Multi-Brand VFD Diagnostics fault record

DC BUS OV: DC bus overvoltage during deceleration

The drive runs normally but trips on overvoltage when stopping, ramping down, lowering a load or decelerating a high-inertia machine.

High-priority process fault route6 min read

Scope of this technical record

DC bus overvoltage trips that appear during deceleration, stopping, lowering or other regenerative machine states.

Safety boundary

DC-link and braking hardware can remain hazardous and hot after shutdown. Work must follow qualified isolation and rated braking-component procedure.

The useful interpretation

A deceleration overvoltage usually means the motor is returning energy into the DC link faster than the drive can absorb, dissipate or return it. That makes the fault a system-energy problem before it is a board-replacement problem.

The route starts with machine timing and parameter configuration: stop mode, ramp-down time, overvoltage stall/control, braking enable and load direction. Then it moves to brake resistor wiring, chopper hardware, DC-bus feedback and common-DC-bus interaction.

Evidence map

If lengthening the ramp removes the trip, braking capacity or machine inertia is implicated. If the trip remains with gentle ramps, suspect bus feedback, incoming supply condition or system-level DC-link interaction. If braking hardware is fitted but never heats or shows no switching evidence, chopper/resistor routing becomes the priority.

Overvoltage during deceleration route

EvidenceLikely boundaryNext step
Trip only on fast stopRamp/load inertiaReview decel time and stop mode
Brake resistor fitted but no effectChopper/resistor pathCheck wiring, resistance and enable
Trip on lowering or unwindingRegenerative loadReview braking or regenerative front end
Common DC bus presentSystem energy exchangeCheck other drives returning energy
Measured bus disagrees with panelBus feedbackInspect sensing path

Field record checklist

  • Fault timing during decel/stop/lowering
  • Ramp-down and stop-mode settings
  • Brake resistor value and wiring
  • Internal or external braking unit status
  • Common DC bus or regenerative unit presence
  • Measured bus evidence if qualified

Technical basis and reference documents

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

VFD overvoltage deceleration workflowIndustrialDriveData

Linked workflow for DC-link overvoltage triage.

Diagnostic workflow