What the 50204 alarm means

The path/collision supervision detected an unexpected force during motion and stopped the robot — either a real collision or supervision too sensitive for the current load. 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

  • Actual collision with fixture, part or guarding
  • Wrong or missing load data (tool/workobject)
  • Brake not fully released on an axis
  • Aggressive acceleration in a tight path
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. Check for a real collision first; jog clear with supervision temporarily reduced if needed
  2. Enter correct tool and payload data
  3. Verify brake operation on the flagged axis
  4. Re-enable full supervision before resuming automatic mode — never leave it disabled in production
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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Hotline: +86-20-39029800 · WhatsApp: +86-188-1886-2860

Related Motion & Path alarms

50056 — Joint Collision
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 50204 alarm mean?

The path/collision supervision detected an unexpected force during motion and stopped the robot — either a real collision or supervision too sensitive for the current load. In field practice it belongs to the motion & path family of faults.

QCan I clear a ABB 50204 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.