
Allen-Bradley 1336-SN-SP10A inverter snubber faults are commonly associated with excessive switching stress, inverter power component problems, loose electrical connections, or abnormal motor-side conditions rather than the snubber component alone. Effective troubleshooting requires analyzing the complete inverter protection system.
This article describes a field case where an Allen-Bradley 1336 drive experienced repeated overvoltage faults after replacing a snubber component.
Allen-Bradley 1336-SN-SP10A Inverter Snubber Fault Symptoms
Typical symptoms include:
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DC bus overvoltage alarms
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Drive trips during deceleration
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Motor stops unexpectedly
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Power module temperature increases
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Repeated component failure
Field case:
A production machine using an Allen-Bradley 1336 drive experienced frequent overvoltage trips during stopping.
Initial observations:
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Control functions operated normally
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Drive parameters were unchanged
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Fault occurred mainly during deceleration
The maintenance team suspected:
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Snubber failure
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DC bus capacitor problem
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Braking circuit issue
Engineers began troubleshooting from the inverter energy path.
Allen-Bradley 1336-SN-SP10A Fault Diagnosis Process and Voltage Analysis
Troubleshooting path:
Engineers checked:
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Fault timing
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DC bus voltage
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Motor load condition
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Snubber connection
Diagnostic results:
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Control system: Normal
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Input power: Normal
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Fault occurred during energy regeneration
The problem was related to transient voltage management.
Allen-Bradley 1336-SN-SP10A Overvoltage Fault Investigation
Field measurements:
Before repair:
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DC bus voltage: Increased rapidly during stop command
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Fault timing: Deceleration stage
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Motor load: High inertia
Engineers analyzed:
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Deceleration settings
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Motor load characteristics
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Power protection components
The investigation found:
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Deceleration time was too short for the mechanical load
The inverter generated excessive regenerative energy, increasing stress on the DC bus and snubber circuit.
Allen-Bradley 1336-SN-SP10A Root Cause Analysis and Recovery
The final root cause was application-related regenerative stress.
Original condition:
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Normal load operation
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Stable braking performance
Changed condition:
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Increased machine inertia
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Faster stopping requirement
Failure pattern:
Normal condition:
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Controlled energy release
Fault condition:
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Excess regenerative energy
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DC bus voltage rise
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Protection activation
Engineering conclusion:
The snubber was operating as a protection device but the application conditions exceeded the original design parameters.
Allen-Bradley 1336-SN-SP10A Troubleshooting Repair and System Recovery
Corrective actions:
Drive Parameter Adjustment
Performed:
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Increased deceleration time
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Reviewed stopping profile
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Verified braking requirements
Power Section Inspection
Checked:
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Snubber condition
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DC bus components
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Power connections
Final results:
Before repair:
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Frequent drive trips
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Production interruptions
After repair:
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Stable stopping process
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Reduced electrical stress
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Reliable machine operation
Allen-Bradley 1336-SN-SP10A Common Fault Patterns and Diagnostic Methods
DC Bus Overvoltage Fault
Symptoms:
Diagnosis:
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Check braking conditions
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Review deceleration parameters
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Inspect snubber circuit
Repeated Snubber Damage
Symptoms:
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Protection component fails repeatedly
Diagnosis:
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Check IGBT condition
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Inspect power connections
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Analyze switching stress
Intermittent Inverter Fault
Symptoms:
Diagnosis:
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Review fault history
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Check electrical connections
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Inspect motor-side conditions
Allen-Bradley 1336-SN-SP10A Long-Term Maintenance Strategy
For reliable inverter operation:
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Inspect power connections regularly
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Monitor DC bus behavior
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Review motor load changes
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Check braking conditions
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Record fault trends
A practical engineering rule:
“When troubleshooting an Allen-Bradley 1336-SN-SP10A inverter snubber problem, identify the electrical stress source before replacing the protection component.”
Recommended troubleshooting sequence:
Fault history review → DC bus measurement → Power circuit inspection → Motor load analysis → Snubber verification → Final drive operation test.