How to set up basic control for an SEW Movitrac frequency inverter

[thijs (Thijs Brilleman)]

Based on contributions by Matthijsdek.

The SEW Movitrac frequency inverter drives a motor and can be started, stopped and speed-controlled through its digital and analog inputs. This guide covers wiring it, configuring it with SEW’s software, and running the motor.

What you need

• SEW Movitrac frequency inverter (any power variant)
• SEW interface adapter (Movidrive / USB)
• MOVITOOLS-MotionStudio software, installed on a PC
• A controller able to provide a 0–10 V analog output and digital outputs

Steps

1. Wire the Movitrac

1. Input connections: on the side with two inputs, connect the phase wire to L1 and the neutral wire to N.
2. Motor connections: on the side with five inputs, connect the motor wires (1 to 3) to the corresponding U–W terminals.
3. Grounding: on the top of the device, connect all GND terminals together to your general ground.
4. Analog output: connect AI11 to your controller’s analog output. It accepts 0–10 V, which sets the motor speed within its configured min/max range.
5. Digital inputs: connect DI01, DI02 and DI03 to your controller’s digital outputs:
   • DI01: enables the motor to start
   • DI02 (CW): clockwise direction
   • DI03 (CCW): counterclockwise direction
   • You must assert either CW or CCW for the motor to run — with neither asserted, the motor stays off.
6. Digital output: optionally connect DO03, which activates once the Movitrac has finished its startup process.

2. Configure the controller with MOVITOOLS-MotionStudio

1. Connect the interface adapter to the Movitrac unit.

2. Connect the interface adapter’s USB cable to the PC running MOVITOOLS-MotionStudio.

3. Open MOVITOOLS-MotionStudio, create a new program, and click Scan in the top-left corner.

   

4. If the scan succeeds, a device labeled “Unnamed” appears on the left side of the screen.

   

5. Click the “Unnamed” device, then go to Startup in the window that opens, and complete the startup configuration.

   

3. Run the motor

Once the startup configuration is complete, send an Enable signal to DI01. The motor should start running. Adjust motor speed by varying the voltage on AI11.

4. Adjust parameters

In MOVITOOLS-MotionStudio, parameters are available under the Parameter Tree:

Parameter	Purpose
0	Display values — monitor most incoming/outgoing signals
0.02	Analog Setpoints — analog input settings
0.03	Binary Inputs — digital input signal mapping
0.05	Binary Outputs — digital output signal mapping
3.30	Limits 1 — motor’s minimum speed limit
3.31	Limits 2 — motor’s maximum speed limit

The default minimum speed (3.30) is 15. The maximum speed (3.31) is set during startup — it’s recommended not to raise it above that value unless you’re certain of the motor’s capacity.

Common mistakes

• Forgetting to assert DI02 or DI03: the motor will not turn even with DI01 enabled, since a direction must also be selected.
• Skipping the startup configuration in MOVITOOLS before sending signals to DI01.

Related

• How to calculate motor power, RPM and torque for a conveyor belt — how to size the motor for your conveyor

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Rewritten and consolidated (Sept 2026) from the original student how-to’s: How to Set Up Basic Control for the SEW Movitrac.