OI Roundtable

Magnetek Faults for Drives and Inverters

What is Magnetek Fault? Here is a general list of Magnetek drive faults (or Magenetek drive alarms) , these pertain to Impulse models. The corrective action for many of these inverter faults is simply to cycle power. So, of course the recommended action on any inverter fault is to restart first. Anyways, here you go:

• BB - External Base Block Indicator. The flashing base block signal is the result of a multifunction input in the terminal strip. The base block indicates that the drive's IGBTs have been disabled. The motor will begin coasting when the base block input is received. If a RUN command is still present when the BB signal is removed, the output voltage will be restored to the previous operating level and operation will continue at the previously commanded frequency.


• BEO - Brake answer back signal is lost during run. While running, the multi-function input brake answer back is lost.



• BE4 - Brake Answer-Back, Brake not Released. At Start, Brake Answer-back is not input within predetermined time (C8-04) after electric brake release command is output–Electric brake not released.



• BE5 - Brake Answer-Back At Stop. At Stop, Brake Answer-back signal is not removed within predetermined time (C8-11) after electric brake release command is removed–Electric brake not closed.



• BE7 - Brake Answer-Back Major Fault. At Power Up, Brake Answer-Back is on - Electric brake not closed.


• BUS - Option Card Communication Error. Communication to the option card was lost.


• CALL - Serial Communication Transmission Error. Control data is not received correctly after power supply is turned ON for 2 sec.


• CANT RUN - User is trying to give a run command without first Enable Drive Enable Multi-Function input or Fwd or Rev input are present at power up.


• CE - Communication Error. Serial communications disruption.


• CF - Control Fault. A torque limit was reached for 3 seconds or longer during deceleration while in open Loop Vector.


• CPF100 - Control Circuit Fault 1— Keypad Transmission. Because of external noise, excessive vibration or shock, or component failure (including RAM and PROM), one or both of the following occurs: 1. Transmission between the inverter and keypad cannot be established 5 sec after power-up. 2. External RAM of CPU is defective.


• CPF01 - Control Circuit Fault 2—Keypad Transmission. After initial power-up, communication between the inverter and keypad was interrupted for more than 2 seconds.


• CPF02 - Base Block Circuit Fault. Base block circuit fault at power-up.


• CPF03 - EEPROM Fault. Invalid data found in the EEPROM.


• CPF04 - Internal A/D Converter Fault. CPU internal analog-digital converter fault.


• CPF05 - External A/D Converter Fault. CPU external analog-digital converter fault.


• CPF06 - Option Card Fault. Optional card has disconnected or failed.


• CPF10 - ASIC Version Fault 10.


• CPF20 - Control Circuit Fault 20 — AI-14. Analog-to-digital converter fails or analog speed reference error.


• CPF21 - Control Circuit Fault 21 — CPU on Optional Card. CPU on an installed optional card fails.


• CPF22 - Control Circuit Fault 22 — Optional Card Code. Optional card code is not compatible with the inverter.


• CPF23 - Control Circuit Fault 23 — DP-RAM. DPRAM on an installed optional card failed.


• EF - Both FORWARD/UP and REVERSE/DOWN commands are input at same time for 500 msec or longer.


• EF0 - External fault input from communication option card.


• EF3 - External fault occurs on Terminal S3.


• EF4 - External fault occurs on Terminal S4


• EF5 - External fault occurs on Terminal S5 external control circuit.


• EF6 - External fault occurs on Terminal S6 external control circuit.


• EF7 - External fault occurs on Terminal S7 external control circuit.


• EF8 - External fault occurs on Terminal S8 external control circuit.


• ERR - EEPROM Read/Write Fault. EEPROM internal data did not match when initializing the parameter.


• KLX - Motor Thermal Overload Switch has opened.


• GF - of all three motor phases. Ideally, the sum should always equal zero. If the sum is greater than 50% of the inverter rated output current, a GF occurs.


• LC - Load Check Fault. Load is greater than specified amount.


• LF - An open phase occurred at the inverter output.


• LL1 - Lower Limit 1—SLOW DOWN Indicator. Lower Limit 1—SLOW DOWN is input (switch status is changed).


• LL2 - Lower Limit 2—STOP Indicator. Lower Limit 2—STOP is input (switch status is changed).


• MNT - Maintenance Required Alert. Running time has exceeded C12-05.


• OC - Output current exceeds 200% of inverter rated output current.


• OH - Overheat Pre-Alarm. Heatsink is overheating. The temperature of the inverters heatsink exceeded the setting in L8-02.


• OH1 - Overheat Fault. There are two situations that result in an overheat fault. The first occurs when the measured heat sink exceeded 105°C. The second is a result of a fault in the internal 24VDC cooling fan.


• OH2 - Overheat Alarm. Signal is input by external terminal. H1-XX=39.


• OH3 - Motor Overheating 1. Thermistor analog input detected motor overheating. See L1-03.


• OH4 - Motor Overheating 2. Thermistor analog input detected motor overheating. See L1-04.


• OL1 - Motor Overload Fault. Inverter output exceeded the motor overload level.


• OL2 - Inverter Overload Fault. Inverter output exceeded the inverter overload level.


• OT1 - Overtorque Detection Level 1 Fault. Defined by L6-02. Alarm defined by L6-01.


• OT2 - Overtorque Detection Level 2 Fault. Defined by L6-05. Alarm defined by L6-04.


• OPE01 - kVA Setting Fault. Inverter kVA setting range is incorrect.


• OPE02 - Setting Out of Range . Parameter setting is out of range.


• OPE03 - Multi-Function Input Setting Fault. Set values other than "F" and "FF" are duplicated.


• OPE05 - Sequence Select Setting Fault. B3-01=3 and no option is plugged in.


• OPE07 - Multi-Function Analog Input Setting Fault. H3-05 and H3-09 multi-Function analog input settings are set to the same value.


• OPE08 - Selection Parameter error. A parameter has been changed that is not available in the present control method.


• OPE10 - V/F Parameter Setting Error.


• OPE11 - Carrier Frequency Parameter Error.


• OPE17 - Stopping Method is not Ramp to Stop When L2-01>0.


• OPE19 - Incompatible Setting of Stopping Method and Control Method.


• OPE22 - Incompatible Setting of Motion and Control Mode.


• OPE23 - Check C5-04 < C5-07 < C5-09.


• OPR - Keypad Disconnected. The keypad is removed while the inverter is running, and the run command was initiated via the keypad RUN key.


• OV - current voltage exceeded the overvoltage level. Detection level: 230V class—approx. 400VDC 460V class—approx. 800VDC.


• OV Flashing - Overvoltage Fault. Overvoltage occurs during stop. Main circuit DC voltage rises above the detection level while the drive output is off. Detection level: 410V or more for 230V, 820V or more for 460V.


• PF - Input Phase Loss Fault. Inverter input power supply has open phase.


• PUF - DC Bus Fuse Open Fault. The DC fuse is open.


• RR - Braking Transistor Fault. Internal Braking transistor failed.


• SC - Short Circuit Fault. The inverter has detected an output short circuit condition.


• SVE - Zero-Servo Fault.


• UL1 - Upper Limit 1—SLOW DOWN Indicator. Upper Limit 1—SLOW DOWN switch status is changed.


• UL2 - Upper Limit 2—STOP Indicator. Upper Limit 2—STOP switch status is changed.


• UL3 - Upper Limit 3—Weighted STOP Indicator. Upper Limit 3—Weighted STOP switch status is changed.


• UT1 - Undertorque Detection 1. The current is less than L6-02 for more than L6-03.


• UT2 - Undertorque Detection 2. The current is less than L6-05 for more than L6-06.


• UV - Undervoltage Fault. Undervoltage status occurs for more than 2 sec during STOP. Input voltage drops below 190V DC or less for 230V AC class, 380V DC or less for 460V AC class.


• UV1 - Undervoltage 1 Fault. Undervoltage status occurs for more than 2 sec during RUN command. Input voltage drops below 190V DC or less for 230V AC class, 380V DC or less for 460V AC class.


• UV2 - Undervoltage 2 Fault. The inverter detected a loss of the 24V logic power supply voltage.


• UV3 - MC Fault. The pre-charge contactor opened during operation.

Magnetek is a pretty popular brand of AC drives that are commonly used in various industrial applications. Here are some of the most common faults that you may encounter while using Magnetek 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 Magnetek drive user manual if you have one if any of these faults occur, as they can indicate serious issues that require immediate attention. Magnetek drives are designed with advanced diagnostic and fault monitoring features to help identify and troubleshoot faults quickly and efficiently. The menus are pretty easy to navigate.