Motor only turns one way!
 

The motor for our arm only turns one way, we are programming in labview if that helps.
The only way to get it to turn the other way is to change the wiring, naturally.
However, that is extremely unconventional and therefore I am in need of assistance! We are using a window motor for the arm.

Help ?

Re: Motor only turns one way!
 

Can you provide us with some more information? Are you using a spike, victor or jaguar to control the motor? If a Jaguar, check that both limit switch jumpers are in place - missing one of them would prevent you from turning in one direction.

Look at the LED on the spike/victor/jaguar and tell us what you see - what does it do when you turn the arm one direction, and what does it do when you try to turn it the other?

Re: Motor only turns one way!
 

Limit switch jumpers, what are those?

Re: Motor only turns one way!
 

If wired correctly, the motor should run through a jaguar. This will allow you to reverse the polarity without physically switching the wires.

This is a jaguar:
http://team358.org/files/programming...Controller.jpg

I've also seen them in black

Re: Motor only turns one way!
 

You can also use Victors - Window motors in particular work much better with Victors than Jaguars.

Re: Motor only turns one way!
 

Check out the manual on the Jaguar here:

http://www.luminarymicro.com/index.p...d&Itemid=59 1

On page 9 is a diagram detailing all of the inputs and outputs from the Jaguar, and the "Limit switch inputs" are on the bottom right. There are 4 pins there. Put a jumper connecting the two on the left to allow forward movement, and a jumper on the two on the right to allow reverse movement.

These pins allow you to hook up normally-closed limit switches so the motors will automatically turn off when pressed - for example, when an arm reaches a maximum limit. To use that feature the FIRST rules state you need to use the CAN bus instead of PWM control... however missing a jumper will prevent the Jaguar from turning in that direction.


If you aren't sure if your missing one, or if your Jaguar is hooked up correctly, please post a picture of it so we can take a look.

Re: Motor only turns one way!
 

In addition, what motor are you using which could make a difference and might not as well.

It's always a good Idea to post as much details about parts(like the exact motor) you are using, that could be involved with the issue so you can get a faster solution or not have to go back and check.

Re: Motor only turns one way!
 

I've never heard of this before :confused: . What are you basing this on?

Re: Motor only turns one way!
 

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=83973

This thread. Don't use window motors with Jaguars.

Re: Motor only turns one way!
 

Please elaborate?

EDIT: I read the other post linked to further down in the thread. If that person had not posted it, however, I would have no idea what you were talking about. ;)

Re: Motor only turns one way!
 

We had 2 steering our 6wd swerve last year that ran just fine, so your mileage may vary.

Re: Motor only turns one way!
 

We had the exact same problem, but with the jaguar reporting a fault when we tried to run it backwards. After a while of trying to run it backwards, we started smelling ozone and declared the jaguar dead.

Apparently, it's a common problem and is just due to a manufacturing error. Unfortunately, you can't RMA gray jaguars anymore, so you're kind of stuck.

Re: Motor only turns one way!
 

Don't use the grey ones!!! Everybody got the new black jag's in there kit this year. The black ones work alot better than the old grey ones. Here are the exact specs. http://www.luminarymicro.com/jaguar (there at the bottom of the page)