Hello everyone, one of our clients experienced a Fault 17: Input Phase Loss on their relatively new AB Powerflex VFD today. Despite understanding the concept behind this fault, I find it hard to believe it is truly a phase loss issue. Other VFDs running on the same three phases are functioning normally, which leads me to question if the fault is indeed related to a phase loss. Could a loose power connector terminal be causing this issue? I have also come across information suggesting that "input phase loss" could actually indicate excessive DC ripple, possibly due to bus capacitors. However, considering this drive was recently integrated, is this scenario likely? Does AB have a reputation for producing low-quality drives? Your insights are greatly appreciated!
Each drive's fuse is separate, have you inspected the fuses to see if any are blown? If the fuses are intact, ensure all connections are secure. While a phase loss would typically affect all drives, a defective circuit sensing phase loss could be the issue. Go through the necessary checks such as fuses and loose terminals, and if the problem persists, consider replacing the drive.
I believe this may be a PowerFlex 753 drive, and if so, you have the option to address the fault through the parameters. For further information, you can consult a Tech Connect article on this topic. In terms of the overall quality of Allen Bradley (AB) drives, they are on par with other manufacturers in terms of performance and reliability.
Greetings, community! A customer recently encountered Fault 17: Input Phase Loss on their newly installed AB Powerflex VFD. It appears to be a 753-755 series, and experts suggest that programming adjustments may resolve the issue. Could the client be experiencing issues with a floating delta or high resistance ground? In the event of a ground fault, false reports about phase loss may occur.
I appreciate all the responses! The electrician has arrived on the site, and I will provide an update on their findings.
Powerflex drives do not directly monitor the incoming power lines for phase loss. Instead, phase loss is identified by examining the DC bus ripple. However, issues such as a faulty DC bus capacitor can also result in phase loss. It is recommended to initially check for common issues like loose connections and blown fuses before delving into more complex troubleshooting. This will help in ensuring the smooth operation of the Powerflex drives.
It's good that you're being thorough about investigating your Fault 17 issue. Although I agree that an actual phase loss seems unlikely given your other VFDs are functioning fine, it's still possible that this particular drive could have a loose or bad connection causing the issue. As for the speculation about excessive DC ripple, you're correct that worn or failing bus capacitors could cause this, but it seems less likely given the newness of the drive. Lastly, in my experience, AB doesn't have a reputation for producing low-quality drives, so it'd be surprising if manufacturing defects were at play. Perhaps have an electrician look over the installation and connections to rule out any physical issues before investigating the internals.
Hello! It’s indeed possible that a loose power connector can cause a "Fault 17: Input Phase Loss," as it may interrupt the power supply. However, coming to the point of DC ripple, even though the drive is new, don't rule out the capacitors. Sometimes manufacturing defects can cause failure despite being new. Regarding AB's reputation, they are known for their premium quality drives. It's possible that this situation is an exception rather than representative of the general quality of AB products. Given the circumstances, I'd strongly recommend a site inspection to identify the root cause.
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Answer: Answer: Fault 17 typically indicates a potential issue with the input power phases of the VFD.
Answer: Answer: Yes, a loose power connector terminal could potentially cause issues leading to Fault 17 on the VFD.
Answer: Answer: Yes, excessive DC ripple, possibly due to bus capacitors, could also trigger the Input Phase Loss fault on the VFD.
Answer: Answer: Allen Bradley generally has a good reputation for producing high-quality drives, so the likelihood of a quality issue being the root cause of the problem is relatively low.
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