VLT® Midi Drive FC 280

Access your true high-efficiency potential

Reach new levels of performance with the VLT® Midi Drive FC 280, the evolution of the popular VLT® 2800 drive. Profit from new savings, with a wide range of features designed to make installing, using, and maintaining the AC drive as simple and as easy as possible. Just set it and forget it.

For precise and efficient motor control for machine builders in the food and beverage, material handling, and processing industries, the VLT® Midi Drive is ideal. It is strong on control performance, functional safety, and flexible fieldbus communication.

The right mix of features ensures the AC drive suits your task, whether for conveyor systems, mixers, and packaging systems or driving pumps, fans, and compressors. With all-pluggable connectors, integrated harmonics mitigation, RFI filter, and dual-channel STO functional safety, the drive is easy to use with no hidden extras.

The VLT® Midi Drive provides:

• Easy and fast installation and set-up
• Savings on cost and space
• Flexibility to suit your task

...giving you the freedom to achieve your system goals.

Set and forget

Built on over 45 years of experience in the drives field, the VLT® Midi Drive shares the same technical heritage as the VLT® name in AC drives. Therefore, you can rely on the same low-maintenance robustness and reliability – once set, it will run reliably, earning you energy savings for years.

Freedom from extra components

The integrated DC choke for 3-phase units and active power factor correction (PFC) for single-phase units achieve harmonic mitigation without additional component costs or space requirements.

The built-in RFI disconnect switch minimizes leakage current and optimizes safe operation on IT mains as standard.

The VLT® Midi Drive is designed to operate at 45 °C ambient temperature at full load and 55 °C with derating. This capability means no need to install extra cooling equipment or oversize the drive.

Compact design for easy installation

The compact design, allowing side-by-side and horizontal mounting with zero clearance between drives, simplifies panel space optimization. The integrated features translate into cost savings by not having to oversize the drive due to temperature derating. Not having to purchase additional equipment saves on installation costs and space.

Flexible. Easy to use.

Easy retrofit

The VLT® Midi Drive is designed for compatibility with the VLT® 2800. Its exterior dimensions, connectors, cable lengths, and set-up software tools allow for easy retrofit of established drive panels.

Service friendly

The integrated USB port and the VLT® Memory Module facilitate helpful implementation of factory settings for OEMs and machine builders, fast installation of firmware updates, and easy commissioning of drives. To transfer pre-defined parameter sets, make a backup copy, or commission the drive online, connect the FC 280 to a PC using the front-access USB port. Alternatively, connect via fieldbus. Clone a drive using the VLT® Memory Module or duplicate settings using the LCP copy function.

Save time on set-up

Numeric or graphical LCPs offer easy parameter set-up for energy savings. An enhanced numeric LCP or graphical control panel supports seven languages. Targeted 'Application Selections' simplify setup and commissioning for typical applications.

VLT® Motion Control Tool MCT 10: Configure and monitor the FC 280 with Danfoss' VLT® Motion Control Tool MCT 10 software. This tool provides plant managers with a comprehensive system overview and high flexibility in configuration and monitoring. A USB port enables fast PC connection for commissioning and troubleshooting.

All-pluggable

Pluggable terminals simplify wiring for installation and service – simply plug in and plug out for mains, I/O, fieldbus, and motor connections.

Features and benefits

The key to practicality and performance

The VLT® Midi Drive FC 280 is designed to meet diverse needs, offering ease of use and high flexibility across various industries.

Fits your application

This drive delivers ease of use and high flexibility in food and beverage industries, material handling, and processing industries.

• Conveyor systems: Release the conveyor from mechanical stress via controlled acceleration and deceleration – promoting longer life and lower operating costs.
• Mixers: Upgrade from VLT® 2800, free of redesign – the VLT® Midi Drive fits perfectly. Even upgrade to the high-efficiency motor of your choice – VLT® Midi Drive is compatible.
• Packaging systems: Profit from the all-in-one concept with compact size, industrial fieldbus support, integrated functional safety, and positioning features.
• Pumps: Integrated PID control provides solid process control of the pump along with energy saving sleep mode.
• Fans: Achieve up to 50% energy savings by a 20% reduction in fan speed, and save on carbon emissions too.
• Compressors: Enjoy built-in functional safety and the fieldbus protocol of your choice, whilst optimizing performance coefficient.

Active power factor correction for single-phase units reduces harmonics to less than 8% THDi.

Designed to meet your needs

Choose the VLT® Midi Drive, whatever your task is. A broad range of fieldbus options suits protocol standards of many different industries. International certification includes CE and UL. Because it's compatible with both induction and PM motors, you also win the freedom to choose the best high-efficiency motor for your task.

See the interactive presentation and video at www.danfoss.com/fc280

Integrated harmonic mitigation

In compliance with IEC/EN 61000-3-2/61000-3-12, the integrated DC chokes for all 3-phase units reduce harmonics to less than 48% THDi. For single-phase units, harmonics are less than 8% thanks to the integrated active PFC.

Integrated brake chopper

A built-in brake chopper for 3-phase drives in the whole power range saves money and panel space.

Pulse input as speed reference

FC 280 offers the capability to convert pulse input as a speed reference, avoiding the need to purchase an analog signal module for the PLC.

Integrated PID controller

The built-in PID controller ensures solid process control, such as constant pressure or constant flow operation.

Integrated RFI filter

Built-in filters save space and eliminate extra costs for fitting, wiring, and material. The integrated RFI filter improves power supply quality, avoiding malfunction and improving the reliability of surrounding components.

Integrated positioning control

With the integrated encoder input, the positioning control includes features such as homing, position reference setting, position feedback, and PID control. It supports both absolute positioning and relative positioning applications, such as palletizer or line conveyors.

Coated PCBs

The printed circuit boards (PCB) are coated as standard according to 3C3 (IEC 60721-3-3) classification against corrosive gases. This protection provides high reliability in harsh environments, preventing failures and unnecessary downtime, increasing the lifetime of the drive.

Reliable back-up concept

External 24 V back-up option for power supply, to keep fieldbus communication on while disconnected from mains.

Communicative

Easy connectivity

For convenient PC connection during commissioning or service, use the integrated USB port.

Your choice of fieldbus

Communicate using your choice of process automation protocols:

• PROFINET with dual port
• POWERLINK with dual port
• EtherNet/IPTM with dual port
• EtherCAT
• PROFIBUS
• CANopen
• Modbus RTU and FC Protocol are integrated as standard

Adaptive

PM motor compatibility

Win the freedom to choose the best high-efficiency motor for your application. The VLT® Midi Drive provides highly efficient permanent magnet (PM) motor control in open loop under V VC+ in the whole power range.

Clean

Active power factor correction

Standard in all single-phase units, the unique active power factor correction feature reduces the input current distortion remarkably, to less than 8%. It also ensures safe compliance to the IEC/EN 61000-3-2 standard. This leads to:

• Reduced VA ratings of utility equipment such as cabling, fuses, and switches.
• Enables grouping of more devices on a single phase supply branch.
• Reduced consumption of effective current, and lower harmonic load on the power supply mains network, transformer, and connected devices.

Safe

Dual-channel Safe Torque Off

The Safe Torque Off (STO) function is a component in a safety control system. STO prevents the unit from generating the energy that is required to rotate the motor, which ensures safe conditions in emergency situations. The dual-channel STO function in the VLT® Midi Drive is designed and approved suitable for the requirements of:

• IEC/EN 61508: 2010 SIL 2
• IEC/EN 61800-5-2: 2007 SIL2
• IEC/EN 62061: 2005 SILCL of SIL2
• EN ISO 13849-1: 2008 Category 3 PL d

Specifications

Mains supply (L1, L2, L3)

Output data (U, V, W)

Programmable digital inputs and outputs

*One of 6 digital inputs can be configured as digital output or pulse output. One of analog inputs can be configured as an extra digital input, thereby bringing the quantity of digital inputs to 7.

Pulse and encoder inputs

**Note: Two digital inputs can be configured as pulse inputs. One pair of inputs can be configured as encoder inputs.

Programmable analog inputs

Programmable analog outputs

Programmable relay outputs

Approvals

Wiring schematic

The wiring schematic illustrates the connections for the VLT® Midi Drive FC 280, detailing mains power input (L1, L2, L3, PE), motor outputs (U, V, W), brake resistor connection, digital and analog I/O terminals, relay outputs, Safe Torque Off (STO) inputs (STO1, STO2), and the RS485 serial communication interface. It also shows power supply outputs (+10 V DC, +24 V DC) and the connection for an external brake resistor.

Electric data

VLT® Midi Drive FC 280 3 x 380-480 V AC (Enclosure IP20)

VLT® Midi Drive FC 280 3 x 200-240 V AC (Enclosure IP20)

VLT® Midi Drive FC 280 1 x 200-240 V AC (Enclosure IP20)

1) The typical power loss is stated at nominal load conditions and expected to be within ±15% (tolerance relates to variations in voltage and cable conditions). Values are based on a typical motor efficiency (IE2/IE3 borderline). Motors with lower efficiency add to the power loss in the AC drive and motors with high efficiency reduce power loss. Applies for dimensioning of AC drive cooling. If the switching frequency is higher than the default setting, the power losses may rise. LCP and typical control card power consumptions are included. Further options and customer load may add up to 30 W to the losses (though typical only 4 W extra for a fully-loaded control card or fieldbus). For power loss data according to EN 50598-2, refer to http://ecosmart.danfoss.com/.

2) Measured using 50 m screened motor cables at rated load and rated frequency. For energy efficiency class, see the Operating Instructions, chapter 9.4 Ambient Conditions. For part load losses, see http://ecosmart.danfoss.com/.

Ordering typecode

The ordering typecode is structured into 14 fields, defining the drive's configuration. Below is a breakdown of the fields and common options:

Structure: FC- [Application] [Power size] [AC Line Voltage] [Enclosure] [RFI filter, terminal and monitoring options] [Braking] [LCP Display] [PCB Coating] [Mains input] [Hardware option A] [Hardware option B] [Special version] [LCP language] [Integrated fieldbus]

Example: FC-280-PK37-S2-E20-H1-X-X-C-X-X-SXXX-X-AX

Field Descriptions:

• [1] Application: 280 (VLT® Midi Drive FC 280)
• [2] Power size: PK37 (0.37 kW), PK55 (0.55 kW), PK75 (0.75 kW), P1K1 (1.1 kW), P1K5 (1.5 kW), P2K2 (2.2 kW), P3K0 (3.0 kW), P3K7 (3.7 kW), P4K0 (4.0 kW), P5K5 (5.5 kW), P7K5 (7.5 kW), P11K (11 kW), P15K (15 kW), P18K (18.5 kW), P22K (22 kW)
• [3] AC Line Voltage: S2 (1 x 200/240 V AC), T2 (3 x 200/240 V AC), T4 (3 x 380/480 V AC)
• [4] Enclosure: E20 (IP20/Chassis)
• [5] RFI filter: H1 (Single-phase A1/B (C1)), H2 (3-phase A2 (C3))
• [6] Braking: B (Brake IGBT), X (No brake IGBT)
• [7] LCP Display: X (No LCP installed)
• [8] PCB Coating: C (Coated PCB Class 3C3)
• [9] Mains input: X (No mains option)
• [10] Hardware option A: X (Standard cable entries)
• [11] Hardware option B: X (No adaptation)
• [12] Special version: SXXX (Latest released standard software), SFS1 (Functional safety over fieldbus)
• [13] LCP language: X (English, German, French, Spanish, Danish, Italian, Brazilian-Portuguese)
• [14] Integrated fieldbus: AX (Modbus RTU), A0 (PROFIBUS DP), A6 (CANopen), A8 (EtherCAT), AL (PROFINET), AN (EtherNet/IPTM), AY (POWERLINK)

Please be aware that not all combinations are possible. Get help to configure your AC drive using the online configurator at: store.danfoss.com

Dimensions and weights

Dimensions and weights for the VLT® Midi Drive FC 280 series, categorized by enclosure type (IP20) and power size.

Integrated fieldbuses and functional extensions

The VLT® Midi Drive FC 280 supports a wide range of fieldbus options for seamless integration into industrial automation systems.

Available for the full product range

Accessories

A comprehensive range of accessories is available to enhance the functionality and installation of the VLT® Midi Drive FC 280:

• Functional safety over fieldbus: Software variant (SFS1) for PROFIsafe communication, enabling STO and SS1-t functions.
• VLT® Control Panel LCP 21 (Numeric): Ordering number: 132B0254.
• VLT® Control Panel LCP 102 (Graphical): Ordering number: 130B1107.
• LCP Blind Cover: Ordering number: 132B0262.
• LCP Panel Mounting Kit: For IP20 enclosure (Graphical: 130B1117, Numerical: 132B0102).
• Graphical LCP Adapter: Ordering number: 132B0281.
• Power Options: VLT® Sine-Wave Filter MCC 101, VLT® dU/dt Filter MCC 102, VLT® Brake Resistors MCE 101, VLT® EMC Filters MCC 107.
• IP21/Type 1 conversion kit: For various power sizes (e.g., K1: 132B0335, K2: 132B0336).
• Mounting adapter: For VLT® 2800 compatibility (e.g., Size A: 132B0363).
• VLT® Memory Module MCM 102: Ordering number: 132B0359.
• VLT® Memory Module MCM 103 with integrated VLT® 2800 PROFIBUS converter: Ordering number: 132B0466.
• VLT® 24 V DC Supply MCB 106: Ordering number: 132B0368.

*Ordering number and selection tables: See relevant Design Guide.

A better tomorrow is driven by drives

Danfoss Drives is a world leader in variable speed control of electric motors, offering competitive edge through quality, application-optimized products, and comprehensive lifecycle services. They focus on optimizing efficiency, enhancing usability, and reducing complexity. With decades of experience since 1968, Danfoss provides low and medium voltage AC drives for all major motor brands and technologies. VACON® drives combine innovation and durability for sustainable industries like Marine, Oil & Gas, Metals, Mining, Pulp & Paper, Energy, and Chemical. VLT® drives play a key role in urbanization, supporting cold chains, fresh food supply, building comfort, clean water, and environmental protection in sectors such as Food & Beverage, Water & Wastewater, HVAC, Refrigeration, Material Handling, and Textile.