What the 37101 alarm means

The brakes for a mechanical unit fail to engage when commanded. This is a safety-critical fault: the arm may drop when motors are turned off. This is one of the faults our repair team handles on ABB IRC5 / OmniCore (RobotWare) systems — the cause is usually identifiable within the first on-site inspection.

Most common causes

  • Incorrectly configured external brake relay in the motion configuration
  • Faulty brake relay
  • Broken brake wiring
  • Worn or seized brake on the unit
Field note: the first item on this list is what we find most often on real machines. Check it before you go deeper.

Step-by-step field fix

  1. Do NOT leave the robot unpowered with a load until resolved — support the arm mechanically
  2. Verify the external brake relay definition in the motion configuration file
  3. Check the brake relay I/O signal in the I/O configuration
  4. Test the relay and wiring; replace faulty components
  5. Run a brake verification cycle before returning to service
Safety first: never bypass safety circuits or force contactors closed. If the alarm involves E-stop chains, brakes or drive power, and you are not a trained robot technician, contact a professional — wrong moves here can cost you a robot or an injury.

Still stuck? Get an engineer on the phone — right now

Tell us the alarm code, the robot model and what was happening when the alarm came up. Our engineers run these diagnostics every day, and remote diagnosis by phone or video call is free.

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Related Brakes alarms

37096 — Brake Power Fault (MCOB/MCB) 37097 — Brake Short Circuit Fault (Axis N) 37098 — Brake Open Circuit Fault (Axis N)
Other brands: we also keep field-fix libraries for Yaskawa · Universal Robots · Kawasaki and more — see the complete alarm code hub.

Frequently asked questions

QWhat does the ABB 37101 alarm mean?

The brakes for a mechanical unit fail to engage when commanded. This is a safety-critical fault: the arm may drop when motors are turned off. In field practice it belongs to the brakes family of faults.

QCan I clear a ABB 37101 alarm myself?

Sometimes. Work through the step-by-step checks on this page — the first listed cause is what we find most often in the field. If the alarm returns after two attempts, or the fault involves power, brakes or safety circuits, stop and call a qualified robot service engineer.

QHow fast can a Henghuan engineer help?

On-site response in the Pearl River Delta within 30 minutes to 3 hours, across mainland China in 1-3 business days, and worldwide within 2-5 business days. Remote diagnosis by phone/WhatsApp/video is available immediately.

Written by the Henghuan Robotics repair team from field service experience. Alarm descriptions are our own summary for troubleshooting reference and may vary by controller and software version — when in doubt, check your ABB documentation or contact us. Henghuan is an independent service provider, not affiliated with or endorsed by ABB.