications along with features and modifications which are difficult or near impossible to achieve with an eddy current drive.