The VW3A7808 is a braking resistor from the Schneider Altivar 71 drive family, sized to absorb regenerative energy from decelerating motor loads. Its 1.85 Ohm resistance and 27.4 kW average power rating at 50 °C define the braking torque it can handle — match these to the drive's braking transistor rating and the duty cycle of your application. Thermal protection is handled externally via a thermal overload relay, not a built-in thermostat. That means you wire the overload relay's normally-closed contact into the drive's braking control circuit to disconnect the resistor if it overheats. The IP23 enclosure allows some airflow through the resistor bank but is not washdown-rated. Mount it in a ventilated cabinet or in a machine compartment where falling dust and dripping water are the only environmental concerns.
This part is obsolete per the manufacturer. Schneider no longer produces the VW3A7808, and there is no direct drop-in successor listed for this order code. For a line-down situation or a BOM that still calls out this exact resistor, the only channel is the independent surplus and broker market. We source the VW3A7808 through our network of surplus and overstock suppliers. If you need a braking resistor for an active Altivar drive series (e.g., ATV320, ATV340), the resistor values and mounting dimensions differ — verify the drive's braking resistor selection guide rather than assuming compatibility.
Physical fit and connection
At 890 mm wide, 690 mm tall, and 540 mm deep, this is a large resistor bank — not something you bolt into a shallow enclosure. Plan for a dedicated mounting footprint with clearance around the ventilation grilles. The M10 bar wire connection is a bolted lug interface, not a spring-clamp or screw terminal; you need ring terminals or bus-bar tabs sized for M10 hardware.