wave, with some high frequency harmonic content. Harmonic content will elevate motor temperature and may produce some whistling or whining noise that could be objectionable. The effects of unwanted harmonics can be mitigated by the use of reactive output filtering, which is incorporated into better quality VFDs. Reactive filtration impedes the high frequency harmonic content but has little effect on the fundamental frequency that determines motor speed. The result is an output to the motor that is closer to an ideal sine wave. In the past, VFDs that have a capacity greater than were costly, thus making the rotary phase converter (RPC) an attractive alternative. However, modern VFDs have dropped considerably in cost, making them more affordable than comparable RPCs. Also working in the VFD's favor is its more compact size relative to its electrical capacity. A plus is many VFDs can produce a "soft start" effect (in which power is gradually applied to the motor), which reduces the amount of current that must be delivered at machine start-up. Use of a VFD may result in motor damage if the motor is not rated for such an application. This is primarily because most induction motors are forced-air cooled by a fan or blower driven by the motor itself. Operating such a motor at a lower-than-normal speed will substantially reduce the cooling airflow, increasing the likelihood of overheating and winding damage or failure, especially while operating at full load. A manufacturer may void the warranty on a motor powered by a VFD unless the motor is "inverter-rated." As VFDs are the most popular method of powering motors in new commercial installations, most three-phase motors sold today are, in fact, inverter-rated. See also Frequency converter Kálmán Kandó Rotary converter Three-phase electric power References Sitkei Gyula: A magyar elektrotechnika nagy alakjai. (Energetikai Kiadó Kht. 2005) Electrical engineering Hungarian inventions AC power