VACON NX Inverter (Drive) faults
There's good info available in the Vacon NX manual. When a fault is detected by the inverter control electronics, the drive is stopped and the symbol
F together with the ordinal number of the fault, the fault code and a short fault description appear on the display. The fault can be reset with the reset button on the control keypad or via the I/O terminal. The faults are stored in the Fault history menu M5, which can be browsed.
- F1 Overcurrent
Inverter has detected too high a current (>4*In) in the motor cable: sudden heavy load increase, short circuit in motor cables, unsuitable motor
1.Check loading.
2. Check motor.
3. Check cables
- F2 Overvoltage
The DC-link voltage has exceeded the limits defined in too short a deceleration time high over-voltage spikes in supply.
1. Set the deceleration time longer.
2. Add a brake chopper or a brake resistor.
- F3 Earth fault
Current measurement has detected that the sum of motor phase current is not zero. insulation failure in cables or motor.
1. Check motor cable and motor
- F5 Charging switch
The charging switch is open, when the START command has been given. faulty operation component failure.
1. Reset the fault and restart.
2. Should the fault re-occur, contact the VACON rep near to you. (VACON distributor near me)
- F6 Emergency stop
Stop signal has been given from the option board.
- F7 Saturation trip
Various causes: component failure brake resistor short-circuit or overload.
1. Cannot be reset from the keypad. Switch off power. DO NOT RE-CONNECT POWER!
2. Contact factory (If this fault appears simultaneously with Fault 1, check motor cables and motor)
- F8 System fault
component failure faulty operation Note the exceptional Fault data record. See 7.3.4.3.
1. Reset the fault and restart.
2. Should the fault re-occur, contact the VACON drive distributor near you.
- F9 Undervoltage
DC-link voltage is under the voltage limits defined in most probable cause: too low a supply voltage inverter internal fault.
1. In case of temporary supply voltage break reset the fault and restart the inverter. Check the supply voltage. If it is adequate, an internal failure has occurred.
2. Contact the nearest Vacon distributor.
- F10 Input line supervision
Input line phase is missing.
1. Check supply voltage and cable
- F11 Output phase supervision
Current measurement has detected that there is no current in one motor phase.
1. Check motor cable and motor.
- F12 Brake chopper supervision
no brake resistor installed brake resistor is broken brake chopper failure.
1. Check brake resistor.
2. If the resistor is ok, the chopper is faulty. Contact the nearest Vacon distributor
- F13 Inverter undertemperature
Heatsink temperature is under –10°C
- F14 Inverter overtemperature
Heatsink temperature is over 90°C or 77ºC (NX_6, FR6). Overtemperature warning is issued when the heatsink temperature exceeds 85°C (72ºC).
1. Check the correct amount and flow of cooling air.
2. Check the heatsink for dust.
3. Check the ambient temperature. Make sure that the switching frequency is not too high in relation to ambient temperature and motor load.
- F15 Motor stalled
Motor stall protection has tripped.
1. Check motor
- F16 Motor overtemperature
Motor overheating has been detected by inverter motor temperature model. Motor is overloaded.
1. Decrease the motor load.
2. If no motor overload exists, check the temperature model parameters.
- F17 Motor underload
Motor underload protection has tripped.
- F22 EEPROM checksum fault
Parameter save fault, faulty operation, component failure
- F24 Counter fault
Values displayed on counters are incorrect
- F25 Microprocessor watchdog fault
faulty operation, component failure.
1. Reset the fault and restart.
2. Should the fault re-occur, contact the inverter distributor near you.
- F26 Start-up prevented
Start-up of the drive has been prevented.
1. Cancel prevention of start-up
- F29 Thermistor fault
The thermistor input of option board has detected increase of the motor temperature.
1. Check motor cooling and loading
2. Check thermistor connection (If thermistor input of the option board is not in use it has to be short circuited)
- F31 IGBT temperature (hardware)
IGBT Inverter Bridge overtemperature protection has detected too high a short term overload current.
1. Check loading.
2. Check motor size.
- F32 Fan cooling
Cooling fan of the inverter does not start, when ON command is given.
1. Contact the nearest Vacon distributor.
- F34 CAN bus communication
Sent message not acknowledged.
1. Ensure that there is another device on the bus with the same configuration.
- F36 Control unit
NXS Control Unit can not control NXP Power Unit and vice versa.
1. Change control unit
- F37 Device changed (same type)
Option board or control unit changed. Same type of board or same power rating of drive.
1. Reset Note: No fault time data record!
- F38 Device added (same type)
Option board or drive added. Drive of same power rating or same type of board added.
1. Reset Note: No fault time data record!
- F39 Device removed
Option board removed. Drive removed.
1. Reset Note: No fault time data record!
- F40 Device unknown
Unknown option board or drive.
1. Contact the nearest Vacon distributor.
- F41 IGBT temperature
IGBT Inverter Bridge overtemperature protection has detected too high a short term overload current.
1. Check loading.
2. Check motor size.
- F42 Brake resistor overtemperature N/A
Brake resistor overtemperature protection has detected too heavy braking.
1. Set the deceleration time longer.
2. Use external brake resistor.
- F43 Encoder fault
Note the exceptional Fault data record. See 7.3.4.3. Additional codes:
1 = Encoder 1 channel A is missing
2 = Encoder 1 channel B is missing
3 = Both encoder 1 channels are missing
4 = Encoder reversed
(Check encoder channel connections and Check the encoder board)
- F44 Device changed (different type)
Option board or control unit changed. Option board of different type or different power rating of drive.
1. Reset Note: No fault time data record! Note: Application parameter values restored to default.
- F45 Device added (different type)
Option board or device added Option board of different type or drive of different power rating added.
1. Reset Note: No fault time data record! Note: Application parameter values restored to default.
- F50 Analog input (sel. signal range 4 to 20mA)
Current at the analogue input is < 4mA. control cable is broken or loose signal source has failed.
1. Check the current loop circuitry.
- F51 External fault
Digital input fault.
- F52 Keypad communication fault
There is no connection between the control keypad and the inverter.
1. Check keypad connection and possible keypad cable.
- F53 Fieldbus fault
The data connection between the fieldbus Master and the fieldbus board is broken.
1. Check installation. If installation is correct contact the nearest Vacon distributor.
- F54 Slot fault
Defective option board or slot Check board and slot.
1. Contact the nearest Vacon distributor
- F56 PT100 board temp. fault
Temperature limit values set for the PT100 board parameters have been exceeded.
1. Find the cause of temperature rise and "remove the heat source to cool it off"
Here are some of the most common documented Vacon Faults, this my help somebody using these drives:
Overcurrent Fault: This fault occurs when the drive's output current exceeds the set limit, which can be caused by a mechanical overload, excessive motor load, or a short circuit in the motor wiring.
Overvoltage Fault: This fault occurs when the DC bus voltage exceeds the drive's limit, which can be caused by a sudden loss of load, regenerative energy, or input voltage fluctuations.
Undervoltage Fault: This fault occurs when the input voltage falls below the drive's minimum operating level, which can be caused by power supply issues or faulty wiring.
Overtemperature Fault: This fault occurs when the drive's internal temperature exceeds the set limit, which can be caused by poor ventilation, high ambient temperature, or excessive load.
Communication Fault: This fault occurs when there is a communication problem between the drive and the controller, which can be caused by a faulty communication cable, incorrect settings, or software issues.
It is important to consult the Vacon drive user manual and technical support if any of these faults occur, as they can indicate serious issues that require immediate attention. Vacon drives are designed with advanced diagnostic and fault monitoring features to help identify and troubleshoot faults quickly and efficiently.