The ACS580 trips an overvoltage fault — often shown as a DC OVERVOLT or equivalent panel code — during deceleration or under a regenerative load, and the drive may block output until it is reset.
These are the failure paths we see most often on the ABB ACS580 for an overvoltage fault condition. Overvoltage is almost always energy that has nowhere to go — either too-fast deceleration or a load pushing energy back to the DC bus. Likelihood reflects field frequency; First Check is what you can do remotely before sharing logs.
| Cause | Likelihood | First Check |
|---|---|---|
| Deceleration (braking) time too short for the load inertia | High | Check the decel time and whether the trip happens at stop |
| Regenerative load returning energy to the DC bus (overhauling/lowering) | Medium | Note if it trips while the load overhauls the motor |
| Supply voltage spikes or an unstable mains | Medium | Measure the line voltage and check for transients |
| Missing or undersized brake chopper / brake resistor | Low–Medium | Confirm the brake option is fitted and the resistor wattage/ohms are correct |
Work through these in order. Each step is something you can perform and report back on without opening the enclosure or swapping parts.
In the ACS580 panel or Drive Composer, open the fault log and capture the exact fault code and the DC-bus voltage reading at the moment of the trip. That number is what separates decel from supply.
Increase the deceleration time parameter. If the fault moves or disappears, it is braking energy, not a hardware fault — and we can set the right value with you.
Identify whether the load overhauls the motor — a lowering hoist or a descending axis. Regen pushes voltage back to the DC bus and trips overvoltage even on a healthy drive.
Check the mains for spikes or an out-of-range voltage. A weak or noisy point causes intermittent overvoltage that has nothing to do with the load.
If braking is required, verify the brake chopper and resistor are fitted, correctly sized and connected per the ACS580 manual. An absent or undersized resistor is a common cause we flag from the model.
An overvoltage trip on a VFD is an energy-balance problem, not a dead drive. The DC-bus voltage at the moment of the trip is the key number: high during a fast stop points to deceleration, high under a lowering load points to regeneration, and random spikes point to the supply. Cross-reference the broader collections: Drive overvoltage / trip · VFD & braking.
When to escalate: if the fault repeats under a regenerative load, a brake resistor is the usual answer and we size it with you from the motor data; we do not swap the drive. A hardware fault is only suspected if the bus voltage is out of range at rest, and we confirm that from the readings before suggesting any part.
Almost never. Overvoltage is an energy-balance issue; we address decel time and braking. Hardware is only suspected if the DC bus is faulty at rest, and we confirm that from the readings.
Because the motor decelerates faster than the energy can dissipate. Lengthening the decel time or adding controlled braking usually resolves it — the fault log tells us which.
We tell you the correct chopper and resistor sizing and the wiring points from the ACS580 model. Fitting it is on your side, but we guide the selection and the parameter changes.
It helps with supply-side spikes, not with deceleration regen. We separate the two causes from the fault log so you do not add the wrong part.
Send the fault log and the DC-bus voltage at trip. We separate deceleration, regeneration and supply from the log 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.
The other ACS580 insulation fault in the same cluster.
A different VFD current fault with a similar remote path.
Another motor/drive symptom we read remotely.
Full pumps, motors & drives troubleshooting collection.