6

Illegal Operation

ABB · ACS880

What does 6 mean?

An operation was attempted on a parameter that is invalid for its type or current state, such as trying to assign a string value to a numeric parameter, or an incorrect parameter type is being used. This prevents data corruption or unexpected behavior within the drive.

Common Causes

  • A PLC program is attempting to assign a value with an incompatible data type to a parameter (e.g., writing a string 'ABC' to numeric parameter P2-01).
  • An incorrect parameter type or index is being used in the read/write command (e.g., attempting to write to a boolean flag as if it were an analog input parameter P7-01).
  • A write operation is attempted on a diagnostic or status parameter (e.g., Motor Current P2-05) that is read-only and updated by the drive's internal processes.
  • The parameter's data format expects a specific unit or encoding (e.g., Hz for P2-01) but receives a raw integer value without scaling or conversion.

Repair Steps & Checklist

Click steps to track your progress.

  1. 1

    1. Review the PLC code responsible for writing to the parameter and verify that the data type of the value being written matches the parameter's expected type (e.g., REAL for P2-01).

  2. 2

    2. Consult the drive's parameter manual to confirm the exact data type, range, and read/write status for the specific parameter in question (e.g., is P2-05 read-only?).

  3. 3

    3. Ensure any scaling or unit conversions are correctly applied in the PLC before writing the value to the parameter (e.g., convert RPM to Hz for P2-01).

  4. 4

    4. If using an HMI, verify that the HMI's tag definition for the parameter matches the drive's data type and access rights.

Browse all codes in this manual (116)
Verified technical data. Last updated: March 2026

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