All categories

VSDs

Drive faults, start commands, and trip codes.

VSDs

VSD powered up but won't start the motor

The drive is energised and the display is alive, but it won't run the motor. No fault may be shown — it just sits in 'ready' or 'stopped' and ignores the start command.

5 causes4 test steps
QualifiedMedium risk
VSDs

VSD trips on overcurrent / overload

The drive trips with an overcurrent or overload code — on start, on acceleration, or under running load. It may restart and trip again on the same point in the cycle.

5 causes4 test steps
AdvancedHigh risk
VSDs

VSD trips on DC bus overvoltage

The drive trips on overvoltage — usually during deceleration or stopping, when a spinning load pushes energy back into the DC bus faster than it can be absorbed.

4 causes4 test steps
AdvancedMedium risk
VSDs

VSD trips on undervoltage / loses supply

The drive trips on undervoltage — the DC bus drops too low, often on start, under load, or with supply dips, and the drive shuts down to protect itself.

5 causes3 test steps
QualifiedMedium risk
VSDs

VSD trips on over-temperature

The drive trips on over-temperature — usually after running a while, in hot conditions, or under heavy load, because it can't shed heat fast enough.

5 causes3 test steps
ApprenticeMedium risk
VSDs

VSD trips on earth/ground fault

The drive trips with an earth/ground-fault code — typically the instant it outputs — indicating leakage to earth on the motor or output cabling.

4 causes3 test steps
AdvancedHigh risk
VSDs

VSD runs but motor doesn't reach set speed

The drive shows it's running and outputting, but the motor turns slowly, sluggishly, or never reaches the commanded speed.

5 causes3 test steps
QualifiedMedium risk
VSDs

VSD display blank / drive appears dead

The drive's display is blank and it shows no signs of life — no keypad, no LEDs — so nothing can be operated or diagnosed from the panel.

4 causes3 test steps
ApprenticeMedium risk
VSDs

VSD communication / fieldbus fault

The drive has lost communication with the PLC/SCADA over its fieldbus (e.g. control by network) — comms-loss fault, no remote control, or the drive stops on comms timeout.

5 causes3 test steps
AdvancedMedium risk
VSDs

VSD nuisance tripping with no obvious cause

The drive trips intermittently with codes that don't seem to match the conditions — random faults, hard to reproduce, often noise- or connection-related.

5 causes3 test steps
AdvancedMedium risk
VSDs

Motor noisy or whining when run on a VSD

The motor runs but is noticeably noisy on the drive — a whine, whistle, or growl that isn't there on direct supply, sometimes worse at certain speeds.

4 causes3 test steps
QualifiedLow risk
VSDs

VSD keeps tripping the RCD / safety switch

The upstream RCD drops out when a drive is powered up or ramped — the drive itself shows no fault. Drives leak to earth by design (EMC filters and long screened cables), and standard RCDs don't always get along with them.

5 causes4 test steps
AdvancedHigh risk
VSDs

VSD reports output phase loss / motor phase loss

The drive trips or warns of an output (motor) phase loss — it isn't seeing balanced current on all three output phases to the motor.

4 causes3 test steps
QualifiedMedium risk
VSDs

VSD trips on overcurrent only during acceleration

The drive runs steadily once up to speed, but throws an overcurrent (or 'OC on accel') fault each time it ramps up to speed. Runs fine if it gets there; trips on the way up.

4 causes3 test steps
AdvancedMedium risk
VSDs

VSD powered and fault-free but won't accept the run command

The drive is powered, shows no fault, and the display looks normal — but it ignores the run command and the motor never turns. Often a 'not ready' / 'STO' / enable status, not a trip.

4 causes3 test steps
AdvancedMedium risk