Schneider Electric VW3A4561 is a three-phase line choke from the Altivar range, rated 344 A with 0.066 mH inductance and 258 W thermal loss. Its job is to reduce current harmonics on the input side of a variable speed drive — it smooths the current waveform, drops the THD the drive reflects back to the line, and protects upstream components from the switching noise a VFD naturally generates.
This part is marked obsolete by the manufacturer.
The choke measures 320 mm wide by 380 mm high by 225 mm deep. The electrical connection accepts bare wires up to 11 mm diameter. Ambient temperature range is 0 to 45 °C without derating; above that, up to 55 °C, derate current 2 % per °C. At altitudes above 1000 m up to 3000 m, derate 1 % per 100 m.
The choke can handle 1.65 times its nominal current for 60 seconds — useful for the brief overload a drive demands during acceleration. Saturation current is 685 A. Voltage drop at rated load is 5 %. Insulation is Class F. The design meets VDE 0160 level 1, IEC 60076 (with HD398), and EN 50178. Pollution degree 2 per EN 50178, clearance distance 5.5 mm, leakage distance 11.5 mm per IEC 60664. Vibration resistance: 1.5 mm peak-to-peak from 3 to 13 Hz, 1 gn from 13 to 200 Hz per IEC 60068-2-6. Shock: 15 gn for 11 ms per IEC 60068-2-27. Environmental class: 3B1, 3C2, 3S1 per IEC 721-3-3. Storage temperature: -25 to 70 °C. Humidity: 0 to 95 %.