Resistor braking
83
Resistor braking
What this chapter contains
This chapter describes how to select, protect and wire braking choppers and 
resistors. The chapter also contains the technical data.
Braking choppers and resistors with the ACSM1-04
Braking choppers
ACSM1-04 drives have a built-in braking chopper as standard equipment to handle 
the energy generated by a decelerating motor.
When the braking chopper is enabled and a resistor connected, the chopper will start 
conducting when the DC link voltage of the drive reaches 780 V. The maximum 
braking power is achieved at 840 V.
Braking resistor selection
To select a braking resistor:
1. Calculate the maximum power generated by the motor during braking.
2. Calculate the continuous power based on the braking duty cycle.
3. Calculate the braking energy during the duty cycle.
Pre-selected resistors are available from ABB as shown in the table below. If the 
listed resistor is not sufficient for the application, a custom resistor can be selected 
within the limits imposed by the internal braking chopper of the ACSM1-04. The 
following rules apply:
• The resistance of the custom resistor must be at least R
min
. The braking power 
capacity with different resistance values can be calculated from the following 
formula
where UDC equals 840 V.
WARNING! Never use a braking resistor with a resistance below the value specified 
for the particular drive type. The drive and the chopper are not able to handle the 
overcurrent caused by the low resistance.
• The maximum braking power must not exceed P
brmax
 at any point
• The average braking power must not exceed P
brcont
P
max
 <
U
DC
R
2