Bypass Contactor Detected Fault

What does bPF mean?

A fault has been detected with the soft starter's bypass contactor, indicating an issue with its operation or associated wiring. This prevents the soft starter from entering or maintaining bypass mode, which can lead to motor stoppage or inability to start.

• Bypass contactor auxiliary contact (e.g., NO/NC) wired incorrectly to soft starter digital input (e.g., DI1).
• Coil fault in the bypass contactor (e.g., open circuit, short circuit), preventing proper energization.
• External control circuit (e.g., PLC output) failing to energize or de-energize the bypass contactor coil.
• Soft starter internal relay output (e.g., R1-COM) configured for bypass control has failed or is faulty.
• Mechanical jamming or wear of the bypass contactor poles preventing proper closing or opening.

Click steps to track your progress.

1. 1

   1. Measure voltage across bypass contactor coil terminals; verify it matches control voltage (e.g., 24VDC, 120VAC) when soft starter attempts bypass mode.

2. 2

   2. Check continuity of bypass contactor auxiliary contact (e.g., terminals 13-14) using a multimeter; verify state changes with contactor activation.

3. 3

   3. Inspect bypass contactor poles and arc chutes for signs of excessive arcing, burning, or mechanical damage.

4. 4

   4. Verify wiring integrity from the soft starter bypass control output (e.g., terminal R1-COM) to the bypass contactor coil.

5. 5

   5. Use the soft starter's diagnostic menu (if available) to manually command bypass and observe contactor operation and auxiliary feedback.