Pump VFD 380-480V for 1.5-450 kW Motors – XFC500 Series with Built-in PID

Pump VFD 380-480 V for 1.5-450 kW Motors – XFC500 Series with Built-in PID

XFC500 is a general-purpose 3-phase VFD for fans, water pumps and general automation loads, covering 1.5 kW to 450 kW in 27 ratings with dual G (general duty) and P (fan and pump duty) load types. It combines sensorless vector (SVC) and V/F control on a high-performance DSP platform, with 0.3 Hz / 150% starting torque and a 1:200 speed range. A built-in PID gives constant-pressure water supply control, and dedicated sleep and wake-up functions stop the drive at low load and restart it automatically when pressure drops – a proven energy saver for pumping stations. The XFC500 accepts 380-480 V three-phase input, is IP20 rated, and includes RS485 Modbus RTU as standard.

Key Features

• High-precision motor parameter auto-tuning for accurate vector control
• Sensorless vector (SVC) and V/F control with selectable N-power V/F curves for fan and pump loads
• Built-in PID with sleep and wake-up functions for constant-pressure water supply
• Four sets of motor parameters for multi-pump duty and quick motor changeover
• Stable overvoltage and overcurrent stall control plus fast current limiting, reducing fault trips
• Instantaneous power-failure protection
• G/P dual load ratings: 150% for 60 s / 180% for 3 s (G), 120% for 60 s / 150% for 3 s (P)
• Built-in braking unit up to 22 kW (braking resistor only); 30 kW and above accept an external braking unit
• Built-in DC reactors on models of 132 kW and above
• Common DC bus and DC power supply supported
• Detachable LED keypad with parameter copy function

Technical Specifications at a Glance

Model Selection: 27 Ratings from 1.5 kW to 450 kW

Each XFC500 rating carries a G (general duty) and a P (fan and pump duty) power value. Select by your motor nameplate data – the drive must be chosen by rated output current, not by catalogue power alone.

Model code explanation: XFC500-3P4-5K50G-BEN-20 = XFC500 series; 3P4 = three-phase 400 V class (380-480 V); 5K50G = 5.5 kW general duty (7K50P = 7.5 kW fan/pump duty); B = built-in braking unit; E = LED keypad; N = no output reactor (L = with reactor); 2 = IP20; 0 = standard design.

Vector Control and V/F Performance

The XFC500 offers open-loop vector (SVC) and V/F control. In SVC mode it delivers 150% starting torque at 0.3 Hz, a speed range of 1:200 and ±0.5% steady-state speed accuracy. High-precision motor parameter auto-tuning ensures accurate vector control without an encoder. For fan and pump loads, selectable N-power V/F curves (n = 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0) match the drive’s output to the quadratic torque-speed characteristic of centrifugal loads, reducing motor heating and improving energy efficiency.

Built-in PID for Constant Pressure Water Supply

A built-in PID controller (F5 parameter group) closes the process loop directly inside the drive: connect a pressure transmitter to the analog input, set the target pressure, and the drive regulates pump speed to hold pressure constant. This is the standard solution for constant-pressure water supply, booster stations, irrigation systems and HVAC water loops – no external PID controller or PLC is required for the basic loop.

Sleep and Wake-up for Water Pump Applications

For pumping duty, the F6 extended parameters provide sleep and wake-up control: when the set frequency falls to the sleep frequency (F6-00) for the sleep delay time (F6-01), the drive stops automatically; when the demand returns and the set frequency reaches the wake-up frequency (F6-02), the drive restarts after the wake-up delay (F6-03). The pump runs only when water is actually needed, saving energy in low-demand periods such as night hours.

Overload Capacity and Stall Control

Overload capacity follows the load type: G-type ratings provide 150% rated current for 60 s and 180% for 3 s; P-type ratings provide 120% for 60 s and 150% for 3 s. Stable overvoltage and overcurrent stall control and a fast current-limiting function prevent fault shutdowns from frequent current or voltage peaks – important for water systems with sudden load changes.

Multi-pump Control with Four Sets of Motor Parameters

Four sets of motor parameters (C1-C4) allow one XFC500 to drive up to four motors switched through digital inputs – convenient for multi-pump stations that rotate duty and standby pumps without adding a second drive.

I/O Terminals and Expansion Cards

Standard I/O: 5 digital inputs (one supports 100 kHz pulse input), 2 analog inputs (0-10 V / 0-20 mA, jumper selectable), 2 open-collector digital outputs (one supports 100 kHz square-wave output), 1 analog output and 1 relay output (1 NO + 1 NC). An expansion interface accepts the XFC5-IOC-00 IO card (adds 5 DI, 1 AI, 1 relay output, 1 open-collector output and 1 analog output with a CAN interface) and the XFC5-PLC-00 programmable card, which combines PLC + VFD and is compatible with the Mitsubishi PLC programming environment.

RS485 Modbus RTU and Fieldbus Options

RS485 Modbus RTU is built in (F7 group: baud rate up to 38400 bps for Modbus, slave address 1-249 with 0 as broadcast, response delay 0-20 ms). Fieldbus expansion cards add CANopen (XFC5-CAN-00), Profibus-DP (XFC5-PFB-00) and EtherCAT, letting the drive join a plant-wide control network for remote start/stop, speed setting and full parameter readback.

How to Select the Right XFC500 Rating

1. Read the motor nameplate: rated power, current, voltage and frequency.
2. Choose the load type – G (general duty) or P (fan and pump duty) – matching the application and required overload.
3. Select the rating whose rated output current equals or exceeds the motor rated current.
4. For fan/pump duty with constant-pressure control, confirm the built-in PID and sleep/wake-up settings.
5. Check braking needs: up to 22 kW add a braking resistor; 30 kW and above use an external braking unit.
6. Check network requirements and add a fieldbus expansion card if needed.

Applications

The XFC500 is used in constant-pressure water supply, booster and irrigation pumping, HVAC chilled and hot water loops, fans and ventilation systems, compressors, conveyors, mixers and general machinery where reliable variable-speed motor control is required.

FAQ

What is the difference between a VFD and a soft starter?

A VFD varies the motor speed continuously and saves energy on fans and pumps, while a soft starter only ramps the motor up and down at full speed for fixed-speed duty. If the application must run at a fixed speed, a soft starter such as the smart XST260 series or the heavy duty CT series is the lower-cost option; if speed control or energy saving is required, choose a VFD such as the XFC500.

What is the difference between the XFC500 and the XFC550?

The XFC500 is the general-purpose series for fans, pumps and common automation loads, with SVC and V/F control and a built-in PID. The XFC550 adds closed-loop vector (FOC) control, higher torque at zero speed and 180% overload for 3 s for demanding machine applications. For water and HVAC duty, the XFC500 covers the requirement at a better price point.

Which motors can the XFC500 drive?

Standard squirrel-cage asynchronous motors from 1.5 kW to 450 kW (G-type ratings), with a 1:200 speed range in SVC mode. It does not require an encoder, so no speed feedback device is needed for most applications.

Does the XFC500 include a braking function?

Models up to 22 kW include a built-in braking unit as standard – connect a braking resistor only. Models of 30 kW and above require an external braking unit plus braking resistor, selected from the manual’s recommendation table.

Can the XFC500 be used for constant-pressure water supply?

Yes. The built-in PID closes the pressure loop with a transmitter on the analog input, and the sleep/wake-up functions stop the pump in low-demand periods and restart it automatically when pressure drops.

What communication protocols are supported?

RS485 Modbus RTU is standard. Optional expansion cards add CANopen, Profibus-DP, EtherCAT, an IO expansion card and a PLC programmable card.

What is the IP rating and where can it be installed?

The XFC500 is IP20 rated, for indoor installation in a cabinet or wall-mount position with proper clearance. Operating temperature is -10 to +40 °C (derate above 40 °C), humidity below 95% RH (no condensation), and no derating below 1000 m altitude.

What protection functions are built in?

Input and output phase loss, overvoltage, undervoltage, overheat, overload, overcurrent, short circuit, voltage and current limiting, fast current limiting, and a complete fault code table (Err01 inverter protection, Err02-Err04 overcurrent, Err05-Err07 overvoltage, Err09 undervoltage, Err11 motor overload, Err12 input phase loss, Err13 output phase loss, and more) for fast troubleshooting.

Request a Quotation

Send your motor nameplate data (power, current, voltage, application) via the contact page and we will confirm the matching XFC500 rating, G or P load type, options and delivery time. For project references, see our project page, and for company background see our about page.