Powerboss-Frequently Asked Questions

How does Powerboss stop water hammer?

Water hammer generally happens when you turn off a water flow suddenly, but can also happen when initiating the water flow. Shutting off the flow suddenly sends a pressure or shock wave down the water line through the water shocking the pipes and creating the 'hammer' noise.  These shock waves travel faster than the speed of sound and can exert very great  instantaneous pressures.  Over time, water hammer can damage pipes, valves and eventually weaken pipe joints. By controlling the speed of the motor at startup and shutdown, the liquid flow is changed at a controlled pace which eliminates or greatly reduces the resulting water hammer effect. (This will greatly reduce the maintenance requirements for the pipe structure supporting the liquid flow.) Powerboss incorporates soft starting and soft stopping functionality with its unique energy savings functionality to help eliminate water hammer and reduce energy consumption. The soft stop feature of Powerboss is available in three phase units only.

What types of applications are best suited for Powerboss?

Applications should be constant speed and variable load and run for at least 8 Hrs per day. Although not necessary, a system that has a load and unload state can typically see better results than a constant loaded system. However, a powerful feature of Powerboss is the ability to implement a 'voltage capping' feature. When this mode is engaged, the motor voltage is optimized by dialing down the necessary voltage to the minimum amount required to perform the proper work.  Voltage savings can be from 5%-40% depending on the motor. Other strong candidates are applications where the motor is oversized for the work being performed.

Powerboss also has many additional features such as soft-start, soft-stop, auto shut-off, stored energy, etc. that provide substantial benefits when implemented in the proper situations

What is Soft Starting?

Many electronic devices will consume a large initial current when first turned on (i.e. Inrush current) that can cause voltage fluctuations and affect the performance of other circuits connected to a common power supply. The current drawn by an electric motor during a start can be 2 to 10 times the normal operating current, and this can exceed the supply's ratings if not controlled. To counteract this issue, a soft starter can be added in series to throttle back the current initially as the device comes online.

Is Powerboss a VFD?

No, Powerboss is not a VFD. Powerboss does not change the speed of the motor and in fact is not suitable for applications that require a VFD. Powerboss does however, provide savings and maintenance benefits without impacting the resultant output of the motor.

Why did the name change from Motorboss to Powerboss?

Powerboss is the worldwide name used for this product. This name was already being used in the US by Minuteman for their line of commercial cleaning equipment. For this reason, Powerboss was originally sold as Motorboss in the United States. The two manufacturers have come to an agreement and the Powerboss name is now being used in the US for our outstanding energy savings product.

Is Powerboss a PFC Capacitor?

No, Powerboss is not a PFC Capacitor. Depending on what you are trying to accomplish with a PFC capacitor, Powerboss may or may not be a solution for you. For PFC capacitors that are spread across many motors, Powerboss can provide additional benefits at each specific motor. For those that are specific to a motor, the PFC capacitor would have to be removed prior to Powerboss installation. If your load on a motor is constant the entire time the motor is running, a PFC capacitor may be a better solution than a Powerboss unit.

Basically, Powerboss is more intelligent and solves a problem with variable load on motors unlike the PFC capacitors which are for steady loads. Capacitors correct for only reactive inductance whereas Powerboss corrects all three sides of the power triangle resulting in improvements all around. So if you have cases where a PFC capacitor is installed on a motor with variable loads, Powerboss may be an alternative for you to look at.

Which types of motors cannot benefit from Powerboss?

Powerboss cannot be fitted to the following types of motors:

• Any DC Motor
• Universal Motors, which is a motor fitted with a commutator and brushes
• Stepper Motors
• Switch Reluctance Motors
• Variable Voltage Motors
• Synchronous Motors

What is the process to determine the VXI Solutions and Powerboss can provide benefits to my company?

VXI Solutions will come to your site and perform a full site survey and analysis of your motors and their applications. During this analysis, we will measure:

• Voltage - Average, Minimum and Maximum
• Current (Amperage) - Starting Demand, Average, Loaded and Unloaded
• Energy (kWh) - Starting Demand, Loaded, Unloaded and consumption over a period of time
• Reactive Energy (kVar) - Starting Demand, Loaded, Unloaded and Average
• Power Factor (Efficiency) - Loaded, Unloaded and overall Average Efficiency

Upon completion, a comprehensive report will give you accurate energy usage information on your electric motors. This is more than simply reading the face plates on the motors...we will connect our energy analyzer to each motor and determine how your motor is currently performing and how much it is costing you to run it. Based on this analysis, we will determine which motors can benefit from a Powerboss solution and present this analysis to you.

The information contained in the analysis can be a key part of your organization's effort of reducing energy consumption and lowering utility costs.

Can Powerboss be fitted on more than one motor at a time?

In most cases No. However, if the motors are of the same specification, type, and share a common load Powerboss can be fitted to multi motor applications. Powerboss must be sized using the total kW rating of all the motors added together.

What happens if Powerboss fails?

In the rare circumstances of unit failure Powerboss can be configured to run in the ‘Emergency Run’ mode. All soft start features will be bypassed and the unit will run at full voltage. This feature will only work if the PCB is undamaged.

What is the present range of Powerboss units?

The 3 Phase Powerboss is available in 22 models ranging between 1.5HP to 1100HP. The single phase Powerboss is available in 4 models ranging between 3/4HP - 4HP.

The Powerboss MB is available in four models ranging 6 to 20 amps @ 110 to 220 Volts. Frequency and voltage must be specified at the time of order.

If you have an additional question that is not covered here, please contact VXI Solutions at info@vxisolutions.com.