Yaskawa Sigma-7 — Servo Overcurrent

The Sigma-7 drive trips an overcurrent alarm the moment the motor is enabled or under load, halting the axis while the controller logs a servo fault.

Common Causes

These are the failure paths we see most often on the Yaskawa Sigma-7 for a servo overcurrent condition. Likelihood reflects field frequency; First Check is what you can do remotely before sharing logs.

CauseLikelihoodFirst Check
Mechanical bind or overload raising phase currentHighJog the axis slowly by hand with the drive off and feel for a hard stop
Tuning too aggressive (high gain / short settling) for the loadMediumCompare the gain and filter settings to the machine's proven tuning
Motor or encoder cable short / contaminationMediumInspect the cable for damage and measure insulation at the connector
Wrong motor parameter or capacity mismatchLow–MediumConfirm the drive's motor ID and capacity setting matches the attached motor

Step-by-Step Remote Checks

Work through these in order. Each step is something you can perform and report back on without opening the enclosure or swapping parts.

Capture the alarm

Record the exact Sigma-7 alarm code and when it trips — at enable, at speed, or under load. The trigger separates tuning from a hard fault.

Feel for a bind

With the drive disabled, move the axis by hand through its travel. A hard spot that appears only under power means mechanical load, not electronics.

Review the tuning

Read the gain, filter and rigidity parameters and compare to the proven tuning. Over-aggressive gains spike current at enable and trip the drive.

Check the cables

Inspect the motor and encoder cables for damage or moisture and measure insulation at the connector. A partial short shows as overcurrent without a bind.

Confirm motor match

Verify the drive's motor ID and capacity match the attached motor. A mismatch makes the drive push wrong current and trip.

Symptom Pattern & Related Troubleshooting

A Sigma-7 overcurrent is most often mechanical load or tuning, not a failed drive. The trip timing and a hand-jog comparison tell us whether to retune or look at the motor path. Cross-reference the broader collections: Overcurrent / overload alarm · Servo & drive control.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a new drive?

Rarely. We separate mechanical load, tuning and cable faults from a truly failed drive using the trip timing and insulation check.

Can I just lower the gain?

Sometimes, but only after confirming there is no bind. Lowering gain to hide a mechanical fault can let it run damaged. We check load first.

Is it the motor or the encoder?

An insulation check on the motor cable answers it. A short there trips overcurrent; a clean cable points to tuning or load.

Sigma-7 tripping overcurrent?

Send the alarm code and the trip timing. We separate load, tuning and cable faults remotely so you avoid swapping a good drive.

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What We Do NOT Provide

We 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.

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