178B1398 by Danfoss

The 178B1398 is a decentralized AC drive produced by Danfoss for the FCD 300 Micro Drives series. Classified as product type FCD 300, it mounts directly on the machine and regulates motor speed to match process demands in material-handling or fluid-movement tasks across automated plants. By integrating the inverter on the equipment frame, cable runs are shortened and cabinet space is conserved, which simplifies installation and reduces electromagnetic exposure on the motor leads.

The drive is housed in an IP66 enclosure, so it can handle washdown without additional shielding, which is important in food or chemical areas. It accepts a three-phase supply of 3x380-480 V and converts that energy into a controlled output limited by a continuous power rating of 1.5 kW, giving a mechanical shaft capacity of 2.0 HP. Speed reference, diagnostics, and parameter sets can be exchanged over the fieldbus using Profibus DP V0/V1 12 Mbaud, which allows the unit to join distributed control architectures while keeping update latency low. A display connector on the front panel supports a detachable keypad for local setup, and the standard coating guards the internal electronics against ambient moisture and airborne contaminants.

The drive is extended with a brake, so the converter can dissipate regenerated energy internally when the load decelerates and reduce the need for external resistor blocks. Conducted emissions are minimized by the integral 1 A filter, helping the installation meet EMC limits in mixed-voltage switch rooms and other industrial areas. Connections enter through a wall-mount box with metric threads, which speeds up sealing with common gland sizes and maintains the ingress rating. The design targets processing applications, where synchronized conveyors or agitators must start, stop, and hold speed repeatably.