Siemens SINAMICS S120 Alarm A01697 SI Motion Test Required

Getting Siemens S120 Alarm A01697? Learn how to perform the forced checking procedure, configure the p9559 timer, and use p9705 to clear this SI Motion message.

 

If you are operating a Siemens SINAMICS S120 drive system with Safety Integrated functions enabled, you will eventually see Alarm A01697. Unlike many other drive faults, this code does not usually indicate a hardware failure or a wiring error. Instead, it is a "maintenance" request from the drive's safety logic.

Alarm A01697 (SI Motion: Motion monitoring functions must be tested) indicates that the timer for the forced checking procedure has expired. Here is a guide to understanding why this happens and how to clear it.

What is the Forced Checking Procedure?

Safety standards (such as EN ISO 13849-1 and IEC 61508) require that safety-related shutdown paths be tested periodically to ensure they are still functional. This is done to maintain the PFH (Probability of Failure per Hour) value of the system.

The SINAMICS S120 uses a "Test Stop" or "Forced Checking Procedure" to verify that its internal safety circuits can still interrupt the power to the motor. If the drive sits in a powered-on state for too long without this test being performed, it triggers A01697 as a reminder.

Key Parameters Involved

• p9559: This parameter sets the time interval for the forced checking procedure. The maximum allowable time is 9000 hours. Once this many hours have passed since the last test, the alarm triggers.
• p9705: This is the "BI: SI Motion forced checking procedure signal source." It defines the digital signal (usually from a PLC or a physical button) that initiates the test.

Important Characteristics of A01697

• No Safety Stop: This message is an alarm, not a fault. It does not result in a safety stop response, meaning the motor can still run. However, your system is technically no longer in compliance with safety standards until the test is completed.
• Booting Logic: The drive does not automatically check shutdown paths during boot-up. Therefore, if the timer has already expired, the alarm will appear immediately after the drive finishes booting.

How to Fix and Clear Alarm A01697

1. Locate the Trigger Signal (p9705)

Check the value of parameter p9705 in your drive configuration (using STARTER or Startdrive). This will show you which bit is assigned to start the test. Common sources include:

• A digital input from a PLC via PROFIsafe.
• A specific bit in the Control Word.
• A physical key switch wired to a terminal.

2. Execute the Test

To clear the alarm, you must physically trigger the signal defined in p9705. The drive will perform the internal check of the shutdown paths. Once the test sequence is successful:

• The A01697 message will be withdrawn.
• The internal timer will reset to zero.
• The monitoring period (p9559) starts over.

3. Adjust the Timer (Optional)

If the alarm is appearing too frequently for your production cycle, you can increase the interval in p9559. However, ensure that the new time interval still complies with your machine's specific safety risk assessment and local regulations.

Summary Checklist

Step	Action
1. Identify	Confirm that the alarm is A01697 and not a different SI Fault.
2. Trace	Find the signal source for the test in p9705.
3. Trigger	Toggle the test signal (via PLC or physical input).
4. Verify	Ensure the alarm clears and the drive returns to "Ready" status.