Motor overtemperature

What does 16 mean?

The drive's internal motor temperature model or an external sensor indicates that the motor is operating at an excessively high temperature, primarily due to an overly heavy load. Prolonged motor overtemperature will degrade the motor winding insulation, leading to premature motor failure and increased energy consumption.

• Sustained motor overload (e.g., operating above rated current for extended periods) causing excessive winding heating.
• Inadequate motor cooling due to blocked ventilation fins, failed motor cooling fan, or high ambient temperature.
• Motor running at low speeds for extended periods (below 20 Hz) without independent cooling (e.g., forced ventilation kit).
• Incorrect motor parameters (e.g., P7-02 Motor Rated Current, P7-03 Motor Rated Frequency) entered into the drive, leading to an inaccurate thermal model.
• Faulty external motor thermistor (PT100, PTC) or its wiring connection to the drive's analog input, providing an erroneous high temperature reading.

Click steps to track your progress.

1. 1

   Measure the actual motor current (U, V, W phases) using a clamp meter and compare it against the motor nameplate FLA and the drive's output current (A5-04).

2. 2

   Clean motor cooling fins and ensure the motor's integral fan is operating correctly and not obstructed.

3. 3

   Verify motor parameters programmed in the drive (e.g., P7-02, P7-03, P7-04 for motor rated current, frequency, and voltage) against the motor nameplate.

4. 4

   If an external thermistor is used, disconnect it from the drive and measure its resistance (e.g., at terminals X1-1, X1-2) with a multimeter, comparing against a temperature-resistance chart for the sensor type.

5. 5

   Increase the drive's motor thermal overload warning threshold (e.g., P5-05, "Motor Overload Warning") or motor cooling factor (e.g., P7-08) if the motor has forced ventilation.

6. 6

   Verify proper sizing of the motor for the application load profile. If consistently overloaded, consider upsizing the motor.