Download writes the offline project from the PC into the drive. In STARTER: verify the project name → upload the current drive first → Connect → Target device → Download to target device (overwrite all) → Copy RAM to ROM (p0971 = 1) → power-cycle and verify. The control unit type must match the backup, and the firmware should.
- Download is destructive and has no undo.
- Match the CU type; match the firmware where possible.
- Without Copy RAM to ROM, the restore is lost at power-off.
- Re-check the PROFINET name and IP after a restore.
Download Overwrites — Check Before You Click
A restore usually happens on the worst day of a shift: a failed drive, a replacement on the panel and the line stopped. With the wrong project open, one failed drive becomes two.
Compatibility: What Must Match
| Item | Requirement | If it differs |
|---|---|---|
| Control unit type | Must match exactly | Refused or partial load |
| Firmware | Should match; minor step usually OK | Unknown parameters rejected |
| Power module | Should match rating and type | Limits recalculated: verify them |
| Motor | Same motor, or new nameplate data | Wrong protection: silent overheating |
| Safety configuration | Handled separately | Needs its own acceptance test |
Practise drive replacement before you need it
Hands-on STARTER backup, restore and device replacement on live SINAMICS hardware — Pune or online.
The Download Sequence (Try It)
Restore the replacement drive below. Choose overwrite all parameters so no old macro or BICO settings survive. The demo also runs the classic mistake of skipping Copy RAM to ROM.
ROM p1120 =
state:
- Project name verified
- Pre-restore upload saved
- Online
- Downloaded (overwrite all)
- Copied RAM to ROM
- Survived power cycle
Simplified trainer, not Siemens software. The demo also shows the classic failure: skipping Copy RAM to ROM.
Copy RAM to ROM — The Step People Miss
Post-Restore Checklist
| Check | Why |
|---|---|
| Motor nameplate data | The backup describes the original motor |
| Direction on a slow jog | Cheap to check, expensive under load |
| PROFINET name and IP | Must match this position in the controller |
| p0015 vs terminal wiring | A restored macro reassigns every terminal |
| Ramps and current limit | No current-limiting on a normal start |
| Fault-free start and stop | End-to-end proof |
| Fresh upload | Your new known-good backup |
Hands-On Lab: Restore a Drive from Backup
Hands-on- '+LABPRE+'
Mark a value
Note p1120, change it to an obviously different value, and save with p0971 = 1.
Factory reset
Set p0010 = 30 then p0970 = 1.
Verify the project
Open the backup and read the title bar out loud.
Connect and download
Connect, then Target device → Download to target device, overwriting all parameters.
Copy RAM to ROM, then power-cycle
Set p0971 = 1, power down fully, then power up.
Skip the save once, on purpose
Reset, download again without p0971, then power-cycle.
Work the checklist
Restore properly, then check motor data, a slow jog, p0015 and the PROFINET name.
'+CHECK+'
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between download and upload in STARTER?
Download writes your PC project into the drive and overwrites what is there. Upload, shown as “Load to PG”, reads the drive into your project and changes nothing on the drive. Both names are from the PC’s point of view.
Can I restore a backup onto a different control unit type?
No. The control unit type must match: a CU240E-2 PN parameter set will not load correctly into a CU240B-2. Firmware should also match, though a minor version step usually works. Record both with every backup.
Why did my restored drive lose its settings after a power cycle?
Copy RAM to ROM was never run. A download writes into working memory only. Set p0971 = 1 after the download, then power-cycle and check a known parameter before leaving the machine.
What should I check after restoring a drive?
Motor nameplate data against the physical motor, direction on a slow jog, PROFINET device name and IP, p0015 against the actual terminal wiring, ramps and current limit, and a fault-free start and stop. Then take a fresh upload as the new known-good backup.
Why does the PLC report a station failure after a restore?
The backup carries the original drive’s PROFINET device name and IP. If the replacement sits at a different position, set the name and address the controller expects for that position.
Should I back up a drive I am about to replace, even if it is faulty?
Yes. It is the only record of how that drive was actually configured, and there is no undo for a download. It takes two minutes.