A smart motor is an electric motor and electronic VSD in an integrated package. The advantages of smart motors include:
- The motor and VSD are matched by the manufacturer
- They require less on-site wiring and space.
The purchase of a new smart motor may also provide the opportunity to replace a standard efficiency motor with a high efficiency motor.
Some induction motors can be switched to one or two (or even three or four) speeds. In some situations this can provide some of the savings of a VSD at a lower cost. This strategy is often used in carpark exhaust systems, where the fan and motor are sized according to the maximum ventilation requirement which occurs during two daily peaks, but is switched to low speed for all other times.