Victor SP Issue, Defective?
 

I was wondering if anyone had seen a similar issue we experienced testing our drive system the other day:
We are testing a 6-CIM drive (using 3-CIM Toughbox). This was a no-load test (free-spinning driveshaft). Each CIM is run using their own VictorSP.

At low rates everything works as expected, but once I ramp up, one of the VictorSPs transitions from blinking green (positive direction signal) to blinking orange and effectively stalls the gearbox. As expected this also pulls a ton of current (large drop in battery voltage).

I swapped PWM channels for 2 of the SP's on the same gearbox, but that same speed controller was having problems (the other SP's were running fine). I removed the PWM for the problem SP and ran the other 2 SP's to full power with no issues (3rd motor was essentially in coast).

Is this speed controller defective? I believe this is one we got from the VEXPro voucher.

Re: Victor SP Issue, Defective?
 

Try doing this with 2 cims and see if you get the same result.

Re: Victor SP Issue, Defective?
 

Try the questionable speed controller by itself with the other motors on the gearbox disconnected and coasting. Also try it in reverse direction under the same conditions.

Use a voltmeter to look at what the output of the speed controller is doing when it acts up.

Re: Victor SP Issue, Defective?
 

Before giving up on that Victor SP I would run the calibration procedure on it. To me it sounds like it's seeing a pulse width outside its expected range.

Re: Victor SP Issue, Defective?
 

This actually sounds like a mechanical problem. Don't discount the possibility of a drive train locking up and stalling the motors.

Re: Victor SP Issue, Defective?
 

Please check to make sure that all of the motors are spinning in the same direction. At low speed you may not see it as the other motors may be able to overcome the one going in the opposite direction.

The way we do this on our team is to connect each motor one at a time to verify it spins the wheels in the same direction as the others.

This is usually what happens when we see this phenomenon.

Paul