SubDrive/MonoDrive DIP Switches: Do More. Worry Less.
One of the best things about Franklin
Electric's SubDrive and MonoDrive products is that they can be used
in a variety of applications, such as residential, agricultural,
irrigation and commercial. Franklin Electric has increased the
flexibility of these products by providing internal DIP switches.
This issue of Franklin AID will explain DIP switches and what they
mean to you, the professional water systems contractor.
A Dual Inline Package (DIP) switch is an electronics
manufacturing term for a series of electrical switches that are an
alternative to jumper blocks. These switches have the advantage of
being easy to use and have no loose parts. On Franklin Electric’s
SubDrive and MonoDrive, the DIP switch package is located on the
lower right corner of the main circuit board. The package attaches
by means of two rows of pins on the bottom of the package that are
inserted through the printed circuit board.
The SubDrive and MonoDrive DIP switch
package is labeled SW1, and each individual switch also is labeled.
The four switches can be set in one of two positions (ON or OFF)
and control different aspects of the system. A small screwdriver
comes packaged with each product to aid in switch setting, due to
the size of the switches. In most cases, the DIP switch setting
will not need to be changed, with the exception of setting the pump
size for MonoDrive and MonoDriveXT. Let's take a look at each of
the switches in SubDrive and MonoDrive and see how they work.
Switches 1 and 2
Switches 1 and 2 of the package tell the
SubDrive or MonoDrive controller which pump is attached to the
motor. For example: on a SubDrive75, a ¾ horsepower pump would
normally be coupled to a 1.5 horsepower 3-phase motor. In this
case, the first two switches are set in the OFF position. (This is
the default setting.) However, in some cases, you might want to use
a 1 or a 1.5 horsepower pump. This can be done, but you need to
tell the SubDrive controller there is a different pump in place. If
a 1 horsepower pump were to be used, switch 1 will remain OFF and 2
must be changed to ON. If a 1.5 horsepower pump were to be used,
switch 1 must be moved to the ON position and 2 will remain OFF. In
the case of other SubDrive models, switches 1 and 2 are used in a
very similar way. Refer to the installation manual for the
details.
MonoDrive is designed to be used with a ½,
¾, or 1 horsepower single-phase 3-wire motor and pump. However,
because of these options, it is critical to tell the MonoDrive
controller what is in the well. As in the case of SubDrive,
positions 1 and 2 on SW1 are used. The switch positions for each
are shown in the following illustrations.
MonoDrive XT works in very much the same
way.
Switch 3 - Underload Sensitivity
All SubDrive/MonoDrive products offer
built-in underload protection. The most common reason for an
underload is an out-of-water condition. The SubDrive/MonoDrive
controller is configured at the factory to ensure detection of
underload faults in a wide variety of pumping applications. In rare
cases, the underload trip level may be too sensitive. The most
likely application for this scenario will be a shallow well.
If you are installing
SubDrive/MonoDrive in a shallow well, it is a good idea to observe
how the system behaves at various flow rates. Move switch 3 on SW1
ot ON if you see nuisance tripping. However, before doing this,
make sure that you're truly seeing a nuisance fault, and not an
actual out-of-water condition. What we've just discussed applies to
all SubDrive and MonoDrive products. That is, the underload
sensitivity is located in the same place and functions in the same
way.
Switch 4 - Sensitivity
Although in most cases pressure regulation
will be completely stable, in certain conditions the controller's
pressure-regualting algorithm can be too sensitive. This may result
in surging at a hydrant or in an irrigation system located a long
distance away from the pressure sensor. Position 4 of the DIP
switch can be used to desensitize the pressure regulation, and in
many cases, will reduce or eliminate the surging. If you have a
hydrant or an irrigation system some distance from the pressure
sensor, don't automatically move switch 4 to OFF. Make sure you
have a real issue with surging first.
Of course, all of this information is in the
installation manual that comes packaged with each product. To
recap, positions 1 and 2 are used to tell the controller what pump
is in the well, position 3 is used to address nuisance tripping and
position 4 may prevent surging at a hydrant. When using SubDrive
you will rarely need to change the switch positions. However, with
MonoDrive or MonoDriveXT there is a good chance you will, when
retrofitting an installation for a pump already downhole. It all
adds up to be a product that is simple to install and use, but
offers the flexibility you need for a wide variety of
applications.
For questions or comments concerning this
article, please contact us at 800-348-2420, or email us at hotline@fele.com.
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