Protection Features; How It Works - Franklin Electric Fhoton Drive Guide D'installation

Protection Features

Electronic monitoring gives the controller the capability to monitor the system and automatically shut down in the event of:
• Dry well conditions – with smart pump monitoring
• Bound pump – with auto retry
• High voltage surge
• Low input voltage
• Open motor circuit
• Short circuit
• Overheat
• Dead-head/no flow conditions (when using a flow switch)
NOTE: This drive provides motor overload protection by preventing motor current from exceeding service factor amps. This drive does not
provide over-temperature sensing of the motor.

How it Works

The Fhoton™ Drive system serves to provide water in remote applications where electrical grid power is either unreliable or unavailable.
The system pumps water using a DC power source such as an array of solar panels. Since the sun is only available during certain hours of
the day and only in good weather conditions, the water is generally pumped into a storage tank. Up to two level switches can be installed
inside the tank to regulate the water level. A flow switch detects if flow is below critical levels while the pump is still running. This serves
as an indication that the well has run dry, or that insufficient power is available to continue pumping. The system will shut down to
protect the pump and motor until the well, or adequate electric power, has recovered.
The Fhoton™ Drive runs at variable speed to match the changing power available from the PV solar array. Variable speed operation means
there is no in-rush or surge of energy during the pump/motor start-up, thus reducing wear on the motor and pumping system. A leading
cause of pump motor failure is the stress applied to the motor during a full voltage start-up. The Fhoton™ Drive variable speed operation
ramps up the speed smoothly, which reduces starting stress. This feature enhances long-term motor reliability (see Motor Soft-Start on
page 8).
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