The Schneider Altivar VW3A68504 is a 3-phase line choke (mains supply reactance) rated 280 A continuous, 0.098 mH inductance, designed for 400/500 Vac 50/60 Hz supplies. Its job is to reduce current harmonics drawn by variable-speed drives — specifically Altivar drives — by smoothing the input current waveform and limiting di/dt. The 5 % maximum voltage drop at rated load is typical for a line choke sized to handle the drive's peak current without saturating the core. At 280 A rated current, this choke is sized for a drive in the 132–160 kW range on a 400 V supply, depending on the drive's input current draw. The saturation current of 530 A means the core can handle short-duration overloads up to 1.65× nominal for 60 seconds without losing inductance — critical for ride-through during motor acceleration or line dips.
Thermal losses are 245 W at rated current. That heat must be ventilated out of the enclosure — a panel fan or passive convection path sized for that dissipation is required to keep the ambient temperature inside the cabinet below 45 °C (the no-derating ceiling). Above 45 °C, derate current by 2 % per °C up to 55 °C; above that, the choke cannot be operated.
Standards and environmental robustness
Designed to EN 50178 (electronic equipment for power installations) and IEC 60076 (power transformers, with HD398). Pollution degree 2 per EN 50178, clearance 5.5 mm, creepage 11.5 mm per IEC 60664. Vibration resistance: 1.5 mm peak-to-peak at 3–13 Hz, 1 gn at 13–200 Hz per IEC 60068-2-6. Shock: 15 gn for 11 ms per IEC 60068-2-27. Humidity range 0–95 % non-condensing. Storage temperature -25 to +70 °C.