Victor 888 Motor controller problem.

[Ether]

Originally Posted by cedwards

We are wondering if our Victor 888s are faulty and if so how can we test this? Any other ideas or suggestions?

Do you have a multimeter with a 20mA scale? Perhaps like the ones shown here, which can be had at Harbor Freight for $4 (last I checked).

Set the meter to the 20mA DC scale (observe proper polarity) and insert the meter in series in the signal wire of the PWM cable (yes, you'll have to cut the wire - but you've got extras, right? and you can keep the cut one for testing purposes).

Watch the meter as you increase the joystick command to the motor in question. If you see roughly 2mA* current at 100% throttle, then you're getting a signal into the LED in the photocoupler in the Vic... and if the Vic isn't responding (no change in Vic status lights), then you may truly have a defective Vic.

If you do not get a current reading, you may have a burned-out or defective LED in the Vic's photocoupler. Or your PWM cable may not be properly seated in to the socket in the Vic. The latter is the most likely culprit.

*I think. I don't have my test data here right now and I'm going by memory.

[cedwards]

Thanks all for the support. We have the Victors up and running. We didnt apparently have the PWM wired in correctly down into the Victor. (Like many of you suspected).

Thanks again for your help!