01
VFD faults and alarms
Drive trips, failed displays, incorrect operation, motor faults and control-signal issues affecting exhaust or make-up air fans.
Existing commercial kitchen systems
Kitchen Exhaust VFDs, Controls & Interlocks
Fault diagnosis, replacement, programming and upgrades for VFDs, starters and the controls connecting kitchen exhaust, make-up air, ESP, ozone and fire systems.
NSW Licence 385443C
Fully Insured
Commercial Specialists
Sydney + Wollongong
What we work on
Controls for the complete ventilation system
We diagnose individual components and how they interact. That matters when one alarm, relay or incorrect parameter can stop several items of equipment.
02
VFD replacement
Selection and programming of a suitable replacement drive for the existing motor, supply and control arrangement.
03
DOL starters
Contactors, overloads, control circuits, isolators and starter replacement for fixed-speed ventilation equipment.
04
Speed controls
Assessment of existing speed control, operating limits and compatibility with the connected fan and motor.
05
Fire-trip controls
Relays and shutdown interfaces associated with the building fire signal and ventilation equipment operation.
06
Equipment interlocks
Control sequencing between kitchen exhaust, make-up air, ESP, ozone and related ventilation equipment.
Connected equipment
Interlocks should make the system behave as one
Exhaust and make-up air
Start, stop and operating relationships between the exhaust fan and replacement-air equipment.
ESP systems
Enable signals and fault relationships between electrostatic filtration equipment and the ventilation system.
Ozone equipment
Control arrangements intended to prevent ozone equipment operating without the required exhaust airflow.
Building fire signal
Fire-trip relays and interfaces must follow the documented fire and mechanical-services control requirements.
Our process
Diagnose before changing parameters
STEP 01
Record the system
We identify the drive, motor, connected equipment, control signals and reported fault.
STEP 02
Test the fault
Relevant supplies, inputs, outputs, alarms, controls and connected equipment are assessed.
STEP 03
Confirm the scope
You receive the findings and recommended repair, replacement or rectification work.
STEP 04
Program and test
Approved work is completed and the operating sequence is tested within the agreed scope.
VFD retrofit considerations
A drive must suit more than the motor kilowatts
A reliable retrofit considers the motor, electrical supply, load, installation environment, control signals and required ventilation performance.
- Motor voltage and current
- Motor and fan compatibility
- Minimum operating speed
- Acceleration and deceleration
- Local and remote commands
- Fire-trip behaviour
- Equipment interlocks
- Fault and reset strategy
Related services
Controls are only part of the repair
Customer feedback
Technical work explained in plain English
★★★★★
“Thai and the team at Altruism NSW were brilliant — excellent communication, high quality professional work, super quick response times. Thai is very good at explaining technical matters in plain English.”Nicholas Vardakis · Google review
Frequently asked
Kitchen ventilation controls
What is a VFD on a kitchen exhaust fan?
A variable frequency drive, also commonly called a VSD, controls the speed and starting of a compatible three-phase motor. It can provide controlled acceleration, speed adjustment and integration with other controls.
Can you replace and program an existing VFD?
Yes. We diagnose failed or unreliable drives and can select, replace and program a suitable VFD for existing commercial kitchen ventilation equipment.
Can you convert an existing fan from DOL starting to VFD control?
Where the motor, electrical supply, fan and application are suitable, we can assess a DOL-to-VFD retrofit and the required control changes.
Does installing a VFD automatically make the system compliant?
No. The VFD is one component. Required exhaust performance, airflow, minimum speed, make-up air, fire operation and other system requirements must still be assessed and commissioned.
Can you interlock the exhaust fan with make-up air or ESP equipment?
Yes. We diagnose and rectify control relationships between existing exhaust, make-up air, ESP, ozone and associated equipment, subject to the documented operating requirements.
Do you work on ABB drives?
Yes. We work with ABB ACH-series drives commonly used on ventilation systems, as well as other suitable commercial drives.
What to send with a drive or interlock enquiry
Tell us the displayed alarm exactly as it appears, when it occurs and which equipment stops. Note whether the issue happens at start-up, during normal operation or when another item starts or stops.
If you already have the drive model, motor details, drawings or recent service notes, include them with the enquiry. Existing photos of the display and labels can help; do not remove covers or approach unsafe equipment to obtain them.
Include any recent changes you know about, such as a motor replacement, cleaning visit, control work or change in operation. This history helps define the assessment; it is not enough on its own to confirm the cause.
A fault code is a starting point
The same visible symptom can have different causes. A useful diagnosis should explain what was observed, what has been confirmed and what remains to be tested. Replacing the drive or changing a setting before understanding the fault may leave the underlying problem unresolved.
Ask for a scope that identifies the equipment being assessed, the findings and any proposed repair or replacement. Where the work affects connected equipment, the handover should describe which functions were checked and any unresolved limitations.
What information helps with a VFD alarm?
The exact message, drive model if known, when it appears, which equipment stops and any recent changes. Keep the wording of the alarm rather than paraphrasing it.
Should I increase the speed if extraction is poor?
Do not change operating settings to compensate for an unexplained fault. Arrange an assessment of the system and its documented operating requirements.
Can an ESP fault affect the ventilation controls?
The answer depends on how that system is documented and connected. Describe what each item is doing and provide any available drawings. Do not assume a universal operating sequence or bypass an interlock.
Can a replacement drive use the old settings?
Settings require review for the actual motor, equipment and control arrangement. This page does not prescribe settings or endorse copying parameters without assessment.
Request a VFD or interlock fault assessment
Send the exact displayed alarm and existing equipment information with your enquiry.
VFD alarm or control fault?
Request an assessment, then email photos of the drive display, motor nameplate and control equipment to our service team.