OI Roundtable

The ABB ACS160 is a reliable drive but even reliable drives are prone to faults and occasional alarms. The seven-segment display of the control panel indicates alarms and faults using codes "ALxx"
or "FLxx", where xx is the corresponding alarm or fault code. Errors are part of life with any brand and ABB keeps the display simple.

As a couple quick notes, the alarm and fault messages disappear when MENU, ENTER or the arrow buttons of control panel are pressed. The message will reappear after a few seconds if the keypad is not touched and the alarm or fault is still active.

Also the last three fault codes are stored into parameters 0128 to 0130. These faults can be cleared from the control panel by pressing UP and DOWN buttons at the same time in parameter set mode or through serial communication mode by writing 0 into them.

The faults can be reset either from the control panel (by pressing START/STOP button), by digital input (Parameter 1604) or serial communication, or switching the supply voltage off for a while. When the fault has been removed, the motor can be started. The ACS160 can be configured to automatically reset certain faults. This would be done in parameter group 31.
AUTOMATIC RESET. OK Here is the list of codes:

LIST OF ACS160 ALARMS

• 1 * OPERATION FAILED Parameter upload or download failed. The software versions of the drives may not be compatible. Software version can be seen from parameter 3301 SOFTWARE VERSION.
• 2 * START ACTIVE Control panel function is not allowed while start is active.
• 3 * LOCAL/REMOTE Control panel function is not allowed in current control mode (local or remote). Control mode is local when LOC is displayed and remote mode when REM is displayed on the control panel.
• 5 * BUTTON DISABLED Control panel function is denied for any of the following reasons: • START/STOP button is interlocked from digital input. This can happen with certain digital input configurations. Refer to section on Application Macros. • REVERSE button is locked because shaft direction is fixed by parameter 1003 DIRECTION. • The drive is in remote control mode and START/STOP and REVERSE buttons are not followed.
• 6 * PARAM/LOCAL LOCK Control panel function is not allowed: • Parameter 1602 PARAMETER LOCK denies parameter editing • Parameter 1605 LOCAL LOCK denies local control mode.
• 7 * FACTORY MACRO Control panel function is not allowed: Factory macro is selected and denies the parameter modifications. Factory macro is intended for applications where there is no control panel available.
• 10 ** OVERCURRENT Overcurrent controller is active.
• 11 ** OVERVOLTAGE Overvoltage controller is active.
• 12 ** DC UNDERVOLTAGE Undervoltage controller is active.
• 13 DIRECTION LOCK Rotation direction if fixed by parameter 1003 DIRECTION.
• 14 SERIAL COMM LOSS Serial communication through Standard Modbus Channel is lost. • Check connections between external control system and the ACS160. • Refer to parameters 5204 COMM FAULT TIME and 5205 COMM FAULT FUNC.
• 15 *, ** MODBUS EXCEPTION Exception response is sent through Standard Modbus channel. The bus master may be sending queries which cannot be processed by the ACS160. Last three exception response codes are stored into parameters 5213 - 5215.
• 16 AI1 LOSS Analogue input 1 loss. Analogue input 1 value is less than MINIMUM AI1 (1301). See also parameter 3001 AI<MIN FUNCTION.
• 17 AI2 LOSS Analogue input 2 loss. Analogue input 2 value is less than MINIMUM AI2 (1306). See also parameter 3001 AI<MIN FUNCTION.
• 18 PANEL LOSS Panel communication loss. Control panel is disconnected when - Drive is in local control mode (LOC is shown in the control panel display), or  - Drive is in remote control mode (REM) and is parameterized to accept start/stop, direction or reference from the panel. Refer to parameters in groups 10 COMMAND INPUTS and 11 REFERENCE SELECT. See also parameter 3002 PANEL LOSS.
• 19 ** ACS160 OVERTEMP ACS 160 overtemperature condition. This alarm is given when the temperature reaches 95% of the trip limit.
• 20 MOTOR OVERTEMP Motor overtemperature condition as estimated by the ACS 160. Refer to parameters 3004 – 3008.
• 21 UNDERLOAD Motor load is too low. Check for a problem in the driven equipment. Refer to parameters 3013 – 3015.
• 22 MOTOR STALL Motor is operating in the stall region. This may be caused by excessive load or insufficient motor power. Refer to parameters 3009 – 3012.
• 23 Reserved.
• 24 Reserved.
• 25 Reserved.
• 26 ** OUTPUT OVERLOAD Inverter overload condition. The ACS 160 output current exceeds the ratings given in Reference Section P.
• 27 * AUTOMATIC RESET ACS 160 is about to perform automatic fault reset operation. As a result, the drive may start after the reset operation. Refer to parameter group 31 AUTOMATIC RESET.
• 28 * PID SLEEP PID sleep function is active. The drive may accelerate when PID sleep function is deactivated. Refer to parameters 4018 SLEEP SELECTION, 4013 PID SLEEP DELAY, 4014 PID SLEEP LEVEL nd 4015 WAKE-UP LEVEL.
• 29 Reserved.
• 30 Reserved.
• 31 BR RES OVERLOAD Brake resistor is nearly overloaded. Refer to brake resistor instructions.

Pay attention to Notes!

Alarms (*) will not cause relay output RO1 (RO2) to activate when the relay output is configured to indicate alarm condition in general. (Parameter 1401 RELAY OUTPUT 1 (1402 RELAY OUTPUT 2) has value 5 (ALARM) or 13 (FLT/ALARM)).

Note! Alarms (**) will be shown only if parameter 1608 DISPLAY ALARMS is set to 1 (YES)

LIST OF ACS160 FAULTS

• OVERCURRENT Output current is excessive. • Motor load may be too high • Acceleration time may be too short (parameters 2201 ACCELER TIME 1 and 2203 ACCELER TIME 2). • Motor or motor cable is faulty or connected wrong.
• 2 DC OVERVOLTAGE Intermediate circuit DC voltage is excessive. • Check mains for static or transient overvoltages • Deceleration time may be too short (parameters 2202 DECELER TIME 1 and 2204 DECELER TIME 2) • Brake chopper (if present) may be underdimensioned
• 3 ACS160 OVERTEMP ACS160 heat sink temperature is excessive. Temperature trip limit is 105 degree C. • Check air flow and fan operation. • Check motor power against unit power.
• 4 ** SHORT CIRCUIT Fault current. Possible reasons for this fault are: • There is a short-circuit in the motor cable(s) or motor • Supply disturbances
• 5 OUTPUT OVERLOAD Inverter overload condition. The ACS 160 output current exceeds the ratings given in Reference Section P.
• 6 DC UNDERVOLTAGE Intermediate circuit DC voltage is not sufficient. • Mains phase may be missing • Fuse may be blown
• 7 ANALOGUE INPUT 1 Analogue input 1 loss. Analogue input value is less than MINIMUM AI1 (1301). See also parameter 3001 AI<MIN FUNCTION.
• 8 ANALOGUE INPUT 2 Analogue input 2 loss. Analogue input value is less than MINIMUM AI2 (1306). See also parameter 3001 AI<MIN FUNCTION.
• 9 MOTOR OVERTEMP Motor overtemperature condition as estimated by the ACS 160. Refer to parameters 3004 – 3008.
• 10 PANEL LOSS Panel communication loss. Control panel is disconnected when the drive is receiving start, stop and direction commands from the panel. - Drive is in local control mode (LOC is shown in the control panel display), or - Drive is in remote control mode (REM is shown) and is parameterised to accept start/stop, direction or reference from the panel. Refer to parameters in groups 10 COMMAND INPUTS and 11 REFERENCE SELECT. See also parameter 3002 PANEL LOSS.
• 11 PARAMETERING Parameter values are inconsistent: • MINIMUM AI1 > MAXIMUM AI1 (parameters 1301, 1302) • MINIMUM AI2 > MAXIMUM AI2 (parameters 1304, 1305) • MINIMUM FREQ > MAXIMUM FREQ (parameters 2007, 2008)
• 12 MOTOR STALL Motor stall. This may be caused by excessive load or insufficient motor power. Refer to parameters 3009 – 3012.
• 13 SERIAL COMM LOSS Serial communication through Standard Modbus Channel is lost. • Check connections between external control system and the ACS160. • Refer to parameters 5204 COMM FAULT TIME and 5205 COMM FAULT FUNC.
• 14 EXTERNAL FAULT SIGNAL External fault is active. See parameter 3003 EXTERNAL FAULT.
• 15 ** OUTPUT EARTH FAULT Earth fault. The load on the incoming mains system is out of balance. • There may be a fault in the motor or motor cable. • Motor cable may be too long.
• 16 ** DC BUS RIPPLE • Ripple voltages on the DC bus are too large. • Mains phase may be missing • Fuse may be blown
• 
  
  • 17 UNDERLOAD Motor load is too low. Check for a problem in the driven equipment. Refer to parameters 3013 – 3015.
  • 18 Reserved
  • 19 Reserved.
  • 20 ** AI OUT OF RANGE Analogue input out of range. Check AI level.
  • 21 - 29 ** HARDWARE ERROR Hardware error. Contact supplier.
  • 30 BR RES OVERLOAD Brake resistor is overloaded. Refer to parameter 2005 OVERVOLT CTRL.
  • 31 ENCODER FAULT Positioning macro is used, but the drive is not receiving pulses. Check the encoder and its connections. Full display blinking Serial link failure. Bad connection between the control panel and the
    ACS 160.
  
  Pay attention to Note! Faults (**) are indicated by a red blinking LED and are reset by turning the power off for a while.
  
  Also there is plenty of other info for clearing ACS160 faults in the user manual if you have access to one.

Great job with the code lists for the 160 drive! These posts are helpful for quick alarm reference.

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