R912005383 Variable Frequency Drive VFC 3610 18.5kW 3-ф/380

Bosch Rexroth VFC 3610 18.5 kW (R912005383) — three-phase 3×380 V supply, rated current about 39.2 A. This is the top frame of the VFC 3610 series with a built-in brake chopper.

• Output frequency up to 400 Hz, scalar V/f control.
• Built-in brake chopper — even at this frame an external braking resistor is sufficient for braking; no separate braking module is needed.
• Modbus RTU over RS485; CANopen / PROFIBUS DP depend on the execution (optional cards).

At 18.5 kW the right braking resistor matters: base it on the real braking ratio from the manufacturer's tables. The EMC filter is external (an option) and the build is open type (IP20 per the manual). A powerful vector alternative is Veichi AC310.

Bosch Rexroth VFC 3610 — economy V/f drive for pumps, ventilation and simple machinery

The VFC 3610 is the basic, V/f version of the Rexroth x610 platform. Per the official Bosch Rexroth Operating Instructions (VFC x610), on the same chassis the 3610 runs V/f control only (scalar), while the higher VFC 5610 adds sensorless vector control (SVC). In plain terms: you pick the 3610 where the load starts with little torque — pumps, fans, light conveyors and dosers. If a belt or mixer starts already loaded, V/f runs out and you need the 5610. In our range the series spans 0.7–22 kW, where the top model R912006277 is the 22 kW unit.

VFC is the simplified line relative to the EFC series. The EMC filter here is NOT built in (that is the standard EFC feature): for the industrial C3 category the filter is added as an external option. If ready C2/C3 out of the box without add-ons is critical for you — confirm the part number or look at the EFC tier, where the mains filter is fitted as standard.

What the VFC 3610 is for

• Pumps (water supply, booster, circulation): quadratic-torque loads that V/f handles well; built-in PID with sleep/wake holds pressure without a separate controller.
• Ventilation and HVAC: supply/extract units — real energy savings at part speed.
• Conveyors, roller tables, dosers that start unloaded: where starting torque at low RPM is not required.
• General machinery: woodworking, small compressors, simple machine tools.

How the VFC 3610 differs from its neighbours

In short: take the 3610 when V/f is enough and you want it cheaper; the 5610 when you need low-speed torque; the EFC when ready EMC compliance without options matters.

Communication and built-in logic

Modbus RTU is in every model — the drive drops straight onto a SCADA or PLC RS-485 bus with no add-on card. CANopen and PROFIBUS DP connect via optional cards (depending on the execution — confirm the part number). Inside there is a PID controller with sleep mode and a simple multi-step speed program — this is not a full PLC but a handy sequencer; for a typical pressure station a separate controller is often unnecessary. Maximum output frequency is 400 Hz; the build is open type (IP20 per the manual, so budget an enclosure for dusty or wet sites).

Braking: where the chopper is built in, and where an external module is needed

An important practical detail. On the VFC 3610 the brake transistor (brake chopper) is built in on models up to and including 18.5 kW. That means for any model in this range — from 0.7 to 18.5 kW — a fast stop or an inertial load needs only an external braking resistor wired on; no separate braking module is required. The exception is the top 22 kW model (R912006277): it sits beyond the documented built-in-chopper range, so it uses an external braking module — the configuration should be confirmed by part number. The resistor (and, for the 22 kW unit, the module) is sized to the motor power and the real braking cycle — we will advise the rating for your job.

Single-phase 220 V supply

Models up to 2.2 kW are available with a 1×220 V input (3-phase 220 V to the motor) — handy where there is no three-phase mains: borehole and domestic pumps, farm sites, small workshops. Higher ratings from 3 kW use a 3×380 V three-phase input.

When the VFC 3610 is NOT the right pick

• The load starts under torque (loaded conveyor, mixer, centrifuge, crane) — V/f runs out; take the vector VFC 5610 or a servo.
• You need servo precision and closed-loop encoder positioning — that is a servo drive's job, not a V/f VFD's.
• If Rexroth does not fit your budget or lead time — for pumps, ventilation and general machinery we fit Veichi VFDs (AC10, AC310 series) as an alternative; the full lineup is in the frequency inverters section.

Our experience with the VFC 3610

Rexroth is usually chosen for German build quality and serviceability, and the 3610 is a steadily requested economy option for pumps and ventilation. The two questions we hear most: will V/f be enough for a given drive, and is an external braking module needed. On the 3610 the second is simple: up to 18.5 kW the chopper is built in (a resistor is enough), while at 22 kW you should plan for an external module. And if you are unsure between the 3610 and the vector 5610 — send us the motor power and load type, and we will advise without overspending: where the cheaper 3610 is genuinely enough, and where you really need the vector 5610.