Troubleshooting solenoid breakout

[DuaneB]

Our solenoids aren't activating and we would like some suggestions for troubleshooting the problem. The NI 9472 is in cRio slot 8 and our LabVIEW code is configured for slot 8. The breakout board is wired for 24V from the cRio power connector on the PDB, as shown in the FIRST 24V solenoid wiring diagram, and we're using 24V solenoids. The power indicator LED on the back of the breakout board is lit, but none of the 8 LEDs on the 9472 light when activating solenoids. I measured ~0V across the end of the cable connected to the breakout whether a solenoid was activated or not. We tried moving the 9472 to slot 7 and updating the code, but got the same results. I tried searching CD but didn't see any threads specifically relevant. We would appreciate any troubleshooting advice you may offer. Thanks.

[Mark McLeod]

If the 8 status indicators on the cRIO module itself are not lighting up, then the problem is before the Solenoid Breakout.

I assume the Driver Station Diagnostic tab status is all good?
The RSL is doing it's long on, short off sequence?

Then it's a LabVIEW coding problem.

Is the compressor code working?

P.S. Good error reporting by-the-way!

[DuaneB]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

If the 8 status indicators on the cRIO module itself are not lighting up, then the problem is before the Solenoid Breakout.

I assume the Driver Station Diagnostic tab status is all good?
The RSL is doing it's long on, short off sequence?

Then it's a LabVIEW coding problem.

Is the compressor code working?

I don't remember any problem with the DS diagnostic tab, but I'm not sure we checked that. We are seeing correct solenoid lights on the DS display.
The RSL is not wired up yet, but the LED next to the RSL header on the DSC is blinking. That's on the list of things to do next.
The compressor code is working and demonstrated.

[Mark McLeod]

The DS solenoid indicators don't necessarily reflect the solenoids true condition. The RSL just repeats the LED on the Digital Sidecar, so if that's solid for a couple of seconds with a brief off, that means you're enabled and operating correctly.

A real easy baseline code test is to use the "Solenoid with Compressor Example." Set the project IP, run continuously, Enable the Driver station, and just click on the solenoid button on the front panel. It expects slot 8, but you just want to see the status light on the module working.

It'll give the NI guys a warm and fuzzy feeling when you talk to them about your problem.

[Jason Law]

Originally Posted by DuaneB

Our solenoids aren't activating and we would like some suggestions for troubleshooting the problem. The NI 9472 is in cRio slot 8 and our LabVIEW code is configured for slot 8. The breakout board is wired for 24V from the cRio power connector on the PDB, as shown in the FIRST 24V solenoid wiring diagram, and we're using 24V solenoids. The power indicator LED on the back of the breakout board is lit, but none of the 8 LEDs on the 9472 light when activating solenoids. I measured ~0V across the end of the cable connected to the breakout whether a solenoid was activated or not. We tried moving the 9472 to slot 7 and updating the code, but got the same results. I tried searching CD but didn't see any threads specifically relevant. We would appreciate any troubleshooting advice you may offer. Thanks.

Are you talking about the solenoids for the cylinders? If so, we had a similar problem yesterday and we spent 15 additional minutes blaming our programmers. It turns out that our FESTO solenoid valve was somehow broken inside, even though it was brand new. We replaced it for a different solenoid (SMC), and it ended up working. (On a side note, our spike relay for the compressor wasn't working, nor the DigitalSidecar, nor the solenoid breakout, and finally the solenoid valve... it took us most of the day to figure out what was wrong and replace it)

[dadamson]

Originally Posted by Jason Law

On a side note, our spike relay for the compressor wasn't working, nor the DigitalSidecar, nor the solenoid breakout, and finally the solenoid valve... it took us most of the day to figure out what was wrong and replace it)

Our pneumatics bumper's LED is not lit, despite getting 24v to the input and the pins. Nor is the DefaultCode lighting the NI-9472 module's LEDs in KITT style (but the rest of the DefaultCode works correctly). LEDs 3,4, and 5 light when we mistakenly put the 9472 in slot #2 on the crio, but of course it doesn't belong there. (could we have damaged it by doing so?)

I know we can get a replacement 9472 from NI - where do we look to find a replacement pneumatics bumper?

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by dadamson

I know we can get a replacement 9472 from NI - where do we look to find a replacement pneumatics bumper?

http://andymark.biz/am-0268.html