CoolBLUE® and NaLA®

A MORE Powerful Solution

Common Mode Choke Application Guide for Motor Bearing and Stray Ground Currents

MH&W presents CoolBLUE® common mode chokes, Common mode currents will cause bearing damage in
and NaLA® differential line chokes, for the highest the motor, and electromagnetic interference which
reliability and longevity of your VFD motor system! affects control signals, encoder feedback,
VFD’s create high frequency damaging motor bearing communication links for programmable logic
and high frequency circulating currents. If these controllers, Remote I/O, metal detectors, pump
currents aren’t “choked” – bearing damage, monitors, and other types of sensors including,
lubrication breakdown, electrical discharge ultrasonic sensors, bar code/vision systems, weight
machining (EDM), and sensor interference will result. and temperature sensors. Conducted ground current
CoolBLUE® with NaLA® absorbs this high frequency also leads to radiated emissions, with the drive cables
damaging current before it gets to the motor. acting as antennas.
CoolBLUE® cores act as a common mode choke by
absorbing the damaging high frequency noise, so you
can maximize equipment reliability, reduce
maintenance costs and avoid unscheduled downtime.

CoolBLUE® and NaLA® solutions are used in:

High Frequency Noise Fluting from • OEM manufacturers of HVAC equipment
Generated by VFD Common Mode Currents • All International VFD manufacturers
• Paper/bottling/food/chemical manufacturing
What is a common mode choke? • Hospital, office, and commercial buildings
• Automotive manufacturing
In electronics, a choke is a specially designed inductor • Electric vehicle (EV) applications
used to block high frequency alternating current in an • All types of pumps and fans
electrical circuit, while passing designed frequency • Wind, solar, and other renewable energies
currents. The name “choke” comes from "choking" No Maintenance…unlike diverter rings which are
higher, unwanted, frequencies. subject to rust, dirt, grease, and worn grounding
In common mode noise situations, such as the noise brushes. CoolBLUE® eliminates the need for ceramic
generated from a VFD (IGBT switching), noise is going bearings.
out simultaneously from all outputs, but also coupling The CoolBLUE® cores have already saved millions of
back to earth ground. The only solution is to absorb $$ in the world’s industrial plants, hospitals, and
the unwanted noise and keep it from being office buildings by avoiding down time and
transmitted and coupling back to earth ground. To do equipment failures.
this, high frequency currents should be captured
To achieve an effective reduction in destructive
through a magnetic core. CoolBLUE® is used in this
currents, the appropriate amount, and type, of
application to provide high impedance at the
CoolBLUE® and NaLA® cores must be placed in series
unwanted high frequency.
over the line power cables at the VFD output. In this
configuration, the cores operate as common mode
and differential mode chokes.
This method significantly increases the service life of
the motor bearings and reduces EMI, thereby
reducing maintenance costs and standstill periods.

MH&W International Corp. http://www.coolblue-mhw.com

(201) 252-8125 [email protected]
Rev. 6.1
 CoolBLUE® and NaLA®
A MORE Powerful Solution
Common Mode Choke Application Guide for Motor Bearing and Stray Ground Currents

VFD Application Guide - CoolBLUE® cores per horsepower/cable length

Power Range Per Drive Number of Cores per Cable Length*
Rated Horsepower
Part Number 1-150ft 151-300ft 301-450ft 451-900ft**
CBO43HP1/4-50A4 1/4 to 10 2 4 6 8
CBO43HP1/4-50A4 11 to 50 4 4 6 8
CBO68HP51-100A6 51 to 100 4 4 6 8
CBO155HP101-428A12 101 to 428 4 4 6 8
CBR166HP429-1631A16 429 to 1631 4 4 6 8
CBO326HP1632+A23 1632 and over 4 4 6 8

VFD Application Guide - NaLA® cores per horsepower/cable length

Power Range Per Drive Number of Cores per Cable Length*
Rated Horsepower
Part Number 1-150ft 151-300ft 301-450ft 451-900ft**
N18HP1/4-10 1/4 to 10 2 3 4 5
N18HP11-40 11 to 40 1 2 3 4
N29HP41-102 41 to 102 1 2 3 4
N57HP103-428 103 to 428 1 2 3 4
N75HP429-1631 429 to 1631 1 2 3 4
N123HP1632+ 1632 and over 1 2 3 4
Notes:
1 - Data above is for information/guideline purposes.
2 - All cables/phases must travel through the CoolBLUE® cores. NaLA® cores are installed around each individual power cable, regardless of
how many cables. Per application guide, NaLA® cores are per cable. No ground or shielding through cores!
3 - On motors up to 10hp, two turns are needed through the CoolBLUE® cores (pass cable through cores twice).
4 - It is important to use the correct number and type of cores.
5 - For servo and DC motors, please call CoolBLUE® Engineering.
6 - Install cores on load side of drive for typical motor applications. Cores may be installed on line side of VFD as well to reduce conductive and
radiated emissions back to the power grid.
7 - CoolBLUE® offers brackets, and cable ties to hold cores in place. Please call CoolBLUE® Engineering for alternative methods.

* Cable length between drive and motor must be multiplied by the number of cables per phase, to calculate the total cable length to be used in above guide for
CoolBLUE®. The actual length of each cable, is used in the NaLA® guide.
** For cable runs over 950ft, contact CoolBLUE® Engineering.
Contact your local CoolBLUE® Engineer for detailed information.

Installation videos can be found at: www.coolblue-mhw.com/installation/

Call CoolBLUE® at 201-252-8125, visit at http://www.CoolBLUE-MHW.com or email [email protected]

MH&W International Corp. http://www.coolblue-mhw.com

(201) 252-8125 [email protected]
Rev. 6.1