Sprint Electric JL270 - 160 kW, 270A Three-Phase Slip Ring Motor Drive
The Sprint Electric JL270 is a high-performance digital 2-quadrant AC slip ring motor drive that is especially designed for controlling high-power wound rotor motors in demanding conditions across various industries. Rated at 160 kW and 270 A at 415V AC, the JL270 provides accurate motor control while supporting the characteristics and operating requirements of AC slip ring motors.
Part of the Sprint Electric JL range, the JL270 combines digital control, configurable I/O, programmable drive functions, and extensive protection features in a compact IEC-dimensioned enclosure. It is suitable for industrial installations where reliable torque and speed control of a slip ring motor is needed.
Industrial Motor Warehouse supplies the JL270 with expert UK technical support and worldwide shipping.
Sprint Electric JL270 Technical Specifications
| Specification | JL270 |
|---|---|
| Drive type | Digital 2-quadrant AC slip-ring motor controller |
| Motor type | AC slip ring/wound rotor motor |
| Rated output power | Up to 160kW |
| Rated output current | 271A |
| Supply voltage | 12-500VAC |
| Rating at 415V AC | 160kW |
| Approx. HP at 415v AC | 210 HP |
| Quadrants | 2Q |
| Width | 216mm |
| Height | 410mm |
| Depth | 218mm |
| Feedback options | Encoder, tachogenerator and armature voltage feedback |
| Encoder frequency | Up to 100 kHz |
| Analogue inputs | 8 configurable |
| Analogue outputs | 4 |
| Digital inputs | 17 configurable |
| Digital outputs | 7 |
| Manufacturer | Sprint Electric |
What is the Sprint Electric JL270?
The JL270 is designed specifically for AC slip ring motor control, also known as wound rotor motor control. Different from a standard squirrel-cage induction motor, a slip-ring motor provides access to the rotor circuit through slip rings. This design allows additional control of rotor characteristics and has historically been used for applications needing high starting torque and controlled acceleration.
The JL270 provides digital control of the motor system while using configurable inputs, outputs, feedback, and protection functions.
Its 2-quadrant configuration allows controlled and precise monitoring as well as braking operation within the operating envelope of the drive. For applications that need 4-quadrant operation, Sprint Electric’s JLX variants provide the corresponding 4Q architecture.
Designed for Wound Rotor Motor Applications
A wound rotor motor drive needs to account for the electrical and control characteristics of a slip ring induction motor. The JL270 is designed specifically for this class of motor rather than being a generic variable speed drive.
Typical applications include:
- Heavy-duty material handling
- Cranes and hoists
- Conveyors
- Mills and processing equipment
- Winches
- Large industrial machinery
- Applications using existing AC slip ring motors
- Industrial machinery requiring controlled acceleration and deceleration
However, the suitability of a specific drive depends on the motor’s rated voltage, current, power, rotor configuration, feedback arrangements, and mechanical load. Motor and drive ratings should therefore be examined or checked before commissioning or replacing.
Digital Control and Programmable Functions
The JL270 incorporates a range of functions that allow the drive to be configured for various industrial applications and control requirements.
Available functions include:
- Two programmable PID functions
- Current profiling
- Centre-winding macros
- Motorised potentiometer simulation
- Jog and crawl functions
- Spindle orientation
- Slack take-up
- Draw control
- Batch counting
- Linear and S-ramp acceleration/braking
- Dual-motor swap
- Auto self-turning current loop
- Three user-programmable drive configurations
These functions allow the Sprint Electric JL series to be adapted to different machine-control requirements without relying solely on external control hardware.
Feedback and Speed Regulation
Accurate feedback is important where an AC slip ring motor needs controlled speed regulation.
The JL270 supports various feedback configurations, including error and tachogenerator feedback. Sprint Electric specifies steady-state accuracy of up to 0.01% with encoder feedback and digital reference, while analogue tachogenerator feedback is specified at 0.1%. The drive also supports encoder frequencies up to 100kHz.
This makes the JL270 appropriate for applications where maintaining controlled motor speed is more important than simply providing basic motor starting and stopping.
Protection and Monitoring
Industrial drives operating high-power motors need protection against both electrical and thermal faults. The JL270 includes a comprehensive range of monitoring and protection functions.
Protection features include:
- Instantaneous over-current protection
- Field failure and over-current monitoring
- Motor over-temperature protection
- Thyristor stack over-temperature protection
- Mains phase-loss detection
- Mains synchronisation-loss detection
- Armature over-voltage protection
- Speed-feedback failure detection
- Stall protection
- Standstill logic
- Thyristor trigger-failure detection
- Digital output short-circuit protection
Sprint Electric JL Range for Slip Ring Motors
The JL270 sits within the wider Sprint Electric JL range, providing multiple current and power ratings for different AC slip ring motor applications.
Industrial Motor Warehouse currently lists JL models including:
| Model | Power @ 415V | Output Current |
|---|---|---|
| JL130 | 75kW | 130A |
| JL170 | 100kW | 170A |
| JL220 | 130kW | 220A |
| JL270 | 160kW | 270A |
| JL370 | 215kW | 370A |
| JL450 | 260kW | 450A |
In Comparison: JL270 vs Conventional AC Motor Controller
A conventional inverter-based AC controller is generally designed around squirrel-cage induction motors and variable frequency operation. A dedicated Sprint Electric AC slip ring motor controller, by contrast, is engineered around the requirements of wound rotor motor systems.
| Feature | Sprint Electric JL270 | Conventional VFD |
|---|---|---|
| Motor type | AC slip ring motor | Typically squirrel-cage induction motor |
| Rotor access | Slip ring /wound rotor architecture | No external rotor circuit |
| Control architecture | Digital 2Q slip ring motor control | Variable-frequency control |
| Rated JL270 output | Up to 160 kW | Depends on VFD |
| Feedback | Encoder/tacho/AVF options | Model dependent |
| Programmability | Extensive built-in functions | Model dependent |
| Application focus | High-power wound rotor systems | General AC motor applications |
Replacement for Existing Slip Ring Motor Control Systems
The JL270 can be particularly relevant where an existing industrial installation uses an older slip ring motor system and replacement components are becoming difficult to source.
Before specifying the replacement, engineers should verify:
- Motor rated power and current
- Supply voltage and frequency
- Slip ring motor configuration
- Existing rotor/control arrangement
- Required operating quadrants
- Speed-feedback device
- Required braking characteristics
- Acceleration and braking requirements
- Existing control-panel dimensions
- Protection and interlocking requirements
Order Sprint Electric JL270 from Industrial Motor Warehouse
Industrial Motor Warehouse supplies the Sprint Electric JL270 for industrial slip ring and wound rotor motor applications. With UK technical support available for drive selection, industries can buy the most suitable option.
If you are replacing an existing slip ring motor drive, provide the nameplate details, existing drive model, supply voltage, and application information. The Industrial Motor Warehouse engineering team can help determine whether the JL270 is the correct replacement or not.
Need help to search the correct Sprint Electric drive? Contact the Industrial Motor Warehouse engineering team for technical assistance, sizing support, or a quotation.