Help! My 2003 Bot compressor won't shut off

[Jack21]

Ok, I know the game for 2004 is on, but we need our old Bot operable for fund raising etc.

The Bot was working fine unti (I think) somebody tinkered with the default program. Now all systems still work, but the compressor won't shut off at 120 psi. I have swapped out the spike, the 3 wire cable, the fuses etc.. checked the cut off switch cable for breaks.( repaired this cable with almost all broken strands at connector end of cable). When pressure hits 120 psi the switch shows the circuit opens.( when checked with an ohm meter at the connector that attaches to the Robot controller).
Now I'm not even sure where the cut off switch is supposed to be connected to the Robot controller. What pins should I be connected to on the controller. any other help would sure be appreciated. Hadn't counted on wasting time on this old Bot when we need to devote energy to this years machine.

[Rickertsen2]

Ok, I know the game for 2004 is on, but we need our old Bot operable for fund raising etc.

The Bot was working fine unti (I think) somebody tinkered with the default program. Now all systems still work, but the compressor won't shut off at 120 psi. I have swapped out the spike, the 3 wire cable, the fuses etc.. checked the cut off switch cable for breaks.( repaired this cable with almost all broken strands at connector end of cable). When pressure hits 120 psi the switch shows the circuit opens.( when checked with an ohm meter at the connector that attaches to the Robot controller).
Now I'm not even sure where the cut off switch is supposed to be connected to the Robot controller. What pins should I be connected to on the controller. any other help would sure be appreciated. Hadn't counted on wasting time on this old Bot when we need to devote energy to this years machine.
Well since the code is prolly the problem, could you post that, along with which inputs the pressure switch is connected to and which output the compressor is hooked to.

[Noah]

Now I'm not even sure where the cut off switch is supposed to be connected to the Robot controller. What pins should I be connected to on the controller.
well, it depends on your code. This might help:

rc_sw1 VAR rc_swA.bit0 'Pin 1
rc_sw2 VAR rc_swA.bit1 'Pin 2
rc_sw3 VAR rc_swA.bit2 'Pin 15
rc_sw4 VAR rc_swA.bit3 'Pin 16
rc_sw5 VAR rc_swA.bit4 'Pin 4
rc_sw6 VAR rc_swA.bit5 'Pin 5
rc_sw7 VAR rc_swA.bit6 'Pin 18
rc_sw8 VAR rc_swA.bit7 'Pin 19
rc_sw9 VAR rc_swB.bit0 'Pin 7
rc_sw10 VAR rc_swB.bit1 'Pin 8
rc_sw11 VAR rc_swB.bit2 'Pin 21
rc_sw12 VAR rc_swB.bit3 'Pin 22
rc_sw13 VAR rc_swB.bit4 'Pin 10
rc_sw14 VAR rc_swB.bit5 'Pin 11
rc_sw15 VAR rc_swB.bit6 'Pin 24
rc_sw16 VAR rc_swB.bit7 'Pin 25


All other pins are ground.

If you can post the code that controls the compressor, I can tell you how to fix it if you know which pin you are plugged into now. (You also have to give me the alias deifinitions of any aliases used in the code)

[Jack21]

Well since the code is prolly the problem, could you post that, along with which inputs the pressure switch is connected to and which output the compressor is hooked to.

Ok, I'm speaking from memory here. but the out put cable is connected to the #3 set of pins. the input pins are connected to the top row of pins at position 2 and 3.

Is there a way to download the default code from the net directly to the Bots program port.
thanks, Jack

[Jack21]

well, it depends on your code. This might help:

rc_sw1 VAR rc_swA.bit0 'Pin 1
rc_sw2 VAR rc_swA.bit1 'Pin 2
rc_sw3 VAR rc_swA.bit2 'Pin 15
rc_sw4 VAR rc_swA.bit3 'Pin 16
rc_sw5 VAR rc_swA.bit4 'Pin 4
rc_sw6 VAR rc_swA.bit5 'Pin 5
rc_sw7 VAR rc_swA.bit6 'Pin 18
rc_sw8 VAR rc_swA.bit7 'Pin 19
rc_sw9 VAR rc_swB.bit0 'Pin 7
rc_sw10 VAR rc_swB.bit1 'Pin 8
rc_sw11 VAR rc_swB.bit2 'Pin 21
rc_sw12 VAR rc_swB.bit3 'Pin 22
rc_sw13 VAR rc_swB.bit4 'Pin 10
rc_sw14 VAR rc_swB.bit5 'Pin 11
rc_sw15 VAR rc_swB.bit6 'Pin 24
rc_sw16 VAR rc_swB.bit7 'Pin 25


All other pins are ground.

If you can post the code that controls the compressor, I can tell you how to fix it if you know which pin you are plugged into now. (You also have to give me the alias deifinitions of any aliases used in the code)


Well... this is like a foreign language to me.. I have no idea what code is in the controller. I know the cut off switch is wired to the top row of pins 2and on the digital input and the 3 wire cable is attached to the #3 set of pins from on the relay outputs. Is there a way to connect this thing to the computer and reset the default code?
appreciate you help.

[Bduggan04]

Although it is not the most elegant solution, you can still run without the shutoff for presentations. If you can't get it fixed before a presentation, the overload valve should keep the pressure below 135psi. Note: you can not do this in the competion and should really try to fix it, but hey, if your team needs money...

[RoboCoder]

since you're talking about last year's bot, I am assuming you are using last year's control system, and last years programming language (PBASIC). if this is the case, then add these lines to your code, just before the serout command:

select rc_sw2
case 1
relay3_fwd = 1
relay3_rev = 0
case 0
relay3_fwd = 0
relay3_rev = 1
endselect


this is assuming that the pressure switch is normally closed (when 120 psi has NOT been reached). If the compressor doesnt turn on at all, swap the lines "case 1" and "case 0". hope this helps!

[Greg]

If you really have no idea what pins the pressure switch was connected to, and you dont have access to the source code from last year, all you have to do is remove the spike, and wire the compressor directly to the fuse through the pressure switch. While illegal at a competition, this will most definitely work. In fact, we showed up to a regional like this last year and had to change it to pass inspection (we didnt know this was illegal).

[Joe Ross]

If you really have no idea what pins the pressure switch was connected to, and you dont have access to the source code from last year, all you have to do is remove the spike, and wire the compressor directly to the fuse through the pressure switch. While illegal at a competition, this will most definitely work. In fact, we showed up to a regional like this last year and had to change it to pass inspection (we didnt know this was illegal).

Do you understand why it is illegal or just that it is?

The Switch is rated for .5 amps (IIRC) while the pump can draw 10 amps. You may get away with it for a while, but it certainly isn't a good practice.

[Alan Anderson]

select rc_sw2
case 1
relay3_fwd = 1
relay3_rev = 0
case 0
relay3_fwd = 0
relay3_rev = 1
endselect


this is assuming that the pressure switch is normally closed (when 120 psi has NOT been reached). If the compressor doesnt turn on at all, swap the lines "case 1" and "case 0". hope this helps!
I don't think applying reverse polarity to a compressor will shut it off. The last line before the endselect should probably say relay3_rev = 0, setting both wires to the compressor to ground.

[Greg McCoy]

I don't think applying reverse polarity to a compressor will shut it off. The last line before the endselect should probably say relay3_rev = 0, setting both wires to the compressor to ground.

Yeah, I believe this is your problem. You want the output of the spike to be zero, rather than -12 volts :)