Control Techniques / Nidec fault record

Over Volts: DC Bus Overvoltage Trip

Unidrive trips on Over Volts during deceleration, hoist lowering, winder stop or high line condition.

Precision DC-bus and braking fault page10 min read

Scope of this technical record

Routes Unidrive Over Volts searches through DC-link level, deceleration command, regenerative load, brake resistor, brake chopper and feedback hunting before control-board repair is considered.

Safety boundary

DC-link and braking circuits store hazardous energy and brake resistors can be hot. Secure the machine and verify discharge before any measurement or inspection.

Over Volts braking and DC-link image

Unidrive Over Volts DC bus braking resistor and regeneration route diagram
The image places the over-voltage trip inside the stop/lowering/regeneration event where the user actually sees it.

Searcher intent coverage

Over Volts users are usually troubleshooting a stopping/lowering event. The answer must explain regeneration and braking evidence before board suspicion.

Observed situationDecision neededEvidence that satisfies the search
Trip during decelRegeneration/load inertiaDC bus trend and decel time
Brake resistor fittedBrake path conditionResistor value and chopper evidence
Trip in closed-loop runningFeedback huntingEncoder trace and open-loop comparison

What the searcher is deciding

The phrase Over Volts is simple, but the cause is often a machine-energy problem. The question is whether the DC bus rose because the load regenerated energy during stopping/lowering/unwinding, because the braking path could not absorb it, because the line was high, or because unstable feedback made the drive hunt.

A page that only says 'increase decel time' misses repair evidence. The correct route captures when the bus rises, whether a brake resistor is fitted, whether the resistor and chopper are healthy, and whether closed-loop feedback is generating unnecessary regenerative swings.

Over Volts decision table

Treat Over Volts as an event tied to machine movement.

DC-bus energy route

EventLikely boundaryEvidenceNext action
Trips only during decelerationRegenerative load energyStop time, load inertia, bus trendAdjust decel/brake route before board claim
Trips on lowering/overhauling loadRegenerative hoist/winder conditionLoad direction and brake controlProve braking path and mechanical control
Brake resistor fitted but trip remainsResistor, wiring, thermal switch or chopperResistance value, heat marks, chopper commandRepair brake path before drive replacement
Trips while running closed-loopFeedback hunting/regenerationEncoder trace, shield, tuning, open-loop comparisonCorrect feedback/tuning before bus repair
High bus at idleIncoming supply or bus measurementLine voltage and bus readingSupply/DC measurement route

Repair boundary

An internal drive repair becomes credible when the braking path, deceleration demand, supply level and feedback stability have been documented and the bus behaviour remains abnormal. Before that point, a replacement drive may repeat the same Over Volts trip on the first loaded stop.

For repair intake, include a photo of the brake resistor or braking unit, the load type, trip moment, deceleration time and whether the DC bus is high before motion begins.

Field record checklist

  • When Over Volts appears
  • DC bus behaviour before and during stop
  • Load inertia/hoist/winder condition
  • Brake resistor/chopper evidence
  • Line voltage evidence
  • Encoder/feedback stability if closed-loop

Technical basis and reference documents

This is an independent editorial technical reference. Original manufacturer documentation remains controlling for installation, repair and commissioning decisions.

Unidrive SP trip-code referencesControl Techniques / public service references

Used for DC link over-voltage trip-family alignment.

Diagnostic workflow