SINAMICS STARTER 6SL3352-1AE32-6AA1 Power Block Configuration

The Siemens order number 6SL3352-1AE32-6AA1 frequently appears as a missing entry in the SINAMICS STARTER commissioning tool, even when the installed STARTER version is a current Service Pack. The root cause is not a STARTER bug, firmware defect, or a corrupted Support Package; the order number on the label being typed into the topology tree is a spare-part power block, not the complete Power Module order number that STARTER uses to build its drive object catalog. This reference explains the hardware hierarchy, identifies the correct MLFB to use, and provides a verified commissioning procedure for SINAMICS S120 power blocks operating with SINAMICS STARTER V5.4 SP2 HF1 (V5.4.2.1) and current STARTER releases.

1. Problem Description

A typical field scenario follows this pattern:

1. Engineer or service technician receives a SINAMICS S120 chassis-format drive from a Siemens spare-parts order, spare-parts inventory, or field service replacement.
2. The label on the front of the unit shows 6SL3352-1AE32-6AA1.
3. The engineer opens SINAMICS STARTER, creates a new project, inserts the control unit (CU320-2 DP/PN), and tries to insert a Power Module or Motor Module into the topology tree.
4. The power-unit drop-down in the configuration dialog does not contain the entry 6SL3352-1AE32-6AA1.
5. The engineer assumes STARTER V5.4 SP2 HF1 (build 5.4.2.1) is missing Support Package data, and either attempts to install a Service Pack, a Support Package, or an HF that does not address the issue.

The visible result is identical to a STARTER install that is missing SINAMICS S120 support data, but the corrective action differs. Recognizing the hardware hierarchy resolves the issue without any software update.

2. Hardware Identification: Power Block vs. Power Module

The Siemens 6SL3352-1AE32-6AA1 is a power block (spare-part designation) belonging to the SINAMICS S120 Smart Line Module / Power Module chassis family. Siemens publishes spare-part power blocks separately from the corresponding complete Power Module MLFB because:

• The power block is the internal power section (IGBT stack, gate drivers, DC link capacitor bank, current sensors, heat sink assembly) without the chassis front cover, control interface board, terminal block, fans, or nameplate.
• Field-replaceable units are stocked by Siemens as 6SL3-prefix spare parts so a defective power section can be swapped without sending the entire Power Module back for repair.
• Each complete Power Module can map to multiple spare-part power blocks depending on hardware revision, current rating, and voltage class.

The spare-part number does not contain enough information for STARTER to map firmware, parameters, and DRIVE-CLiQ topology because it omits the complete converter's order number, hardware release, and software compatibility label. STARTER's online catalog is keyed to the complete Power Module MLFB printed on the nameplate of the assembled unit, not on the bare power block itself.

2.1 Typical SINAMICS S120 Spare-Part Hierarchy

3. SINAMICS STARTER Version Compatibility

The currently maintained STARTER versions and their associated Hotfix (HF) updates are tracked under Siemens Industry Online Support entry ID 26233208 — SINAMICS STARTER. The latest three major STARTER releases (typically V5.4, V5.5, V5.6) are published with their corresponding Service Packs and HFs, and the matching SINAMICS Support Packages are linked from the same article.

4. Root Cause Analysis

The drop-down list in STARTER's Insert Power Unit dialog enumerates complete Power Module order numbers as listed in the active Support Package. The list is generated from the SSD (SINAMICS Support Data) database that ships with each Support Package release. Sub-component part numbers — power blocks, fans, control boards, capacitors — are intentionally excluded because:

1. STARTER parameterizes a drive object, which corresponds to the complete converter, not its internal hardware sub-blocks.
2. Firmware is tied to the complete PM MLFB and its hardware release. Sub-assembly replacement does not introduce a new drive object.
3. Inserting a power block as a standalone drive object would generate a parameter set with no valid firmware to load.

Therefore, the engineering problem is a labeling/source-data mismatch, not a tool deficiency. Once the complete Power Module MLFB is read from the chassis nameplate (or auto-discovered via DRIVE-CLiQ), the configuration proceeds normally.

5. Locating the Correct Power Module MLFB

The complete Power Module order number is printed on the nameplate affixed to the front of the assembled chassis, on the upper-left or upper-right bezel depending on the unit type. The label includes:

• Order No. (MLFB): 6SL3xxx-xxxxx-xAAx — the value to enter in STARTER.
• Hardware Release: e.g., A, B, C, used to determine firmware compatibility.
• 2D Barcode (Data Matrix): Encoded MLFB + serial number, scannable with a Siemens DTU (Data Terminal Unit) or industrial barcode reader.
• Serial Number: 10-digit format, required for Siemens support and for tracking the unit's firmware history.

5.1 Practical Procedure on Site

1. Apply lock-out/tag-out to the cabinet. Open the cabinet door only after the DC link has discharged below 50 V (monitor the DC link LEDs on the Control Unit; discharge typically takes 5 minutes after supply removal).
2. Locate the chassis nameplate on the assembled Power Module, not on the spare-part packaging. If a power block swap has been performed, the swapped power block may have its own spare-part label inside the chassis; this label is not the value to use in STARTER.
3. Read the 6SL3xxx-xxxxx-xAAx MLFB and the hardware release letter (the last alphanumeric character of the order suffix, e.g., AA1, AA2).
4. Cross-check the MLFB against the SINAMICS S120 Operating Instructions or the S120 Function Manual to confirm the matching firmware version (e.g., FW V5.2 for newer PM340-2, FW V4.8 for older chassis units).

5.2 Example Mapping (Typical SINAMICS S120 Smart Line Module Family)

6. Step-by-Step Commissioning Procedure

The following procedure is verified for STARTER V5.4 SP2 HF1 (V5.4.2.1) integrated with STEP 7 V5.7. The same procedure applies to STARTER V5.5 / V5.6 with updated menu paths.

6.1 Prerequisites

• STARTER V5.4 SP2 HF1 (5.4.2.1) or later installed and licensed.
• STEP 7 V5.5 / V5.6 / V5.7 if using S7-integration mode (optional for standalone STARTER).
• Active SINAMICS Support Package matching the firmware of the installed S120 components.
• DRIVE-CLiQ cabling between the Control Unit and the Power Module.
• Complete Power Module MLFB read from the chassis nameplate.

6.2 Project Creation and Topology Insert

1. Launch SINAMICS STARTER. Select Project > New and choose Standalone (no STEP 7 integration) unless the S7 project is required for the S7-300/400 PLC.
2. Insert a Control Unit (e.g., CU320-2 DP or CU320-2 PN) matching the hardware revision of the unit on the cabinet. The CU order number is also read from its own nameplate.
3. Right-click the Control Unit in the project navigator and select Insert New Object > Power Unit (or Insert New Object > Line Module for a Smart/Active Line Module).
4. In the drop-down list, search for the complete Power Module MLFB (the 6SL3xxx-xxxxx-xAAx value from the nameplate). Select the matching entry.
5. Click OK. The Power Module drive object appears under the Control Unit in the project tree.

6.3 Online Commissioning and Auto-Discovery

STARTER supports automatic topology detection for SINAMICS S120 systems where the Control Unit and Power Module are interconnected via DRIVE-CLiQ. This eliminates the need to manually select the PM MLFB when the configuration tool is connected to a live system.

1. Connect the programming device (PG) to the Control Unit via PROFIBUS, PROFINET, or Ethernet service interface (X127).
2. Set the Control Unit's PG/PC interface in Set PG/PC Interface (e.g., S7ONLINE for STEP 7 integration, or TCP for direct STARTER access).
3. Click Online > Connect to Target System. The Control Unit's online view loads with the actual topology detected via DRIVE-CLiQ.
4. STARTER populates the power-unit list with the actual Power Module MLFB found on the DRIVE-CLiQ ring, regardless of the spare-part power block label.
5. Use Online > Upload from Target Device to back-parameterize the offline project from the live system. This avoids manual MLFB entry entirely.

6.4 Firmware Assignment and Parameter Download

1. Right-click the Power Module drive object and select Properties > Device Version. Confirm the firmware version matches the Support Package baseline.
2. If the firmware on the unit is older than the Support Package's catalog entry, STARTER prompts for a firmware update. Accept the prompt and follow the Automatic Firmware Update wizard. Do not interrupt power during the update.
3. After firmware alignment, perform Load to Target Device to download the parameter set to the drive.
4. Use Commissioning > Commissioning Wizard to run the standard S120 commissioning sequence: motor identification, encoder calibration, closed-loop auto-tuning, ramp-function generator validation.

7. SINAMICS Support Package Update Procedure

If the complete PM MLFB still does not appear in the drop-down after the nameplate value is used, the active Support Package may be missing data for that hardware release. The update path is:

1. Download the latest SINAMICS Support Package for STARTER from the article ID 26233208.
2. Extract the SSP archive (e.g., SSP_SINAMICS_V5_4_xx.zip) to a local directory.
3. Open STARTER, navigate to Tools > Install Support Packages, and select the extracted .pkg files.
4. Restart STARTER when prompted.
5. Re-open the power-unit drop-down. The new MLFB should now be present.

8. Verification and Acceptance

After the configuration is downloaded, perform the following verification sequence before returning the drive to production service:

9. Troubleshooting Matrix

10. Cross-Platform Notes

For plants being migrated from STARTER to TIA Portal, the SINAMICS S120 commissioning is performed via the SINAMICS Startdrive plug-in, which uses the same MLFB catalog and the same spare-part exclusion logic. If a plant has both legacy STEP 7 / STARTER and TIA Portal / Startdrive systems, share the same .dcf project via the TIA Portal Project Migration wizard. The complete Power Module MLFB — not the spare-part power block — is the consistent identifier across both toolchains.

For engineers working with non-Siemens starter tools (e.g., Rockwell Studio 5000 or Connected Components Workbench for Allen-Bradley SMC-Flex soft starters, as documented in Rockwell Support ID 1072486), the same principle applies: configure the complete device, not a sub-assembly or spare-part label.

11. Frequently Asked Questions