Siemens 6RA8018-6DV62-0AA0 Retrofit-Compatible DC Converter

Siemens 6RA8018-6DV62-0AA0 Retrofit-Compatible DC Converter for Legacy System Modernization

The Siemens 6RA8018-6DV62-0AA0 is a ruggedized SINAMICS DC Master four-quadrant DC converter designed for demanding industrial environments where legacy DC drive systems require a reliable, drop-in compatible replacement. Whether you are managing an aging production line built around discontinued SIMOREG DC Master units, upgrading a control cabinet that has exceeded its service life, or migrating from an older SIMOREG K or SIMOREG CM platform, the 6RA8018-6DV62-0AA0 provides a technically sound and commercially available solution that minimizes engineering risk and reduces total downtime during the retrofit process.

This unit supports armature current ratings suited to medium-power DC motor applications and is engineered to interface with existing field wiring, terminal layouts, and motor feedback systems found in legacy installations. Its ruggedized design makes it particularly well-suited for steel mills, paper machines, extruder lines, winding systems, and other continuous-process industries where environmental conditions — including vibration, dust, and temperature extremes — have historically shortened the service life of standard drive hardware.

Upgrade Compatibility Table

Retrofit Planning for Existing Automation Systems

A successful retrofit of the 6RA8018-6DV62-0AA0 into an existing DC drive system begins well before the unit arrives on site. Engineers should start by auditing the existing control cabinet to confirm available mounting space, busbar ratings, and the condition of the incoming AC supply fusing. The upstream transformer or supply network must be verified to support the converter’s input current demand, particularly in applications where the legacy SIMOREG unit was derated or operating at reduced capacity due to age-related derating.

Terminal wiring is one of the most time-sensitive aspects of any DC drive replacement. The 6RA8018-6DV62-0AA0 uses a terminal layout consistent with the SINAMICS DCM family, but engineers migrating from older SIMOREG DC Master hardware should cross-reference the X1 armature terminals, X3 field terminals, and the CUD control board terminal strip against the existing wiring diagram. In many cases, the armature and field cables can be reconnected directly, but control signal wiring — including enable signals, speed reference inputs (typically 0–10 V or ±10 V analog), and digital I/O for fault acknowledgment and drive ready — must be carefully remapped.

For systems using PROFIBUS DP as the primary communication backbone, the 6RA8018-6DV62-0AA0 supports native PROFIBUS integration through its onboard interface. Sites currently running USS protocol over RS485 can continue to use that interface during a transitional phase, allowing the PLC — whether a Siemens S7-300, S7-400, or S7-1500 — to maintain its existing drive control telegram structure while the new hardware is validated. Where PROFINET migration is planned as part of a broader network upgrade, the CBE20 communication board can be fitted to the DCM to enable PROFINET IO connectivity without replacing the PLC or HMI infrastructure.

I/O expansion requirements should also be assessed during the planning phase. If the legacy system relied on external signal conditioning modules or relay interface boards to adapt the SIMOREG’s digital outputs to the plant control system, these may need to be retained or replaced with modern equivalents. Signal isolators rated for 24 V DC logic levels are commonly used in this context to protect the new drive’s CUD board from ground loop interference originating in older field wiring. The SMC30 sensor module can be added to the DCM rack to support encoder feedback where the legacy system used a pulse tachometer, avoiding the need to replace the motor-mounted feedback device.

HMI screens connected to the drive — whether a Siemens TP700 Comfort, TP900 Comfort, or an older OP17 panel — will require screen updates if drive parameter addresses have changed between the SIMOREG and SINAMICS DCM parameter sets. The AOP30 Advanced Operator Panel, which mounts directly to the 6RA8018-6DV62-0AA0, provides a local commissioning and diagnostic interface that can accelerate the initial parameter setup and reduce dependence on a laptop-based commissioning tool during the first power-on sequence.

Backplane and rack compatibility should be confirmed where the drive is installed in a multi-axis cabinet alongside other SINAMICS components. In systems where the DCM shares a cabinet with SINAMICS S120 axis modules or a CU320-2 control unit, the communication architecture between the DC and AC drive sections must be reviewed to ensure that the master-slave torque coupling or coordinated speed reference logic is preserved after the retrofit. Programming cables such as the PC adapter USB or PROFIBUS PC adapter are required for parameter upload and download during commissioning.

Downtime Control During System Migration

Minimizing production downtime is the primary commercial driver behind most DC drive retrofit projects. For the 6RA8018-6DV62-0AA0, the recommended approach is to complete as much pre-commissioning work as possible before the scheduled maintenance window. This includes uploading all parameters from the existing SIMOREG unit using DriveMonitor or a direct serial connection, documenting all analog and digital I/O signal levels under normal operating conditions, and preparing a wiring change list that can be executed by two technicians working in parallel during the outage.

Where the process cannot tolerate an extended outage, a staged migration strategy is advisable. In the first stage, the new 6RA8018-6DV62-0AA0 is installed in a temporary test position within the cabinet or on a bench, powered from a separate supply, and commissioned against a motor load bank or the actual motor running at reduced speed under manual control. This allows the drive’s current regulators, field weakening curves, and speed controller gains to be tuned before the legacy unit is removed from service. In the second stage, the old drive is disconnected, the new unit is moved to the final mounting position, and the pre-tested parameter set is loaded. This approach typically reduces the live switchover window to two to four hours, compared to eight to sixteen hours for a cold-start commissioning approach.

Protecting the original PLC program logic is equally important. Before any hardware changes are made, a full backup of the S7 program — including all data blocks, function blocks, and hardware configuration — should be archived to a secure location. If the drive replacement also involves changes to the PROFIBUS node address or GSD file version, the PLC hardware configuration must be updated and downloaded before the new drive is powered on for the first time in its final position. Failure to synchronize the PLC configuration with the new drive’s communication settings is one of the most common causes of extended commissioning delays in DC drive retrofit projects.

Retrofit Support FAQ

Q: Is the 6RA8018-6DV62-0AA0 a direct replacement for the SIMOREG DC Master 6RA70 series?
A: The 6RA8018-6DV62-0AA0 is the SINAMICS DC Master generation successor to the SIMOREG DC Master 6RA70 series. While it is not a plug-and-play drop-in due to differences in the parameter set and terminal labeling, the electrical interface — armature, field, and control terminals — is functionally compatible. A parameter migration guide is available from Siemens, and our team can provide application-specific wiring cross-reference documentation upon request.

Q: What commissioning steps are required after installation?
A: After mechanical installation and wiring, the drive requires motor data entry (nameplate values), automatic motor identification (rotating or stationary), speed controller optimization, and communication address assignment. If the unit is replacing a SIMOREG, the legacy parameter set should be used as a reference baseline. The AOP30 panel guides the technician through the quick commissioning wizard, and the full parameter set can be backed up via STARTER software once commissioning is complete.

Q: Can the existing PROFIBUS wiring and PLC program be reused without modification?
A: In most cases, yes. The 6RA8018-6DV62-0AA0 supports the same standard drive telegram structures (Telegram 1, Telegram 20) used by the SIMOREG DC Master over PROFIBUS DP. The PLC program’s drive control and status word handling typically does not require modification. However, the PROFIBUS node address must be set to match the legacy unit’s address, and the GSD file in the PLC hardware configuration should be updated to the SINAMICS DCM version to ensure full diagnostic visibility.

Q: What does the 12-month warranty cover, and is a pre-shipment test report available?
A: All units supplied by NINERMAS are covered by a 12-month warranty from the date of shipment. The warranty covers manufacturing defects and functional failures under normal operating conditions. Each unit undergoes a pre-shipment functional test, and a test report confirming key electrical parameters — including armature output, field output, and communication interface verification — is available upon request. In-stock units are typically dispatched within 2–3 business days of order confirmation.