The ATV320 trips an overcurrent fault (OCF) at start or under load, the motor stalls, and the drive shows the fault on its display.
Here are the most common failure paths on the Schneider Electric ATV320 when overcurrent fault is the reported condition. Frequency reflects real field reports; First Check is the remote step to take before sending us your logs.
| Cause | Likelihood | First Check |
|---|---|---|
| Motor or cable short to ground / phase-to-phase | High | Measure motor and cable insulation and check for a burnt smell at the terminals |
| Mechanical overload or a seized load at start | Medium | Try to turn the load by hand and check for a bind or a stuck pump/compressor |
| Tuning too fast (high acceleration) for the inertia | Medium | Compare ACC and DEC times to the load's proven profile |
| Wrong motor parameters (power, current, ratio) | Low — Medium | Confirm the drive's motor settings match the nameplate |
Work through these in order. Each step is something you can perform and report back on without opening the enclosure or swapping parts.
Note whether OCF appears at power-on, at start, or under load. Tripping at start points to motor/cable; under load points to tuning or mechanical.
With the drive off, measure the motor and cable insulation to ground and between phases. A low reading is a hard short the drive correctly blocks.
Turn the load by hand. A seized pump, jammed coupling or over-tight belt raises current at start and trips OCF even with a perfect drive.
Check ACC/DEC and the motor parameters against the nameplate. Too-fast acceleration on a heavy inertia spikes current and trips the drive.
After the motor tests clean and tuning is set, retry from a low speed. A clean start to full speed means the cause was tuning or load, not the drive.
An ATV320 OCF is a motor, cable or load fault far more often than a failed drive. The trip timing plus an insulation measurement tell us whether to retune or replace the motor lead. Cross-reference the broader collections: Overcurrent / short fault · VFD & motor control.
Rarely. We separate motor short, mechanical bind and tuning from a failed drive using the trip timing and an insulation test.
No. The OCF limit protects the transistors. Raising it to mask a short can destroy the drive. We address the cause first.
A load you cannot turn by hand is the cause, not the drive. We confirm the bind before touching any parameter.
Send us the error code, a photo of the screen and what you already tried — an independent specialist reviews your case and replies with an evaluation, typically within 24 hours.
Submit Your CaseShare the trip timing and the insulation reading. We separate motor, load and tuning faults remotely so you avoid swapping a good drive.
Submit Your Case Connect With SpecialistsWe do not perform hardware repair, we do not replace parts, and we cannot promise a 100% resolution. Our role is limited to remote diagnostic and step-by-step guidance based on the information, photos and logs you share.
Before changing drive parameters or replacing parts, verify against the official documentation from Schneider Electric:
Tip: for simple issues, a general-purpose AI assistant can help you interpret a fault code — but always cross-check any corrective action against the official manual before applying it.
When the fault is the drive link, not the current.
A similar VFD insulation fault on another brand.
Full pumps, motors & drives troubleshooting collection.