i would say it sounds like the supply was not quite the same as the normal supply ie like there was a dc supply on a ac circuit.if your using a seperate braking unit i wound be looking into somehow it got a back feed to fwd bias the diodes on the braking unit.
im spitballing here.
The normally open contacts would pass the DC bus voltage to the braking units. (or you could interrupt the flow between the braking unit and braking resistor network)
That would keep the braking units from bleeding off excess DC bus voltage inside the VVVF drive, unless the lift is running.
But you better send a sketch to MCE, and get them to bless it, because of the UL rating. They have sent me amended dwgs before, for my changes. You don't wanna incur any liability on yourself or company.
Can you also adjust the MAX INPUT VOLTS parameter in the drive, to shutdown the elevator, if the incomming 3 phase is too high? Who knows, maybe the buildings' generator is giving you a really high voltage, because they might set it for full building load, but with no load on the building, it migh tbe really high..Hell, IDK, just wondering..
That made 'em burn up. Melted the paint on the controller cover, lots of smoke, set off the building fire alarms. Not a good day...