Siemens Product Families and Fault Codes

Siemens at a glance

Manufacturer: Siemens AG
Relevant areas: Industrial automation, programmable controllers, and drive technology
Selected families: SIMATIC S7-1200, SIMATIC S7-1500, SINAMICS G120
Engineering environment: SIMATIC STEP 7 in TIA Portal and device-specific Siemens documentation
Manufacturer website: siemens.com ↗

Selected Siemens product families

SIMATIC S7-1200

Role: Compact PLC for machine automation.
Typical use: Sensors, actuators, smaller machines, and basic motion control.
Diagnostic identifiers: Motion Control ErrorID values such as 16#8000; separate ErrorInfo values such as 16#000E.
Important: Meaning depends on the instruction, technology object, module, and software version.

SIMATIC S7-1500

Role: Higher-performance PLC for more complex automation.
Typical use: Larger machines, advanced motion, safety, and extensive diagnostics.
Diagnostic identifiers: Motion Control and instruction ErrorID values such as 16#8001 and 16#8010.
Important: A hexadecimal ErrorID is not automatically a CPU hardware fault. Siemens assigns specific meanings to these IDs in its Motion Control documentation.

SINAMICS G120

Role: Variable-frequency drive for electric motors.
Typical use: Motor speed and torque control.
Diagnostic identifiers: Fxxxxx for faults and Axxxxx for alarms; for example, F30001.
Important: Interpretation depends on the exact Control Unit, Power Module, firmware, and documentation version.

How to diagnose a Siemens device

Use the identifier together with the device and its full diagnostic context. A code format alone does not establish the cause.

01Identify the device
What to check: Exact CPU or Control Unit, Power Module, and firmware.
Why it matters: Diagnostic meanings can differ by hardware and software version.
02Capture the exact identifier
What to check: 16#xxxx, Fxxxxx, or Axxxxx, plus the full message and any associated detail value.
Why it matters: The number alone may not provide enough context.
03Identify the source
What to check: CPU, module, instruction, technology object, or drive.
Why it matters: Similar-looking codes can belong to different diagnostic systems.
04Read the detailed diagnostics
What to check: TIA Portal, diagnostic buffer, CPU display, or drive diagnostics, as applicable.
Why it matters: These provide the event context and identify the affected component.
05Match the correct Siemens manual
What to check: The documentation for the installed product, configuration, and version.
Why it matters: This helps avoid interpreting a code using the wrong device or release.

S7-1200LEDs · Online diagnostics · Diagnostic buffer · Instruction diagnostics

S7-1500CPU display · ERROR/MAINT LEDs · System diagnostics · Diagnostic buffer

G120Fault/alarm number · Fault value · Parameters · Operating state

SIMATIC S7-1200 Motion Control ErrorIDs

Five documented ErrorIDs for S7-1200 Motion Control technology objects V4–V5 in Siemens’ V21 documentation. These are not general CPU fault codes. Read the complete ErrorInfo and documentation for the installed technology-object version before interpreting an event.

16#8000 · Drive not ready

16#8000Drive not ready

Documented meaning: The drive reports an error or the “Drive ready” signal has been lost.

Scope: S7-1200 Motion Control technology objects V4–V5; this ErrorID may have a more specific accompanying ErrorInfo.

Open the Siemens source ↗

16#8009 · Reference / zero mark not found

16#8009Reference / zero mark not found

Documented meaning: The reference switch or encoder zero mark could not be detected during homing.

Scope: S7-1200 Motion Control technology objects V4–V5; this ErrorID may have a more specific accompanying ErrorInfo.

Open the Siemens source ↗

16#800A · Encoder alarm

16#800AEncoder alarm

Documented meaning: The encoder has reported an alarm. The accompanying ErrorInfo can distinguish a hardware issue, contamination, absolute-value read error, or bus failure.

Scope: S7-1200 Motion Control technology objects V4–V5; this ErrorID may have a more specific accompanying ErrorInfo.

Open the Siemens source ↗

16#800C · Drive alarm

16#800CDrive alarm

Documented meaning: The drive has reported an alarm. Depending on ErrorInfo, this can involve a lost control request, drive shutdown, or a PROFIdrive station failure.

Scope: S7-1200 Motion Control technology objects V4–V5; this ErrorID may have a more specific accompanying ErrorInfo.

Open the Siemens source ↗

16#800D · Following error exceeded

16#800DFollowing error exceeded

Documented meaning: The permitted deviation between the commanded and actual axis position has been exceeded.

Scope: S7-1200 Motion Control technology objects V4–V5; this ErrorID may have a more specific accompanying ErrorInfo.

Open the Siemens source ↗

SIMATIC S7-1500 Motion Control ErrorIDs

Five Siemens-documented ErrorIDs from S7-1500/S7-1500T Motion Control instructions (V21). They describe instruction and technology-object diagnostics, not general CPU hardware faults. The full diagnostic message and installed software version remain essential.

16#8001 · Technology object alarm

16#8001Technology object alarm

Documented meaning: A technology alarm occurred on the technology object during a Motion Control job. The associated ErrorDetail.Number identifies the specific alarm.