Short circuit

What does 16 mean?

A direct short circuit exists in the motor windings or the motor wiring connected to the frequency converter's output terminals. This is a critical fault that can cause immediate and severe damage to the frequency converter's output stage if power is not removed quickly. Continued operation is highly dangerous.

• Direct short circuit between two or more motor phases (U-V, V-W, U-W) within the motor windings.
• Direct short circuit between two or more conductors in the motor output cable due to insulation damage or faulty termination.
• Insulation failure within the motor allowing a direct phase-to-phase short.
• Water or conductive debris ingress into the motor terminal box causing a short circuit between phases.

Click steps to track your progress.

1. 1

   Disconnect the motor cables from the drive's output terminals (U, V, W).

2. 2

   Measure the resistance between each pair of motor output terminals (U-V, V-W, U-W) at the drive's output side of the cable; readings should be balanced and non-zero (not 0 Ohms).

3. 3

   Perform an insulation resistance test (Megger) between each motor phase to ground and between phases at the motor terminal box to detect insulation breakdown.

4. 4

   Visually inspect the motor connection box and cable terminations for signs of arcing, carbon tracking, or conductive foreign material.