Just blown up my inverter

[EddyCurrent]

Can't see any files, did you check it was attached before logging out ?
I didn't mean what did you change at the time of the fault, I meant which parameters did you change from default at the time you got, "the programming out of the way"

[Lodds]

These are the settings I changed.

General VFD setup:
Here's the correct settings for the Huanyang VFD that always seems to come with these kits.[/FONT]

PD013 - 8 MASTER RESET <<< DO THIS FIRST [Jonathan Edit: I prefer not to input this reset command, as often they've set a lot of the settings for you, so it saves time to leave it and you'll spot any settings that are wrong when you set the rest, so there's no risk]
PD005 - 400
PD004 - 400
PD003 - 400
PD006 - 2.5
PD007 - 1.20
PD008 - 220
PD009 - 15
PD011 - 120 [Jonathan Edit:*No, this is a common misconception. This setting is the lower frequency limit, so setting it to 120Hz means you can't run the spindle below 7200rpm, which originated from the air cooled spindles which would burn out below this speed. This is not a problem with water cooling, so*you can set it to zero. You wont get much torque below 7200rpm, but down to about 3200rpm is useable for drilling small holes in aluminum if you don't have carbide drills.]
PD014 - 1 [Jonathan Edit:*This is time to accelerate to rated speed. It may be better not to set it as low as 1 second (e.g. 2) to reduce the starting current, or if you don't appreciate the lights dimming every time you press run.]
PD015 - 1
PD072 - 400.00*
PD143 - 2
PD142 - 7
PD144 - 3000, factory setting is 1440 ->3000 gives correct RPM of 24000 at 400hz

Control Settings:
For spindle Start/Stop using Mach controlled relay connect DCM to FOR with the relay wired between the two. NOTE: Wiring DCM to REV will give reverse spindle rotation.

For variable speed control using a 10k ohm pot connect ACM and 10v to the pot with IV on the Wiper.

PD001 - 0 = Start from VFD Panel(Manual control), 1 = Control from inputs(use if Mach is start/stopping your spindle as explained above)
PD044 - 2
PD045 - 3

[EddyCurrent]

wiring diagram ? or did you just connect the power in and motor without adding any control wiring ?

[Lodds]

240v Inverter

Blue to R
Brown to S
Earth to Earth

spindle

Using normal 13amp extension cable

Blue to U
Brown to V
Yel/grn to W

[EddyCurrent]

A proper diagram is essential, for your own sake too, but it seems you don't have one.
So just to be clear, you connected the spindle cable cores to UVW at the inverter, and where did you connect the other ends at the spindle itself ?. (I don't have one of these spindles so I'm not sure what terminals are provided) Did you use any of the cores as an earth wire ?

[Lodds]

No I never used an earth, the plug has 4 connectors and one of them is left empty (No 4)

My soldering is NOT the best in the world and I'm wondering if there was a short in the plug on the spindle. I didn't see anything when I took it apart could that have caused the damage if it had shorted?

[EddyCurrent]

"No I never used an earth, the plug has 4 connectors and one of them is left empty (No 4) "

That sounds good and correct.
Pin 1 Phase 1
Pin 2 Phase 2
Pin 3 Phase 3
Pin 4 Not Connected

The spindle needs checking out as cropwell explained.
Regarding parameters I would change these.(when you get the new vfd)

PD014 acceleration time, 1 second is too short in my view, 5 seconds sounds better especially in the early stages of setting up.
PD015 decceleration time, same as above set to 5
PD142 motor rated current, set this to current specified for the spindle, I looked at some and the correct figure seems to be 8.5
PD143 motor poles, I don't know myself how many poles these spindles have but if people are using a value of 2 then it seems reasonable.
PD001 set this to 0 if you are using the keypad controls.

I'm wondering if you have reversed the motor several times without realising it from the front panel buttons, with ramp times of 1 second this may have caused some damage.
As you say, a short at the spindle end would not do the vfd much good.

[Clive S]

No I never used an earth, the plug has 4 connectors and one of them is left empty (No 4)

My soldering is the best in the world and I'm wondering if there was a short in the plug on the spindle. I didn't see anything when I took it apart could that have caused the damage if it had shorted?

A good photo of the wiring and spindle plug would help, was the plug connected securely as a loose connection can be bad for the vfd.

I take it you meant (not the best) as a dry joint could also cause problems.