IndustrialDriveDataDrive Board & Diagnostic Database
Multi-Brand VFD Diagnostics fault record

GF / EARTH FAULT: Ground fault or earth leakage trip when the VFD runs

The drive powers up but trips on ground fault, earth fault or leakage indication during enable, acceleration or when output voltage is applied.

Meaning of the indication

The fault boundary includes motor winding insulation, motor cable, output contactor, contaminated terminal box, output filter and current/ground-fault sensing electronics.

Checking order

  1. Inspect whether the trip appears only when output voltage is applied, not at idle power-up.
  2. Check motor cable routing, water ingress, damaged insulation and terminal-box contamination.
  3. Verify output contactors, filters and surge suppressors for incorrect placement or insulation breakdown.
  4. Separate true leakage from a damaged sensing path after a module or board failure.
  5. Record cable length and any output reactor/filter before changing drive parameters.

Suspect areas

Motor insulationMotor cableOutput filterTerminal boxGround sensorContamination
Fault-specific caution

Insulation testing must follow the drive and motor manufacturer procedure; do not megger through connected drive electronics.

Diagnostic workflow

Workflow
VFD ground-fault and motor-cable workflow

Ground fault, earth fault or leakage trip occurs when output voltage is applied.

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