VFD Vibes

What happens after the internship ends? Host Greg Weichman talks with three Yaskawa employees who started their careers as interns and went on to grow into leadership roles across the company. From technical support and engineering labs to product development and channel management, each guest shares how their internship experience helped shape their career path. You’ll hear firsthand stories abou...

Internships are more than just summer jobs—they’re the starting point for real careers. Host Greg Weichman sits down with Nancy Flowers to break down how internship programs benefit both students and employers, and what makes Yaskawa’s approach stand out. With nearly two decades at Yaskawa and years of experience leading the intern program, Nancy shares how the company builds long-term talent pipe...

When low voltage VFDs reach their limits, medium voltage takes over. Host Greg Weichman and guest Tim Scheidell break down what medium voltage (MV) really means and how MV VFDs differ from low voltage drives in system design, internal topology, commissioning, safety, and real-world applications.   With Tim’s experience working with large-scale drive systems, they explore multi-level architectures,...

In a world of fast shipping, online marketplaces, and shifting customer expectations, does the traditional distribution model still deliver? Host Greg Weichman sits down with Josh Julius, Yaskawa’s Industrial Channel Manager, to explore why the channel partner model remains a strategic cornerstone and what makes this model so powerful in the industrial automation space. With over a decade of exper...

Getting the most out of your drive goes far beyond the purchase. Host Greg Weichman breaks down what really makes a difference — from installation and motor selection to tuning, cooling, and preventative maintenance — all in order to help you extend the life of your VFD and maximize efficiency. Inspired by an article from Yaskawa technical training expert Paul Avery, this episode explores how prop...

Getting grounding and bonding right isn’t just about meeting electrical code — it’s about protecting your equipment, preventing EMI, and keeping your VFDs running the way they should. In this episode of VFD Vibes, host Greg Weichman welcomes back application engineer Joe Pottebaum to break down what proper grounding and bonding really mean. Joe explains the difference between system ground, equipm...

Not all three-phase power systems are created equal — and the wrong setup can spell trouble for your VFDs. In this episode of VFD Vibes, host Greg Weichman sits down with application engineer Joe Pottebaum to unpack the world of power system configurations and their impact on variable frequency drive applications. From the fundamentals of single-phase versus three-phase power to the nuances of wye...

Technical training doesn’t just support our products—it empowers the people who use them. Host Greg Weichman sits down with John Autero, Manager of Technical Training Services at Yaskawa, for an inside look at how the company delivers hands-on education across drives, motion, and solar technologies. John shares how Yaskawa built a training program from the ground up—offering everything from e-lear...

What happens when fault current exceeds what your system can handle? It’s not just theory—short circuit events can lead to arc flash, equipment destruction, or worse. Host Greg Weichman sits down with Steve Perreault, Yaskawa’s chief product line manager for low voltage drives, to unpack the real implications of SCCR (Short Circuit Current Rating), AIC (Amps Interrupting Capacity), and UL standard...

Small waves, big problems. Harmonics are often misunderstood, but ignoring them can lead to costly design flaws, equipment issues, and power quality headaches. Host Greg Weichman and guest Jordan Engel, Product Manager for Yaskawa’s Matrix Drives, demystify what harmonics are, how they form, and why they matter. Using vivid analogies and real-world stories, they explore how variable frequency driv...

The story of Yaskawa’s rise to VFD leadership is one of innovation, resilience, and a relentless focus on quality. Host Greg Weichman and guest Mark Bernicky, Senior Vice President of Yaskawa’s Drives Group, take you behind the scenes of Yaskawa’s journey—from its early days building mining motors in Japan to becoming a powerhouse of VFD technology in North America. With over 30 years at Yaskawa,...

Exceptional technical support doesn’t just solve problems—it builds trust, and lasting relationships. Host Greg Weichman and guest Cris Franco, Yaskawa’s Director of Customer Experience, break down the keys to creating world-class support that keeps customers coming back. With 34 years at Yaskawa and experience spanning service, tech support, and systems, Cris shares what it takes to consistently...

Struggling with VFD fault codes? Greg Weichman and Tony Gabriel break down real-world troubleshooting tips to keep your drives running strong. In Episode 6 of VFD Vibes, Greg teams up with Tony to tackle common variable frequency drive (VFD) faults like overvoltage, overloads, and input phase loss. They share hands-on strategies using drive monitors, fault histories, and fault traces to pinpoint i...

VFD startup mistakes are costly! Host Greg Weichman and guest Tony Gabriel break down how proper programming, enclosure selection, and wiring checks can help you avoid common pitfalls. Drawing on 25 years of experience, Tony shares practical tips on voltage matching, enclosure types, auto-tuning, and setting essential parameters like accel/decel times. They also cover troubleshooting techniques to...

In this special episode, host Greg Weichman takes you inside the HVAC industry's most anticipated event of the year—AHR Expo 2025. Greg sits down with four industry experts, fresh from the event in Orlando, Fl, to discuss their key takeaways, including observations from the show floor, industry outlooks, and technological advancements shaping the future of HVAC. This episode highlights the growing...

Host Greg Weichman sits down with Yaskawa Product Manager Michael Hall to explore game-changing software tools that simplify the front end of a VFD project. From the Energy Savings Predictor to the Harmonics Estimator and VFD Schedule Builder, learn how Yaskawa’s innovative tools help users choose the right VFD, justify their investment through ROI analysis, and streamline project planning. We’ll...

In this episode, we explore the fundamentals of Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) with Tony Gabriel, a seasoned expert with over a decade of experience in technical support and building automation at Yaskawa. Tony unpacks key VFD concepts, terminology, and their historical significance as a revolutionary innovation in motor control. We break down the core components—rectifier, DC bus, and inverter—...

Welcome to the debut episode of VFD Vibes! In this episode, we’ll dive into a topic that has been revolutionizing manufacturing: connecting Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) to a network. We'll be joined by Ed Tom, Yaskawa’s product manager for Communication Protocols, to break down the benefits, requirements, and insider tips for making it happen. Think network connectivity sounds complicated? Thi...

In this short episode, host Greg Weichman covers what you can expect from the VFD Vibes podcast brought to you by Up To Speed with Yaskawa. Check it out and subscribe to stay informed of new episodes! MEET YOUR HOST With 20 years of experience in industrial automation, Yaskawa Segment Marketing Manager Greg Weichman leverages his natural curiosity to bring you insights and answers, and sometimes j...