ABB AC Drive Series Explained: ACS, ACH, and ACQ Low Voltage with Options
ABB’s ACS, ACH, ACQ, and ACS880 drive families make up one of the most versatile low-voltage AC drive portfolios on the market, covering everything from compact OEM machinery to large-scale industrial processes. The ACS355, ACS580, ACH580, ACQ580, and ACS880 series all share ABB’s “all-compatible” design philosophy, meaning that they can be adapted to a wide variety of motors, applications, and control systems while maintaining consistent installation, programming, and service practices.
Each series is built with a specific end user in mind: the ACS355 is a compact, cost-effective machinery drive; the ACS580 serves as a general-purpose workhorse; the ACH580 is optimized for HVAC systems; the ACQ580 specializes in pumping and water/wastewater control; and the ACS880 provides a flagship industrial platform capable of handling high power, demanding environments, and complex automation tasks. What sets these drives apart is not only their base performance but also the extensive range of factory-configured “+” options that allow them to be tailored to nearly any application. With options covering enclosures (such as IP66/67 for harsh environments), communication protocols (PROFIBUS, Modbus, Ethernet/IP, BACnet, and more), control panels, encoder feedback, safety modules, I/O extensions, and even firmware for high-speed or solar pumping applications, ABB drives can be configured to fit precise system requirements. These add-on codes, marked with a “+” after the base part number, simplify ordering and ensure that customers receive a drive pre-built with the exact hardware or software features needed. The result is a scalable, customizable platform that provides reliable performance across industries ranging from building automation to manufacturing, pumping, and heavy industrial operations.
ABB Low-Voltage AC Drives Portfolio
To help simplify drive selection, the following overview summarizes ABB’s low-voltage AC drive portfolio, organized by series, application focus, and key specifications. The table highlights each family’s typical power range, supported voltage classes, available enclosure options, and notes on legacy or replacement models. This quick reference makes it easier to identify which ABB drive best aligns with specific requirements—from compact OEM machinery and HVAC systems to water/wastewater pumping and large-scale industrial automation.
| Series | Application / Family | Typical Power Range | Voltage Classes | Enclosure Options | Notes / Replacements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACS180 | Micro / OEM machinery | ~0.25 to 22 kW | 200–240 V, 380–480 V | IP20, panel mount | Successor to ACS150 for small machines |
| ACS355 | Micro / OEM machinery | ~0.37 to 22 kW | 200–240 V, 380–480 V | IP20 | Legacy but very common in OEM builds |
| ACS380 | Machinery drive | ~0.25 to 22 kW | 200–240 V, 380–480 V | IP20 | Flexible for packaging, textiles, etc. |
| ACS310 | Pump & fan (legacy GP) | ~0.37 to 11 kW | 200–240 V, 380–480 V | IP20 | Replaced by ACS480/580 |
| ACS480 | General purpose, compact | ~0.75 to 22 kW | 200–240 V, 380–480 V | IP20, UL Type 1 | Successor to ACS310 |
| ACS550 | General purpose (legacy) | ~0.75 to 355 kW | 200–240 V, 380–480 V, 500–600 V | IP21, IP55 | Replaced by ACS580 |
| ACS580 | General purpose (current) | ~0.75 to 500 kW | 200–240 V, 380–480 V, 500–600 V | IP20, UL Type 1, IP55 | Core “all-compatible” GP line |
| ACH550 | HVAC (legacy) | ~0.75 to 355 kW | 200–240 V, 380–480 V, 500–600 V | UL Type 1, IP54 | Replaced by ACH580 |
| ACH580 | HVAC / Building automation | ~0.75 to 250 kW (up to ~500 kW in enclosed packages) | 200–240 V, 380–480 V, 500–600 V | UL Type 1, IP55 | Current HVAC flagship |
| ACQ580 | Water & wastewater | ~0.75 to 500 kW | 200–240 V, 380–480 V, 500–600 V | UL Type 1, IP55 | Optimized for pumping, anti-cavitation |
| ACS880 | Industrial / high-performance | 0.55 kW to 5600 kW (depending on variant) | 200–240 V, 380–480 V, 500–690 V | IP20, UL Type 1, IP55, cabinet systems | Flagship “all-compatible” platform; includes single drives, multidrive, ULH (ultra-low harmonic) |
| ACS800 | Industrial (legacy) | 0.55 kW to 5600 kW | 200–240 V, 380–480 V, 500–690 V | Wide range | Replaced by ACS880 |
ACS580 (General Purpose Drives)
From the ACS580 catalog, the following fieldbus and extension modules are available:
Fieldbus adapter options (+K- codes)
- +K451 – DeviceNet (FDNA‑01)
- +K454 – PROFIBUS‑DP (FPBA‑01)
- +K457 – CANopen (FCAN‑01)
- +K458 – Modbus RTU (FSCA‑01)
- +K462 – ControlNet (FCNA‑01)
- +K469 – EtherCAT (FECA‑01)
- +K470 – POWERLINK (FEPL‑02)
- +K475 – Two‑port Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, PROFINET IO (FENA‑21)
- +K490 – Two‑port Ethernet/IP (FEIP‑21)
- +K491 – Two‑port Modbus/TCP (FMBT‑21)
- +K492 – Two‑port PROFINET IO (FPNO‑21)
I/O and auxiliary extensions (+L- codes)
- +L501 – External 24 V AC/DC, 2 x Relay Output, 1 x Digital Output (CMOD‑01)
- +L523 – External 24 V + isolated PTC interface (CMOD‑02)
- +L512 – 115/230 V digital I/O (6 DI, 2 RO) (CHDI‑01)
- +L537 – ATEX‑certified PTC interface, Ex II (2) GD + external 24 V (CPTC‑02)
- +L500 – Bipolar analog I/O adapter module (CBAI‑01)
ACS880 (Industrial / High-Performance Drives)
The ACS880 catalogs include numerous options, especially around communications, safety, panels, and chassis:
Control panel options (+J- codes)
- +0J400 – No control panel (default)
- +J425 – Industrial assistant control panel (ACS‑AP‑I, without Bluetooth)
- (Also includes Bluetooth panel as standard in some frames, but the specific +J code isn’t explicitly listed there.)
Feedback & communication modules (+L- codes)
- +L517 – TTL encoder interface module (FEN‑01)
- +L518 – SinCos + TTL absolute encoder module (FEN‑11)
- +L516 – Resolver + TTL encoder module (FEN‑21)
- +L502 – HTL encoder module (FEN‑31)
- +L521 – Safety‑grade pulse encoder interface (FSE‑31)
- +L503 – Optical DDCS comm. module (10 Mbd) (FDCO‑01)
- +L508 – Optical DDCS module (5/10 Mbd) (FDCO‑02)
Remote monitoring and safety (+- codes)
- NETA‑21 – Remote monitoring tool (no explicit “+” code given, but understood as an option)
- RMDE – Reliability monitoring device (same note)
Additional “loose option” and safety modules (+ codes)
- Q971 – ATEX‑certified Safe Torque Off (STO)
- Q972 – FSO‑21 safety functions module
- Q973 – FSO‑12 safety functions module
- Q982 – PROFIsafe with FSO‑xx and FENA‑21 Ethernet adapter
- Q986 – PROFIsafe safety module (FSPS‑21)
- L537 – Thermistor protection module
- C135 – Flange mounting
- B056 – IP55 (UL Type 12) protection upgrade
- E200 / 201 / 202 / 208 – Various EMC filter options
- D150 – Brake choppers
- H358 – Cable conduit entry (US/UK)
- P940, P944 – Cabinet mounting versions (module configurations)
- P905, P904, P940, P944, P905 (various internal versioning, extended warranty P904, etc. depending on context)
ACS355 (Micro / Machinery Drives)
Enclosure & High-Protection Options
- +B063 – IP66/67 / UL Type 4X enclosure (indoor)
- +H376 – Cable gland kit (for the IP66/67 build)
- +C169 – Pressure compensation valve
- +H358 – Customizable gland plate
- +F278 – Input/service switch kit (factory-installed variant on the IP66/67 build)
Control Panel / HMI
- +J400 – Assistant control panel (ACS-CP-A)
- +J404 – Basic control panel (ACS-CP-C)
- +J402 – MPOT-01 potentiometer (speed pot & switches)
Fieldbus / Communications (choose one)
- +K451 – DeviceNet (FDNA-01)
- +K452 – LonWorks (FLON-01)
- +K454 – PROFIBUS-DP (FPBA-01)
- +K457 – CANopen (FCAN-01)
- +K458 – Modbus RTU (FMBA-01)
- +K462 – ControlNet (FCNA-01)
- +K466 – 1-port Ethernet/IP, Modbus/TCP, PROFINET IO (FENA-01)
- +K469 – EtherCAT (FECA-01)
- +K470 – POWERLINK (FEPL-02)
- +K473 – 1-port Ethernet/IP, Modbus/TCP, PROFINET IO (FENA-11)
- +K475 – 2-port Ethernet/IP, Modbus/TCP, PROFINET IO (FENA-21)
Extension / I-O Modules (choose one)
- +L502 – Speed/encoder interface module (MTAC-01)
- +L511 – Relay output module (MREL-01)
- +G406 – 24 V auxiliary power extension module (MPOW-01)
Firmware / Application Variants
- +N826 – High-speed application variant (up to 1400 Hz scalar / 32 000 rpm vector; spindle-type uses)
- +N830 – Enhanced sequence programming (up to 16 states, extra logic/positioning features)
- +N827 – Solar pump inverter variant (MPPT & pump functions)
- +N828 – Low ambient start variant (for cold-start conditions)
- +N831 – HVAC BACnet firmware (ACS355 HVAC with BACnet)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I know which ABB drive series fits my application?
Selection depends on your industry and system needs. For example, OEM machinery typically uses ACS355, HVAC systems use ACH580, pumping and water control use ACQ580, while heavy-duty industrial automation often requires ACS880. The ACS580 covers broad, general-purpose needs.
What does “all-compatible” mean in ABB drives?
ABB’s “all-compatible” approach ensures drives work across a wide range of motors, applications, and control systems while maintaining consistent installation, programming, and servicing. This reduces training needs and makes upgrades smoother.
What communication protocols do ABB drives support?
ABB drives can be configured for PROFIBUS, Modbus RTU/TCP, Ethernet/IP, PROFINET, DeviceNet, CANopen, EtherCAT, POWERLINK, and BACnet (for HVAC). Options vary by series, ordered via +K- codes.
What enclosure options are available for ABB drives?
Depending on the series, ABB drives are available in IP20, UL Type 1, IP21, IP55, and even IP66/67 enclosures. These options allow reliable operation in environments ranging from clean control rooms to harsh, dusty, or wet conditions.