Yaskawa GA500 and GA800 Variable Frequency Drives Review: Specs, Price and Applications

GA500 and GA800 are different Yaskawa AC-drive families. GA500 addresses compact microdrive applications, while GA800 serves a broader general-purpose industrial role. Motor current, supply, overload duty, communications and enclosure requirements determine the actual selection, not a shared portfolio horsepower headline.
Quick Verdict
Consider a configured GA drive for its documented motor-speed or process-control duty. Match network and safety functions explicitly. A mobile commissioning tool, industrial network and torque-removal input each solve different integration tasks.
Yaskawa GA500 and GA800 Variable Frequency Drives at a Glance
Specification | Details |
GA500 role | Compact microdrive family |
GA800 role | General-purpose industrial family |
Sizing | Supply, motor current, overload and derating |
Tools | Applicable DriveWizard commissioning/mobile support |
Communications | Model/option-specific industrial networking |
Safety boundary | Actual documented drive functions within machine architecture |
Price | Request a quote for drive, options and enclosure |
Design and Engineering Assessment
Motor current and overload duty should lead selection. A matching horsepower label can miss difficult starts, ambient derating or repeated high-torque operation. Evaluate the actual switching and installation conditions.
A fan, pump and constant-torque conveyor impose different requirements. Select control mode and feedback for the real process, then measure performance. A VFD does not guarantee a fixed energy-saving percentage across unrelated loads.
Networks and mobile tools can assist configuration and diagnostics. They do not establish a complete remote-access architecture or turn the inverter into a precision multi-axis servo system. Validate the supported functions and host behavior.
Engineer the Motor Link
Check output cable length, motor insulation, bonding, filtering and cabinet temperature. Include the actual supply protection and braking/regeneration need.
Map run/speed commands and process interlocks, with clear local/remote ownership. Define behavior after lost communications or interrupted supply.
Accept the Process Duty
Commission motor data and direction, then test loaded starts and warm operation. Measure actual flow, pressure or conveyed behavior where those are the process targets.
Keep drive/options, firmware, parameters and host mapping with motor identity. A replacement in another GA family needs electrical and functional validation.
Applications and Selection
Industrial motor-speed and process-control installations with a defined GA configuration.
For Yaskawa GA500 and GA800 Variable Frequency Drives, define the actual machine duty before selecting an ordering configuration. Include the required operating point, available installation space, environment and control interfaces. The specification table describes the product or family; the surrounding machine determines which of those features matters for the intended job.
Price and Value
Price: Request a quote for the exact configuration. Compare the product, compatible control equipment, required mechanical parts, cabling and commissioning as one installed system. A component price alone does not represent the cost of a working automation axis.
Evaluate an alternative against the same duty and acceptance criteria. Match the continuous operating requirement first, then compare transient capability, feedback, mechanical fit and support. This avoids choosing between superficially similar products whose ratings describe different operating conditions.
Pros and Cons
Advantages
Compact/general-purpose family choices
Applicable setup and diagnostic tools
Industrial process integration
Limitations
Portfolio maxima are not universal ratings
Installation and motor limits remain
Network/safety features require selection
Who Should Consider Yaskawa GA500 and GA800 Variable Frequency Drives?
Consider Yaskawa GA500 and GA800 Variable Frequency Drives for industrial motor-speed and process-control installations with a defined GA configuration. Establish the required operating point and installation interfaces before choosing the configuration, and use a representative loaded cycle as the acceptance basis.
Yaskawa GA500 and GA800 Variable Frequency Drives FAQ
Are GA500 and GA800 the same size range?
No. They are distinct microdrive and general-purpose families.
Is horsepower alone sufficient?
No. Check motor current, overload, supply and derating.
Is every network included?
No. Confirm the interface and options.
Does a VFD guarantee fixed energy savings?
No. Savings depend on actual process and duty.
Is it automatically a precision servo?
No. Match real control and feedback requirements.
What matters for a long motor cable?
Insulation, drive-output conditions, bonding and filtering.
What should acceptance include?
Loaded starts, warm process behavior and required recovery.
What should be saved?
Drive/options, firmware, parameters, motor data and host map.
Prices are indicative and may change. Confirm the final configuration, commercial terms and delivery schedule before ordering.





