Thermal Evaluation of Variable Frequency Drives: Design and Metrological Validation of an Automated Test Rig for Industrial Applications

Thermal evaluation of variable frequency drives (VFDs) is critical to verify product robustness under real-world operating conditions while ensuring compliance with industry standards. This paper presents the development and metrological validation of an automated test rig designed to assess the performance of VFDs within the thermal limits of printed circuit board components. The test rig integrates programmable instruments, actuators, embedded temperature sensors, and supervisory software to enable automated data acquisition and test sequencing. A GUM-compliant validation, with an uncertainty of 2.3°C, confirms the ability of the test rig to provide accurate, reliable, and repeatable thermal measurements under controlled conditions. The proposed solution offers a scalable and robust platform suitable for integration into advanced manufacturing and industrial testing environments, supporting standardized thermal testing, component qualification, and predictive maintenance of VFDs.