WEG CFW Variable Frequency Drives for Industrial Motor Control
A variable frequency drive must match more than the motor’s horsepower. It also needs to fit the available power, application load, required speed and torque control, communications, and operating environment.
State Motor & Control Solutions can help you compare the WEG CFW320, CFW500, and CFW900 for a replacement, new installation, or OEM application. Browse available models or work with our team to identify the appropriate drive family and configuration.
Choose Your Drive
Three families covering compact machinery through high-power systems.
WEG CFW320
Simple, space-saving control for compact equipment.
The CFW320 is a compact option for smaller machinery and straightforward motor-speed-control applications. It is a practical fit when efficient use of panel space, simple setup, and dependable operation are priorities.
Typical Applications:
- Small pumps and fans
- Conveyors
- Packaging equipment
- Compact OEM machinery
WEG CFW500
More flexibility for machinery and plant systems.
The CFW500 provides expanded control, communications, and installation options for machinery and general industrial applications. Its broader capabilities make it suitable for systems that require more flexibility than a basic drive.
Typical Applications:
- Pumping systems
- Fans and blowers
- Compressors
- Mixers and agitators
- Machine automation
WEG CFW900
High-performance control for demanding applications
The CFW900 is designed for complex industrial systems requiring precise speed and torque control, advanced system integration, energy-management capabilities, and support for induction or permanent-magnet motors.
Typical Applications:
- Heavy-duty conveyors
- High-performance pumps and fans
- Extruders
- Crushers and mills
- Process lines
Compare WEG CFW Drive Families
| Drive Family | Best Fit | Control Profile | Common Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFW320 | Compact equipment and straightforward installations | Essential motor-speed control | Small pumps, fans, conveyors, packaging equipment, and compact machinery |
| CFW500 | Machinery and general industrial systems requiring greater flexibility | Expanded control, vector-control options, communications, and enclosure choices | Pumping, HVAC, material handling, compressors, mixers, and machine automation |
| CFW900 | Complex, high-performance, and highly integrated systems | Precise speed and torque control with advanced system integration | Process equipment, heavy machinery, extruders, crushers, and demanding automation |
How To Choose the Right Drive
Have these answers ready and a specialist can size a drive in one call.
Start With the Motor Nameplate
Selecting a variable frequency drive involves more than matching a horsepower rating. Begin with the motor’s full-load current and the available input power. The drive’s nominal output-current rating should meet or exceed the motor’s rated current.
Also consider:
- Motor horsepower and full-load current
- Input voltage and phase
- Application load type and duty
- Required speed and torque control
- Communication protocol
- Environmental and enclosure requirements
- Braking and safety requirements
Replacing an Older WEG Drive?
An older WEG drive may be replaceable with a current CFW model, but the new drive should not automatically be treated as a drop-in replacement.
WEG provides replacement guidance for selected older drive families, including certain CFW10 and CFW300 replacements using the CFW320 and certain CFW08 Plus replacements using the CFW500. Before ordering, confirm:
- Supply voltage and phase
- Motor full-load current
- Normal-duty or heavy-duty requirements
- Braking requirements • Inputs and outputs • Communication requirements
- Enclosure and operating environment
- Physical dimensions and mounting
- Accessories and programming requirements
A drive with the same horsepower rating may have different current ratings, dimensions, connections, accessories, or programming requirements.
Motor and Control Support From One Source
State Motor & Control Solutions can help evaluate the existing motor and drive, compare replacement options, and identify the appropriate WEG drive family, voltage, duty rating, enclosure, and accessories.
Our support extends beyond the drive itself. State also provides motor repair and rewinding, custom control panels, drive-sizing assistance, and replacement sourcing to help address the complete motor-control application.
For faster identification, provide the existing drive model number along with clear photos of the motor and drive nameplates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which WEG CFW drive is a good fit when control-panel space is limited?
The WEG CFW320 is designed for compact machinery and straightforward motor-control applications where panel space, simple setup, and reliable operation are priorities. Typical applications include small pumps and fans, conveyors, packaging equipment, and compact OEM machinery.
Which WEG CFW drive is available for washdown or exposed installations?
The WEG CFW500 is available in IP20 and IP66/NEMA 4X configurations. The IP66/NEMA 4X option can be useful for applications that require greater protection from water, dust, and other environmental conditions. The appropriate enclosure should still be selected according to the specific installation environment.
Which WEG CFW drive is designed for heavy-duty process applications?
The CFW900 is the strongest fit among these three families for demanding industrial systems. Typical applications include heavy-duty conveyors, high-performance pumps and fans, extruders, crushers, mills, and process lines.
The CFW900 is intended for larger, higher-performance, or highly integrated systems, including applications using permanent-magnet motors. Final selection should be based on motor current, supply voltage, load profile, control requirements, and installation environment.
What voltage and horsepower ranges are available?
Available ratings depend on drive family, input voltage and phase, enclosure type, and normal-duty or heavy-duty requirements:
- CFW320: 1/4 to 10 hp, with 110–127, 200–240, and 380–480 VAC input configurations
- CFW500:1/3 to 175 hp, with 200–240, 380–480, and selected 500–600 VAC input configurations
- CFW900:1-1/2 to 650 hp, with the referenced U.S. selection tables covering 200–240 and 380–480 VAC configurations
What voltage and horsepower options are available?
Available ratings depend on the drive family, input voltage and phase, enclosure, and normal-duty or heavy-duty requirements. WEG’s current U.S. catalog lists the following overall ranges:
- CFW320: 1/4 to 10 hp, with 110–127, 200–240, and 380–480 VAC input configurations
- CFW500: 1/3 to 175 hp, with 200–240, 380–480, and selected 500–600 VAC configurations
- CFW900: 1-1/2 to 650 hp, with current U.S. selection tables covering 200–240 and 380–480 VAC configurations
Not every horsepower is available at every voltage, input phase, enclosure, or duty rating. The exact catalog number should therefore be selected using the motor’s full-load current and the available line power.
Do WEG CFW drives support industrial communications?
Yes, but the available capabilities depend on the drive family and configuration. The CFW500 provides expanded communication options for machinery and general industrial applications, while the CFW900 is designed for applications requiring more extensive system integration and built-in communications. The required protocol should be confirmed before selecting a catalog number.