VFD Capacitor Reforming: Keep Your Spare Drives Ready for Startup
Many facilities purchase variable frequency drives (VFDs) well before they are needed. Whether they are ordered as critical spare parts, held for an upcoming expansion, or purchased to avoid long lead times, these drives often remain in storage for months or even years before they are put into service. The challenge is that long-term storage can affect the electrolytic capacitors inside the drive. Most original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) recommend capacitor reforming before a drive is energized after two years or more in storage. This process helps restore the capacitor's insulating layer and reduces the risk of damage when full voltage is applied.
For most spare VFD owners, the biggest obstacle isn't understanding the need for capacitor reforming; it's getting the work done. Shipping large VFDs to a service center can be expensive, time-consuming, and difficult to coordinate. When multiple drives need attention, transportation costs and equipment downtime can quickly add up.
The Reynolds Company provides capacitor reforming services for Allen-Bradley® drives as well as VFDs from other manufacturers, helping you protect your investment regardless of the OEM. Using portable test equipment, our technicians reform on-site and can service multiple drives in the same visit. Before reforming your drives, we review your stored drive inventory, identify which units require reforming, and establish the scope of work. The duration of the capacitor reforming process depends on how long the drives have been in storage and OEM recommendations. Each serviced drive is tagged with the reforming date and any drives that have been identified as defective are documented for follow-up.
By bringing this service directly to your site, you can avoid unnecessary shipping costs, prepare your stored drives for reliable startup, and gain better visibility into the condition of your spare parts inventory. If your production relies on the readiness of spare drives, regular capacitor reforming is a proactive practice that can reduce unexpected downtime and protect your investments.
Looking for more information?
If you would like to schedule one of our technicians to come to your site for capacitor reforming, contact our team with the link below and someone will get back with you shortly.