Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 EtherCAT AL Status 0x0030, what to check first?

Question

I'm getting an EtherCAT AL Status 0x0030 fault on my TwinCAT 3 runtime when trying to transition from PREOP to SAFEOP or SAFEOP to OP. This started happening after I changed the task cycle time for my drives. What should I check first?

Top answer · Written by InduQT from the fault guide and manufacturer manuals cited below · Oct 28, 2026

The EtherCAT AL Status 0x0030 fault, "Invalid DC SYNC Configuration," indicates that the distributed clock configuration is invalid for the application. This typically occurs during startup transitions (PREOP to SAFEOP or SAFEOP to OP) or after changes to the task cycle time or DC operating mode. It results in the system remaining in PREOP or SAFEOP with an error.

Likely causes and checks

1DC operating mode not supported with selected process data or cycle time

Points to it
The distributed clock operating mode you've selected, or the process data configuration, is incompatible with the current task cycle time. This is a common cause if the fault appeared after changing the DC mode or task cycle.
Check
Compare the settings in the DC tab and the task cycle time with the device's documentation to ensure compatibility.

2Cycle time outside the device’s supported range

Points to it
The configured cycle time for the device falls outside the minimum or maximum values it can support. This might be indicated by related codes like 0x0035 or 0x0036 appearing on other devices.
Check
Verify the minimum and maximum supported cycle times for the specific device in its documentation.

3Reference clock set manually to a device without DC support

Points to it
You might have manually selected an EtherCAT slave as the reference clock that does not actually support distributed clock functionality. This will prevent slaves from switching to OP and generate a 'is reference clock device, but does not support dc!' message in the logger.
Check
Review the reference clock selection within the master's DC settings in TwinCAT.

Next check: Given that the fault appeared after changing the task cycle time, the first step should be to verify if the DC operating mode and the new task cycle time are supported by the device, as per its documentation.

Work on fuel trains, burners, pressure vessels and electrical equipment must be done by qualified personnel following the manufacturer’s documentation and local codes. Never bypass a safety device or interlock.

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