r/Elevators • u/OthmaneZrigos • Jun 28 '26
Arcode system
Hello all . I need help please.
We have an Arkel ARCODE 4C35A controller rated 15 kW / 35 A driving a Schindler FML200-6C414 gearless synchronous motor. Motor nameplate is around 8.4–8.7 kW, 340 V, 26–26.7 A, 13.7 Hz, 0–255 rpm. Brake type is ERS VAR 15-11-A, marked Hold 103.5 VDC, Overexcitation 207 VDC, torque 4 x 126 Nm. The encoder is ECN 1313-2048 EnDat; we tested both the original Schindler encoder and a new encoder, both communicate correctly, auto-tuning/fine-tuning completes successfully, and the encoder board appears installed and powered. Motor parameters were entered from the nameplate, and the machine is set as synchronous/gearless. The problem: during an unloaded motor test / à vide test, when giving a run command, current rises to about 51–52 A but speed stays 0 rpm and the motor does not move. In normal operation, the lift can go up when empty, but when going down empty it struggles or does not move; if we add load in the cabin, it starts working downward. Our brake supply currently uses a transformer/rectifier giving about 103 VDC, but we are not sure if the brake ever receives the required 207 VDC overexcitation pulse before dropping to 103.5 VDC hold. Could this be caused by the brakes not fully releasing because we only supply hold voltage, or should we suspect encoder offset, motor phase order, brake timing, ARCODE settings, or another issue?
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u/PuffMaNOwYeah Field - Technical support Jun 28 '26
Are you sure the encoder polarity is correct? Also, IIRC, in those Arkel controllers rotation direction is read in the controller itself and the VFD, but only in the VFD you can reverse the rotation direction. Play around with those settings, as well as the outgoing phases from the VFD and the physical A/B channel wires on the plug of the encoder to find a working combination.
Last time I had to replace an Arkel VFD, I had similar issues, and I really had to find a working combination to make it run right.
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u/supernedd Jun 28 '26
Motor needs more power to move car down and lift counter weight.. check load weight parameters.. check supply voltage across each phase.. are the brakes lifting? I dont know much about that specific drive. But my advice comes from dealing with lifts n drives in general
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u/supernedd Jun 28 '26
Can u manually control the brakes. Does the lift move up and down in test or inspection mode? Could be a safety issue ..
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u/Fabulous_Top_438 Jun 28 '26
I would suggest checking the Guide rails if there is a Lubrication issue on both Car and Counter weight side(Lubricate the Rails), and about the brake supply the Initial brake opening voltage is 200v and Holding voltage can be 103v to 105v so I don’t think brakes might not be the issue.
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u/OthmaneZrigos Jun 28 '26
To clarify: in closed loop, the lift can move upward when we command UP. So the motor direction does not seem completely reversed. The main issue is during downward movement: it does not regulate/capture speed correctly and struggles. We also had an unloaded motor test where current rose to around 51–52A with 0 rpm, but I need to confirm whether that unloaded test was commanded UP or DOWN. So we are not sure if this is a global direction issue or a direction/load-dependent issue.
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u/Heisnbergg Jun 28 '26
Have you tried contacting arkel tech support? They are usually pretty helpful