Unidrive M100 Drive Fault Codes (2026) – Troubleshooting guide for Nidec Control Techniques Unidrive M100. Learn to interpret mnemonic trip codes like OI.AC, It.AC, and UV, and use Connect software for diagnostics.
The Nidec Control Techniques Unidrive M100 is an economical, easy-to-use AC drive designed for simple open-loop industrial applications. Despite its entry-level positioning, the M100 features robust protection circuits to safeguard the motor and hardware. When an error occurs, the drive stops the motor and displays a mnemonic trip code—an abbreviated English string such as OI.AC (Overcurrent) or OV (Overvoltage).
This 2026 guide provides the essential information to help you decode these strings, access the drive’s internal trip history, and resolve issues to minimize production downtime.
Unidrive M100 Fault Codes Reference Table
Below is the complete reference list of trips and warnings for the Unidrive M100. Please match the code appearing on your drive’s integrated LED display with the details below.
| Fault Code and Meaning | Cause and Remedy | ||||||||
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| C.Acc (185) NV Media Card Write fail | Cause: The drive was unable to access the NV Media Card. If the trip occurs during data transfer to the card, the file may be corrupted. If transferring to the drive, data may be incomplete. Remedy:
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| C.cPr (188) NV Media Card file/data is different to the one in the drive | Cause: A compare has been carried out between a file on the NV Media Card and the drive; parameters are different. Remedy:
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| C.d.E (179) NV Media Card data location already contains data | Cause: An attempt has been made to store data on a NV Media Card in a data block which already contains data. Remedy:
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| C.dAt (183) NV Media Card data not found | Cause: An attempt has been made to access a non-existent file on the NV Media Card. No data is transferred. Remedy:
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| C.Err (182) NV Media Card data structure error | Cause: An error has been detected in the data structure on the card.
Remedy:
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| C.FuL (184) NV Media Card full | Cause: An attempt has been made to create a data block on a NV Media Card, but there is not enough space left on the card. Remedy:
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| C.Pr (175) NV Media Card data blocks are not compatible with the drive derivative | Cause: Drive Derivative (11.028) or Product Type (11.063) are different between the source and target drives.
Remedy:
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| C.rdo (181) NV Media Card has the Read Only bit set | Cause: An attempt has been made to modify data on a read-only NV Media Card or read-only data block. Remedy:
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| C.rtg (186) NV Media Card Trip; Voltage/current rating mismatch | Cause: Parameter data is being transferred but the current and/or voltage ratings are different between source and destination drives. Remedy:
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| C.tyP (187) NV Media Card parameter set not compatible with current drive mode | Cause: Drive mode in the data block is different from the current drive mode, or operating mode is outside allowed range. Remedy:
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| cL.A1 (28) Analog input 1 current loss | Cause: A current loss was detected in current mode on Analog input 1 (Terminal 2). Current fell below 3 mA (in 4-20 mA or 20-4 mA modes). Remedy:
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| Cur.c (231) Current calibration range | Cause: Current calibration range error. Remedy:
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| Cur.O (225) Current feedback offset error | Cause: The current offset is too large to be trimmed. Remedy:
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| d.Ch (97) Drive parameters are being changed | Cause: A user action or file system write is active that is changing drive parameters while the drive is commanded to enable. Remedy:
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| dEr.E (246) Derivative file error | Cause: Derivative file error with sub-trips.
Remedy:
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| dEr.I (248) Derivative product image error | Cause: Error detected in the derivative product image. Identified by sub-trip (e.g., 1: Divide by zero, 30: CRC incorrect, 80: Image not compatible). Remedy:
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| dESt (199) Two or more parameters are writing to the same destination parameter | Cause: Destination parameters of two or more functions (Menus 7 and 8) are writing to the same parameter. Remedy:
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| dr.CF (232) Drive configuration | Cause: The hardware ID does not match the user software ID. Remedy:
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| EEF (31) Default parameters have been loaded | Cause: The EEF trip indicates that default parameters have been loaded. The exact cause can be identified from the sub-trip number (e.g., CRC failure, firmware update, hardware change, or power loss during save). Remedy:
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| Et (6) External trip initiated | Cause: An External Trip has occurred. This is initiated when Parameter 10.032 is set to 1. Remedy:
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| FAn.F (173) Fan fail | Cause: The cooling fan has failed or is obstructed. This trip cannot be reset until 10s after the trip was initiated. Remedy:
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| Fi.Ch (247) File changed | Cause: File configuration has changed. Remedy:
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| FI.In (237) Firmware Incompatibility | Cause: The FI.In trip indicates that the user firmware is incompatible with the power firmware. Remedy:
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| HF01 Data processing error: CPU hardware fault | Cause: A CPU address error has occurred. This trip indicates that the control PCB on the drive has failed. Remedy:
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| HF02 Data processing error: CPU memory management fault | Cause: A DMAC address error has occurred. This trip indicates that the control PCB on the drive has failed. Remedy:
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| HF03 Data processing error: Bus fault | Cause: The CPU has detected a bus fault. This trip indicates that the control PCB on the drive has failed. Remedy:
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| HF04 Data processing error: Usage fault | Cause: The CPU has detected a usage fault. This trip indicates that the control PCB on the drive has failed. Remedy:
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| HF07 Data processing error: Watchdog failure | Cause: A watchdog failure has occurred. This trip indicates that the control PCB on the drive has failed. Remedy:
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| HF08 Data processing error: CPU Interrupt crash | Cause: A CPU interrupt crash has occurred. The crash level is indicated by the sub-trip number. Remedy:
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| HF09 Data processing error: Free store overflow | Cause: A free store overflow has occurred. This trip indicates that the control PCB on the drive has failed. Remedy:
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| HF11 Data processing error: Non-volatile memory comms error | Cause: A non-volatile memory comms error has occurred. Sub-trip 1: Comms error. Sub-trip 2: EEPROM size incompatible with firmware. Remedy:
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| HF12 Data processing error: Main program stack overflow | Cause: The main program stack overflow has occurred. The stack can be identified by the sub-trip number (Derivative or Main system stacks). Remedy:
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| HF16 Data processing error: RTOS error | Cause: An RTOS (Real Time Operating System) error has occurred. Remedy:
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| HF19 Data processing error: CRC check on firmware failed | Cause: The CRC check on the drive firmware has failed. Remedy:
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| HF23 Hardware fault | Cause: General hardware fault detected. Remedy:
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| It.Ac (20) Output current overload timed out (I2t) | Cause: Motor thermal overload based on Motor Rated Current and Thermal Time Constant. The drive trips when the accumulator (Pr 04.019) reaches 100%. Remedy:
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| It.br (19) Braking resistor overload timed out (I2t) | Cause: Braking resistor overload has timed out. Initiated when Braking Resistor Thermal Accumulator (10.039) reaches 100%. Remedy:
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| no.PS (236) No power board | Cause: No communication between the power and control boards. Remedy:
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| O.Ld1 (26) Digital output overload | Cause: Total current drawn from the AI Adaptor 24 V or from the digital output has exceeded the limit. Remedy:
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| O.SPd (7) Motor frequency has exceeded threshold | Cause: In open-loop mode, the Post-ramp Reference exceeds the Over Frequency Threshold in either direction. Remedy:
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| Oh.dc (27) DC bus over temperature | Cause: DC bus component over-temperature based on a software thermal model (Pr 07.035 reaches 100%). Includes effects of output current and DC bus ripple. Remedy:
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| Oht.C (219) Control stage over-temperature | Cause: Control stage over-temperature detected if Cooling Fan control (06.045) = 0. Remedy:
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| Oht.I (21) Inverter over temperature based on thermal model | Cause: IGBT junction over-temperature detected based on software thermal model (reaches 145 °C). Remedy:
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| Oht.P (22) Power stage over temperature | Cause: A power stage over-temperature has been detected. The Thermistor location is identified by the sub-trip. Remedy:
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| OI.A1 (189) Analog input 1 over-current | Cause: Current input on analog input 1 exceeds 24mA. Remedy:
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| OI.AC (3) Instantaneous output over current detected | Cause: The instantaneous drive output current has exceeded VM_DRIVE_CURRENT_MAX. This trip cannot be reset until 10s after the trip was initiated. Remedy:
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| OI.br (4) Braking IGBT over current detected | Cause: Over current has been detected in braking IGBT or braking IGBT protection has been activated. This trip cannot be reset until 10s after the trip was initiated. Remedy:
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| OI.SC (228) Output phase short-circuit | Cause: Over-current detected on drive output when enabled. Possible motor ground fault. Remedy:
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| Out.P (98) Output phase loss detected | Cause: Phase loss has been detected at the drive output. (Sub-trip 1=U, 2=V, 3=W, 4=Output freq >4Hz and disconnected). Remedy:
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| OV (2) DC bus voltage exceeded peak/continuous level | Cause: DC bus voltage has exceeded the VM_DC_VOLTAGE[MAX] or VM_DC_VOLTAGE_SET[MAX] for 15s. Remedy:
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| P.dAt (220) Power system configuration data error | Cause: Error in the configuration data stored in the power system. Trip generated from within drive control system or from power system. Remedy:
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| Pb.bt (245) Power board is in bootloader mode | Cause: Power board is stuck in bootloader mode. Remedy:
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| Pb.Er (93) Communication lost / errors between control and power | Cause: No communications between the control board processor and the power board processor. Remedy:
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| Pb.HF (235) Power board HF | Cause: Power processor hardware fault. The sub-trip number is the HF code. Remedy:
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| Pd.S (37) Power down save error | Cause: An error has been detected in the power down save parameters saved in non-volatile memory. Remedy:
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| PH.Lo (32) Supply phase loss | Cause: Input phase loss or large supply imbalance detected. DC bus ripple exceeds threshold. Remedy:
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| PSU (5) Internal power supply fault | Cause: One or more internal power supply rails are outside limits or overloaded. Remedy:
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| r.b.ht (250) Hot rectifier/brake | Cause: Over-temperature detected on input rectifier or braking IGBT. Remedy:
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| Reserved Trips Various Codes | Cause: These trip numbers are reserved trip numbers for future use. Remedy:
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| rS (33) Measured resistance has exceeded the parameter range | Cause: The measured stator resistance of the motor during an autotune test has exceeded the maximum possible value. This often happens if the motor is very small compared to the drive rating. Sub-trip indications:
Remedy:
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| So.St (226) Soft start relay failed to close, soft start monitor failed | Cause: The soft start relay in the drive failed to close or the soft start monitoring circuit has failed. Sub-trip indications:
Remedy:
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| St.HF (221) Hardware trip has occurred during last power down | Cause: A hardware trip (HF01 – HF18) has occurred and the drive has been power cycled. The sub-trip number identifies the specific HF trip. Remedy:
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| Sto (234) No Safe Torque Off board fitted | Cause: Internal STO board not fitted correctly. Remedy:
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| th.br (10) Brake resistor over temperature | Cause: The hardware based braking resistor thermal monitoring is connected and the resistor overheats. If the braking resistor is not used, bit 3 of Action On Trip Detection (10.037) must be disabled. Remedy:
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| tH.Fb (218) Internal thermistor has failed | Cause: An internal thermistor has failed in the drive (i.e. open circuit or short circuit). The sub-trip identifies the specific thermistor location. Remedy:
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| tun.S (18) Autotune test stopped before completion | Cause: The drive was prevented from completing an autotune test because either the drive enable or the drive run signals were removed. Remedy:
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| tun.1 (11) Required speed could not be reached | Cause: The drive tripped during an autotune because the motor did not reach the required speed (Sub-trip 2). Remedy:
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| U.OI (8) User OI ac | Cause: The output current of the drive exceeded the trip level set by User Over Current Trip Level (04.041). Remedy:
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| U.S (36) User Save error / not completed | Cause: An error has been detected in the user save parameters saved in non-volatile memory (e.g. power removed while saving). Remedy:
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| HF01 – HF23 Internal / Hardware trips | Cause: Internal faults detected by the main drive processor. These are irrecoverable errors. Remedy:
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| br.res Brake resistor overload | Cause: Braking Resistor Thermal Accumulator (10.039) in the drive has reached 75.0 % of the value at which the drive will trip. Remedy:
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| OV.Ld Motor Protection Accumulator Warning | Cause: Motor Protection Accumulator (04.019) in the drive has reached 75.0 % of the value at which the drive will trip and the load on the drive is >100 %. Remedy:
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| d.OV.Ld Drive over temperature | Cause: Percentage Of Drive Thermal Trip Level (07.036) in the drive is greater than 90 %. Remedy:
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| tuning Autotune in progress | Cause: The autotune procedure has been initialized and an autotune is currently in progress. Remedy:
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| LS Limit switch active | Cause: Indicates that a limit switch is active and that is causing the motor to be stopped. Remedy:
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| Lo.AC Low voltage mode | Cause: Drive is operating in Low voltage mode. See Low AC Alarm (10.107). Remedy:
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| I.AC.Lt Current limit active | Cause: The drive current limit is active. See Current Limit Active (10.009). Remedy:
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| 24.LoSt 24V backup not present | Cause: 24V backup supply is missing. See 24V Alarm Loss Enable (11.098). Remedy:
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| inh Drive inhibited | Cause: The drive is inhibited and cannot be run. Either the drive enable signal is not applied to the drive enable terminals or Pr 06.015 is set to 0. (Output Stage: Disabled) Remedy:
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| rdy Ready to run | Cause: The drive enable is active, but the drive inverter is not active because the final drive run is not active. (Output Stage: Disabled) Remedy:
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| Stop Drive stopped | Cause: The drive is stopped / holding zero speed. (Output Stage: Enabled) Remedy:
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| S.Loss Supply loss | Cause: Supply loss condition has been detected. (Output Stage: Enabled) Remedy:
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| dc.inj DC injection braking | Cause: The drive is applying DC injection braking. (Output Stage: Enabled) Remedy:
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| Er Drive tripped | Cause: The drive has tripped and no longer controlling the motor. The trip code appears in the display. (Output Stage: Disabled) Remedy:
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| UV Under voltage | Cause: The drive is in the under voltage state either in low voltage or high voltage mode. (Output Stage: Disabled) Remedy:
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| HEAt Motor pre-heat | Cause: The motor pre-heat function is active. (Output Stage: Enabled) Remedy:
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| PS.LOAD Waiting for power stage | Cause: The drive is waiting for the processor in the power stage to respond after power-up. Remedy:
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Note: On the M100, a “Warning” will flash on the display while the motor continues to run. A “Trip” will be a solid code that causes the motor to coast or ramp to a stop.
How to Read M100 Faults via Connect Software
In 2026, while the M100 is designed for simplicity, complex intermittent issues may require more than just the front display. To access deeper diagnostics, you can connect the M100 to a PC.
- AI-485 Adapter: Since the M100 does not have a built-in serial port, you must use the optional AI-485 adapter (or AI-Backup adapter) to connect the drive to a PC via a CT-USB-Cable.
- Connect Software: Using Nidec’s “Connect” software, you can view the Trip Log. This provides a clearer view of the drive’s status at the time of the trip than the 2-digit mnemonic.
- Trip History (Menu 10): The M100 stores the last 10 trips in Parameters 10.020 to 10.029. Parameter 10.020 always displays the most recent trip.
- Sub-trip Strings: Some trips (like internal hardware faults) have sub-trip strings that provide specific technical data. These are accessible via parameter 10.070 using the software.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the difference between a Trip and a Warning?
A: A Trip (Solid code) is a protective shutdown that stops the motor to prevent damage. A Warning (Flashing code) notifies you that the drive is reaching a limit—such as O.Ld1 (Load Warning)—but it will keep the motor running for as long as it is safe.
Q: How do I reset a Unidrive M100 trip?
A: Once the cause of the fault is resolved, reset the drive via:
- Pressing the Red STOP/RESET button on the keypad.
- Cycling the Main Power (Wait for the display to turn off fully before reapplying power).
- Toggling a Digital Input assigned to the “Reset” function (typically Terminal 4 if configured).
- Sending a reset command via Modbus RTU (requires the AI-485 adapter).
Q: Where is the fault history stored?
A: Fault history is stored in the drive’s non-volatile memory in Menu 10. This log is retained even if the drive is powered down for maintenance.
Q: What does “UV” mean?
A: “UV” stands for Under Voltage. This indicates that the DC bus voltage has dropped below the minimum threshold. This is common during a power outage or if the incoming AC supply sags significantly under load.
Q: What does “ih” mean on the display?
A: “ih” stands for Inhibit. This is a status code, not a fault. It means the drive is healthy but cannot run because the Safe Torque Off (STO) or Enable signal is missing. Check your safety circuit wiring.