The VW3AE2418 is a switch for 12-pulse input, designed for Altivar floor-standing enclosures with separate air flows or compact versions in the Altivar 61 Plus and Altivar 71 Plus drive ranges. It's a control accessory that handles the switching for 12-pulse rectifier configurations, which reduce line-side harmonics compared to standard 6-pulse drives.
What It Does in the Drive System
A 12-pulse drive uses two parallel 6-pulse rectifiers fed from a transformer with two secondary windings phase-shifted by 30 degrees. The VW3AE2418 switch coordinates the input connection for this topology, reducing line current harmonics to roughly 12% THD versus 30-40% for a standard 6-pulse drive. It mounts inside the Altivar floor-standing enclosure, so panel integration is already accounted for in the drive's mechanical design — no separate enclosure or wiring modifications needed.