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A variable-frequency drive can look deceptively simple. Connect the power, enter the motor data, press Start and watch the motor turn.
Then an overvoltage fault appears during deceleration. Or the motor runs backwards. Perhaps the drive refuses to accept the start command, even though the wiring looks perfectly reasonable.
That is when proper VFD training starts paying for itself.
The Udemy course Variable Frequency Drives – Wire, Setup, Troubleshoot VFDs teaches how drives work, how to wire and configure them, and what to check when something goes wrong. I believe it is a very good course for electricians and maintenance technicians who want practical VFD knowledge rather than a brief theoretical overview.
[Variable Frequency Drives – Wire-Setup-Troubleshoot VFDs]
What Does the Course Cover?
Created by Norman Burton, the course contains six sections, 52 lectures and approximately 8 hours and 52 minutes of video. The current Udemy listing shows a 4.8 rating, more than 3,400 students, and both Bestseller and Highest Rated badges. It was last updated in April 2025.
The curriculum covers:
- VFD operating principles
- Drive and motor selection
- Power and control wiring
- Two-wire and three-wire control
- Sinking and sourcing inputs
- Motor nameplate parameters
- Acceleration and deceleration settings
- Analogue speed references
- Reactors and braking resistors
- Auto-tuning and commissioning
- Fault codes and troubleshooting
- VFD maintenance and DC bus capacitor reforming
That is a useful spread. The course does not stop after explaining frequency and motor speed. It follows the drive through installation, programming, operation and eventual fault-finding.
Real VFD Wiring Examples
One of the strongest sections covers actual power and control connections.
Students learn how to identify line inputs, motor outputs, DC bus terminals and braking-resistor connections. The instructor also discusses cable routing, clean terminations and the importance of keeping control wiring away from power wiring.
The course demonstrates equipment from several manufacturers, including:
- Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 4
- Schneider Electric Altivar 12
- Yaskawa GA500
- Mitsubishi drives
This is useful because terminal names and parameter menus change between manufacturers, while the basic principles remain surprisingly familiar.
Two-Wire and Three-Wire Control
The difference between two-wire and three-wire control often confuses beginners.
This course explains both systems, including how they react after a power failure. It also covers normally closed stop buttons, maintained selector switches, sinking and sourcing inputs, jog commands and multiple-speed operation.
These are not merely classroom topics. A poorly considered restart setting can cause machinery to begin moving when power returns. Not ideal. The course repeatedly connects programming choices with real safety and operating consequences.
Commissioning Software and Practical Applications
A large section uses Schneider Electric’s SoMove software to create offline projects, enter motor data, perform auto-tuning and monitor drive variables.
Practical examples include a ventilation fan, a forward-and-reverse conveyor, and a pump controlled by an analogue signal from an ultrasonic level sensor. Students also see how to use monitoring tools and review stored fault history.
The course additionally uses a Yaskawa GA500 simulator, allowing learners to practise parameter setup without owning that specific drive.
Troubleshooting and Maintenance
VFDs are excellent at reporting that something is wrong. Unfortunately, the fault code does not always tell you exactly why it happened.
The troubleshooting section examines fault codes, possible causes, reset methods, monitoring values and historical fault records. Maintenance topics include cooling, inspections and procedures for reforming DC bus capacitors after long-term storage.
Who Is This Course For?
This course should suit:
- Industrial electricians
- Maintenance technicians
- Automation engineers
- HVAC technicians
- Electrical students
- Machine builders
- Anyone regularly working with motors and drives
Some electrical experience will help, especially when reading schematics and understanding three-phase motors.
Are There Any Downsides?
The course introduces several drive brands, but it cannot cover every parameter found in every VFD family. Someone working exclusively with newer Siemens, ABB or Danfoss drives will still need the correct manufacturer manuals.
Physical hardware would also improve the learning experience. Simulators and video demonstrations are useful, but nothing replaces wiring a real drive, entering one wrong parameter and wondering why the motor sounds unhappy.
Final Verdict
Variable Frequency Drives – Wire, Setup, Troubleshoot VFDs is a very good practical course for learning how modern drives are selected, wired, commissioned and diagnosed.
Its greatest strength is the balance between theory and field work. You learn why the VFD behaves as it does, but you also see terminals, wiring diagrams, parameter menus and realistic applications.
Check the current course price and availability here: