[Mike Copioli]

Originally Posted by karin l.

We plugged a multimeter into the chicklet alone (not connected to the robot or joystick in any way) and it still drained power at a few volts every minute without using it. Therefore, we have concluded that there is probably a short circuit.

Are you using a battery? If so, it is dead. To prove this, connect a wall DC power supply(9V) to the Chicklet. If the Chicklet exhibits no abnormal behavior when using the power supply, then your battery is dead. The Chicklet requires a minimum 7.2V-9V supply. Another test you can perform is to connect a current meter in series between the Chicklet and the battery pack. The Chicklet should draw between 50 or 60mA without a device(joystick) attached. Our testing shows that when used with a FULLY CHARGED backup battery, the life is about 4 hours. Measuring the voltage drop is not an accurate way to asses if there is a short. The results will be the same if you are using a dead battery. You should always ensure that your battery is fully charged before using it with the Chicklet. If you have any further issues contact me at mcopioli@crosstheroadelectronics.com