Tilley’s Terror: Backyard Launch Coaster VFD Burns Up During Braking!

In this episode of our DIY backyard launch coaster project, Tilley’s Terror hits a major snag—our Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) keeps internally blowing up during braking! The inverter-based braking is just too aggressive, and we need a safer, more reliable solution. Watch as we troubleshoot the issue, explore better braking options using a DC motor, and upgrade our motor from 2 HP to a beefy 5 HP to handle the launch demands. It’s full of sparks, strategy, and serious coaster engineering!

Corey Rasmussen

Corey Rasmussen is an award-winning professional engineer (NC and TX) with over 20 years of product design and development experience. He has two patents related to aerial lifts machinery, has advanced certifications in hydraulics and electronic controls, and specializes in designing mobile equipment. Corey is the principal engineer of Rasmussen Designs and is based out of Durham, NC.

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