Fix: SINAMICS G120C Drive Missing from STARTER Hardware List

1. Problem Summary

When configuring a SINAMICS G120C compact drive from the 1KE product family in SIMATIC STARTER V4.3.1.2, the article number does not appear in the device catalog that the "Insert New Drive Unit" wizard displays. The user enters the MLFB (Machine-Readable Product Designation) or filters the G120C family and no matching device is offered, even though the SINAMICS Support Package (SSP) G120 has been installed and other SINAMICS G120C variants are visible in the same catalog.

This symptom has been reported for the following three SINAMICS G120C drives from the 1KE frame-size family with PROFIBUS DP interface:

• 6SL3210-1KE13-2AP0
• 6SL3210-1KE18-8AP0
• 6SL3210-1KE22-6AP0

The article-number suffix -AP0 denotes a PROFIBUS DP interface on the Control Unit (CU). The root cause is a firmware version selection mismatch in the Insert New Drive Unit wizard: the -xAP0 article numbers shipped with SINAMICS firmware V4.4 and are not present in the V4.5 device catalog. Selecting V4.5 hides the article number from the visible list; selecting V4.4 restores it.

2. Affected Article Numbers and Software Stack

3. Root Cause: Firmware Version Selection in STARTER

STARTER's offline device catalog is not a single flat list. It is partitioned by the SINAMICS firmware version that the user intends to commission, because each firmware release ships its own set of device descriptions (EDD files), parameter lists, fault and warning bitmaps, and BICO interconnections. When a new project is created and the user is prompted to "Insert New Drive Unit" (German: "Neues Antriebsgerät einfügen"), the wizard exposes three selectors:

1. Device Family — e.g., SINAMICS
2. Device — e.g., G120, G120C, G120D, G120P, G110M, S110, S120, S150, V90, etc.
3. Firmware Version — e.g., V4.3, V4.4, V4.5, V4.6, V4.7, V5.1, V5.2 (the list shown is the union of versions installed by every SSP present on the PC)

The article numbers visible in the subsequent "Select device" pane are filtered to those that are valid for the chosen firmware version. If the user selects a firmware version that does not include the 1KE product family, the 6SL3210-1KE13-2AP0, 6SL3210-1KE18-8AP0, and 6SL3210-1KE22-6AP0 entries vanish from the visible list even though the SINAMICS Support Package G120 is correctly installed.

In the reported case, the user had selected V4.5. The target drives, however, are V4.4 builds, and only V4.4 of the catalog contains the -xAP0 article numbers. Switching the firmware selector from V4.5 to V4.4 in the same wizard immediately restored the entries and allowed normal project insertion.

This is purely a UI filtering issue. It is not:

• A missing SSP G120 install (other G120C variants were visible, proving the SSP was present)
• A missing license (STARTER V4.3.1.2 does not require a separate license for SINAMICS G120/G120C use)
• A PC interface problem (the issue occurs offline, before any communication attempt)
• A corrupted project or a wrong project version

The drive's actual firmware version can be confirmed on the nameplate (label on the side of the CU, second line) or, once the drive is reachable online, by reading the following parameters on the Control Unit:

On the SINAMICS G120C, firmware V4.4 reports r0019[0] = 4.40 (or as a string, "04040000" in older G120 builds). V4.5 reports 4.50. The exact encoding depends on whether the firmware predates or postdates the V4.4/V4.5 split; consult the SINAMICS G120C List Manual for the firmware version of your specific CU hardware revision.

4. Prerequisites

To apply the fix you need:

• A Windows PC with administrator rights. STARTER installs PC-internal services (e.g., the SIMATIC automation license manager service, the S7DOS help service) and unpacks the SINAMICS device description packages into the STARTER install tree.
• SIMATIC STARTER V4.3.1.2 or a higher STARTER version that contains the G120C device description for firmware V4.4. The V4.4 device descriptions for G120C are part of the SSP G120 that ships with STARTER V4.3 and later.
• The SINAMICS Support Package (SSP) G120 installed in STARTER. The SSP contains the EDD/EDS files for G120, G120C, G120D, G120P, G110M, and S110, and it is required for offline configuration of these drives. The SSP is available for download from the Siemens Industry Online Support (SIOS) entry "SIMATIC STARTER / SIMATIC commissioning tools" — search for the keyword "SSP G120" to find the latest package version.
• The nameplate of the target drive (printed on the side of the Control Unit) so that the exact article number and the firmware version can be confirmed before the project is inserted.
• Optional but recommended: physical access to the drive to read parameters r0019 / r0965 over a USB cable, Ethernet/PROFINET, or PROFIBUS to confirm the firmware version that the drive actually contains.

5. Step-by-Step Resolution

1. Launch STARTER V4.3.1.2 from the Windows Start menu (Siemens Automation > SIMATIC > STARTER). Confirm the version under Help > About. The build string should end in 4.3.1.2 or a later 4.3.1.x service pack.
2. Open the target project. If no project exists, create one: Project > New, enter a project name, click OK. The project name is local to the PC and is not pushed to the drive.
3. Start the Insert New Drive Unit wizard. In the project tree, right-click the project name and select Insert New Drive Unit (or Insert > Drive Unit). The wizard dialog appears.
4. Step 1 — Device selection. Set the three selectors as follows:
   • Device Family: SINAMICS
   • Device: G120C
   • Firmware Version: V4.4 — not V4.5. The drop-down may also offer V4.3, V4.4, V4.5, V4.6, V4.7, V5.1, V5.2 depending on which SSPs are installed. The required value for the 1KE AP0 article numbers is V4.4.
5. Step 2 — Communication interface. Choose the fieldbus that matches the physical CU:
   • PROFIBUS DP for 6SL3210-1KE...AP0 drives. The CU has a 9-pin D-sub PROFIBUS connector. Confirm the PROFIBUS address and baud rate against the drive's parameter p0918 (PROFIBUS node address) and the connected master configuration.
   • PROFINET for 6SL3210-1KE...AD0 drives.
   • USS / Modbus RTU for 6SL3210-1KE...AU0 drives.
   • EtherNet/IP is not natively supported on the G120C; for Ethernet/IP integration use the G120 with a CU250S-2 or a third-party gateway.
6. Step 3 — Drive parameters (optional). If the wizard prompts for a default speed, frame size, or motor type, accept the defaults and click Next. These values can be edited later in the parameter view.
7. Click Finish to insert the drive. The drive should now appear in the project tree with its full article number, for example:

   Project
    └── SINAMICS_G120C
         └── G120C_6SL3210-1KE13-2AP0_V4.4

8. Verify the article number in the drive's Properties > Device Identification pane. The MLFB must read exactly 6SL3210-1KE13-2AP0 (or the corresponding variant). A mismatch indicates the wrong filter, wrong interface, or a non-AP0 variant was selected.
9. Compile the project (Project > Compile > All or right-click the drive > Compile > Check). A successful compile confirms that the device description for the 1KE family is correctly resolved.
10. Go online (Online > Go Online) and download the project to the drive. If STARTER detects a firmware version mismatch between the offline selection and the online drive, it will issue a warning. Acknowledge only if the mismatch is intentional (e.g., upgrading firmware on a non-running machine); otherwise, cancel and correct the project firmware selection first.

6. Verification

After the wizard has been re-run with firmware V4.4 selected, perform the following checks to confirm the catalog issue is fully resolved:

1. Project tree shows the article number. Expand the drive node in the project tree; the label must include the full MLFB (6SL3210-1KE13-2AP0, 6SL3210-1KE18-8AP0, or 6SL3210-1KE22-6AP0) and the firmware suffix (V4.4).
2. Device Identification pane is populated. Right-click the drive > Properties > Device Identification. The MLFB, vendor, and device name fields must all be filled. An empty MLFB indicates a broken device description link.
3. Parameter list is populated. Double-click Parameters in the project tree. If the parameter list is empty or shows only a few default parameters, the EDD file for V4.4 is missing or has been overwritten by a later SSP. Re-install the SSP G120.
4. Compile without errors. Project > Compile > All. Look in the Output window for messages such as "device description for 6SL3210-1KE13-2AP0 V4.4 found" or absence of "device description not found" errors.
5. Go Online is clean. Online > Go Online. If the drive is reachable on PROFIBUS or PROFINET, the online state should turn green. If STARTER reports "online/offline comparison: differences found", this is normal for a first download; click Download to target device to commit the project.
6. Read r0019 on the online drive to verify that the drive's actual firmware version is indeed V4.4. If the drive reports V4.5 or V4.6, the physical drive is a later build; in that case the catalog entry to use is V4.5 or V4.6, and the article number may have a different suffix. Re-check the nameplate.

7. SINAMICS G120C Article Number Decoding (1KE Family)

The SINAMICS G120C MLFB has the structure 6SL3210-1KE<rating><option>. The 1KE family ships with the Control Unit integrated into the Power Module, eliminating the separate CU that the larger G120 platform uses.

The three article numbers reported in this scenario (all with the -AP0 PROFIBUS DP suffix):

• 6SL3210-1KE13-2AP0 — 1.1 kW G120C, PROFIBUS DP, with integrated line filter
• 6SL3210-1KE18-8AP0 — 4.0 kW G120C, PROFIBUS DP, with integrated line filter
• 6SL3210-1KE22-6AP0 — 7.5 kW G120C, PROFIBUS DP, with integrated line filter

8. SINAMICS Support Package (SSP) G120 Installation

The SSP G120 contains the device descriptions, parameter lists, and fault/warning bitmaps for the entire G120 family (G120, G120C, G120D, G120P, G110M, S110). It must be installed for STARTER to recognize the drives offline.

1. Download the latest SSP G120 from the Siemens Industry Online Support (SIOS). The package is published as "SINAMICS Support Package G120" and the executable filename is typically SSP_G120_Vx_y_z.exe.
2. Close STARTER before running the SSP installer. The installer writes EDD files into the STARTER install tree (e.g., C:\Program Files\Siemens\Automation\STARTER\Devices\SINAMICS\G120) and registers them with the automation license manager service.
3. Run the SSP installer with administrator rights. The installer prompts for the target STARTER installation; select the V4.3.1.2 installation. If a newer STARTER is also installed, the SSP can be installed for both.
4. After the installer completes, restart STARTER. The new firmware versions and article numbers become visible in the Insert New Drive Unit wizard on the next project open.
5. Verify the installation: in STARTER, Options > Device Descriptions should show a populated G120 entry with several firmware versions and a list of article numbers including the 1KE family.

Multiple SSP versions can coexist on the same PC. For example, SSP G120 V4.4 and SSP G120 V4.5 can both be installed; the wizard then offers both firmware versions in the firmware selector. The G120C 1KE AP0 article numbers are only present in the V4.4 build, so it is essential to install at least one SSP that ships firmware V4.4 device descriptions.

9. Alternative Commissioning Path: TIA Portal / Startdrive

From TIA Portal V13 SP1 onward, the SINAMICS G120C can be commissioned using Startdrive, the integrated drive commissioning plug-in for TIA Portal. Startdrive removes the need to install STARTER and the SSP G120 separately; the device descriptions are delivered with the Startdrive option package.

For G120C drives from the 1KE family, the corresponding TIA Portal / Startdrive option package is Startdrive V13 SP1 or later. The relevant article numbers and firmware versions are loaded automatically when Startdrive is installed. The V4.4 and V4.5 firmware versions are both supported; the same firmware filter logic applies, so it is still necessary to select the firmware version that matches the physical drive.

Advantages of Startdrive over STARTER:

• Single tool for PLC and drive commissioning in a unified project (S7-1200 / S7-1500 / ET 200 + G120/G120C/G120D)
• Automatic device-description update through TIA Portal's online update mechanism
• Library-compatible function blocks (e.g., SINA_SPEED, SINA_POS) for SIMATIC S7 motion control
• Project-level change tracking and online/offline comparison integrated with the PLC project

Advantages of STARTER over Startdrive:

• Free of charge for SINAMICS-only use
• Works on Windows versions that are no longer supported by recent TIA Portal releases (e.g., Windows 7 / Server 2012 R2)
• Detailed BICO editor for users who need low-level drive parameter access
• Scripting interface (STARTER scripting API) for batch drive configuration

For plants that are mixed PLC + drive, the recommended path is Startdrive. For standalone drive commissioning or for legacy plants that cannot be upgraded to the latest TIA Portal, STARTER V4.3.1.2 with SSP G120 remains the correct choice.

10. Troubleshooting Matrix

11. Field-Proven Caveats

Several subtle issues can cause the same "article number missing" symptom, all of which are easy to overlook during commissioning:

• Multiple STARTER installs on the same PC. If STARTER V4.3.1.2 and STARTER V4.4 (or STARTER V5.x) are both installed, the SSP installer may register device descriptions to only one of the installs. Open the V4.3.1.2 instance and check Options > Device Descriptions; the G120 entries must point to the V4.3.1.2 install tree, not the V4.4 tree.
• 32-bit vs 64-bit install. STARTER V4.3.1.2 is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit variants. The SSP installer must match the bitness of the STARTER install. Installing a 32-bit SSP into a 64-bit STARTER will silently fail to register the device descriptions.
• Windows user account control. The SSP installer must be run as administrator, otherwise the EDD files are written to a per-user location that STARTER does not read. The symptom is that the installer reports success but the new article numbers never appear.
• Stale cache in the project tree. After installing a new SSP, the existing project tree may still show the old article-number list. Close the project, restart STARTER, and reopen the project; STARTER re-reads the catalog on project open.
• Firmware version naming convention. STARTER displays firmware versions in the wizard as V4.4, V4.4 SP1, V4.4 SP2, etc. The base V4.4 entry is the unpatched firmware, and the SP entries are the service-pack updates. For a drive that ships with V4.4 SP3, select V4.4 SP3 (or any later V4.4 SPx) in the wizard; selecting V4.5 will still hide the article number.
• Drive firmware that is in between two named releases. Drives that have been field-upgraded to a custom firmware (e.g., V4.4.5.10) may not match any named release in the wizard. In that case, pick the closest lower named release (e.g., V4.4 SP3) and accept the warning during download.
• Licensed vs unlicensed G120 variants. STARTER V4.3.1.2 does not require a license for G120/G120C, but some third-party or co-branded SINAMICS variants do. The symptom is the same (article number missing), and the fix is a license key, not a firmware selector change.