External Detected Fault

What does EtF mean?

An external protective device or condition, wired to the soft starter's external fault input, has triggered a trip. This indicates a problem originating from a component or system outside the soft starter itself.

• External E-stop circuit (e.g., safety relay, mushroom button) connected to a soft starter digital input (e.g., DI1) has opened.
• Overload relay (e.g., thermal, electronic) protecting downstream equipment, wired to a soft starter digital input (e.g., DI2), has tripped.
• Process interlock (e.g., high-level switch, pressure sensor) configured to trip soft starter via digital input (e.g., DI3) has activated.
• Wiring fault (e.g., loose connection, broken wire) on the external fault input terminal (e.g., terminal 5) preventing proper signal detection.
• Parameter (e.g., P3-01) configuring the digital input for external fault is incorrectly set (e.g., Normally Closed (NC) instead of Normally Open (NO)).

Click steps to track your progress.

1. 1

   1. Identify the specific digital input (e.g., DI1, DI2, DI3) configured for external fault using the relevant parameter (e.g., P3-01, P3-02).

2. 2

   2. Measure voltage at the identified digital input terminal (e.g., terminal 10 for DI1) relative to common (terminal 0V) to verify its state (e.g., 24VDC active, 0V inactive).

3. 3

   3. Inspect all external devices (e.g., E-stop button, thermal overload, safety relay contacts) connected in series with the fault input for their tripped status.

4. 4

   4. Test continuity of wiring from the external fault device's output contacts to the soft starter's digital input terminal (e.g., DI1).

5. 5

   5. Temporarily bypass the external fault device by shorting the soft starter's digital input terminal (e.g., DI1) to the common terminal (0V) to isolate the fault source.