problem with speed controller

[gaby1367]

we have one of the transmision put to operate our arm and when you conect everything else and try to move the arm with the speed controller the light goes to red and it stop the power suply to the moter momentarily and then resets this keeps happening over and over. how can we fix this?

[Gamer930]

Do you have the supply hooked to V+ and V- and the motor hooked to M+ and M-

V+ should go to circuit breaker panel (30 amp possibly 20)
V- should go to ground

My guess you have something hooked up backwards and shorting out because the Victor 884 will shut itself off before serious happens or your 30 amp is bad and keeps tripping and resetting itself (you should be able to hear the clicking if that is it)

[Qbranch]

Also check to make sure your battery isnt so far gone your RC is resetting... or that you used too light a guage of wiring...

If your radio is located near the motor or is using out-of-date firmware, it could be resetting due to magnetic flux from the motor.

Is your gear ratio large enough? Perhaps the motor is encountering too much torque.

Gimme a yell if any of that works or doesnt...

-q

[Gamer930]

Originally Posted by Qbranch

If your radio is located near the motor or is using out-of-date firmware, it could be resetting due to magnetic flux from the motor.

Ya that could be another thing, with all the problems with the 2007 radio, I would try and tether to make sure you got a solid connection between the RC and OI also

[sciguy125]

What's shutting off? Is the motor just stopping or is the light on the speed controller turning off. If the motor is just stopping, make sure that everything is mechanically alright and that your software is correct. If the light is turning off, check on your breakers (and wiring).

Originally Posted by Gamer930

My guess you have something hooked up backwards and shorting out because the Victor 884 will shut itself off before serious happens or your 30 amp is bad and keeps tripping and resetting itself (you should be able to hear the clicking if that is it)

Actually, if you swap the supply and motor wires, it can't protect itself. And it'll be damaged too fast for the breakers to protect it. Actually...if you use a small enough motor, it may be enough to stop it from blowing up. But either way, it won't be self-protecting.

[Jim E]

The speed controllers should blink yellow without a PWM input. Once a signal is identified, they will be solid yellow( or orange). If the speed controller turns red, this means it has lost it's pwm signal through a hardware fault, or through a high current fault.

Check your software. Do not switch too fast from 127 to 255. This will create a current surge in the controller, and over time, damage the controller. It is always better to pass through (127) briefly before changing direction, or gradually increase the speed from 127 to the desired speed. Do not make the $120 mistake. You will not even notice the slower transition either, since we are talking milliseconds in delay times.

[Ricky Q.]

Originally Posted by Jim E

The speed controllers should blink yellow without a PWM input. Once a signal is identified, they will be solid yellow( or orange). If the speed controller turns red, this means it has lost it's pwm signal through a hardware fault, or through a high current fault.

Check your software. Do not switch too fast from 127 to 255. This will create a current surge in the controller, and over time, damage the controller. It is always better to pass through (127) briefly before changing direction, or gradually increase the speed from 127 to the desired speed. Do not make the $120 mistake. You will not even notice the slower transition either, since we are talking milliseconds in delay times.

Red actually means full reverse, not a problem with the 884, just wanted to make sure the LED color signals were clear.

Originally Posted by IFI Manual

LED Indicator Status
• Green = Full Forward
• Orange = Neutral / Brake
• Red = Full Reverse
• Flashing Orange = no PWM

[seanl]

it could be that the h bridge on the victor is blown. it happened to us at LA, lucky we had a spare. one of the none electrical people put the m+ and m- together. how exactly is the light behaving. because going to red is normal because its indicating its on reverse, but were you trying to go reverse or forward. and is it only the victor thats turning off or the whole system.

[Jim E]

Not to discount the IFI manual, but we have had 884 controllers in the past blink red that we traced to damaged controllers. They still were operational, but were not repeatable to the PWM input signals being sent.

A 30 Amp breaker will not protect the 884 from a 50+A momentary spike if changing direction too fast. This spike is in micro-seconds, a breaker will average currents over a period of time. All of that momentum from full forward to full reverse has to go somewhere. The current spike is probably not measurable, but over time, if done enough, will breakdown any circuitry protection built into the 884.

This year we implemented controlled speeds to the controllers. We haven't lost one yet. We cannot say that for the previous 2 years.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

To go along with the original problem and folllowing up on Ricky's post...
A flashing red indicator is likely from the controller getting a full reverse command and the breaker tripping. There is no flashing red programmed into the controller. It sounds like the motor wiring is shorted. That way high currents are developed when the controller is told to apply power to the motor.

[tseres]

i don't know, but could it be your program?

[RyanN]

Here is a link to the user guide for the 884: http://ifirobotics.com/docs/ifi-v884...al-9-25-06.pdf

I agree with Al... It sounds like you have a short from the motor output side. I think that this can also happen if you have the brake set and you have the input side mixed up with the output side. The input side is where the PWM cable comes into the victor. Another idea is that something is shorted over the transistors under the cooling fan. Simply take off the fan and inspect each transistor for any metal shavings. I would look at all the other victors as well and compare it with this faulty one or replace the victor and see if a new one works. There are many combinations of things that could be going on.
The only diagnostic red blinking light on the victor would be after a failed calibration.
To calibrate follow the directions below.

User Calibration:
1. Power ON the speed controller.
2. Press and hold the Cal button. After a moment, the
LED indicator on the Victor will begin alternating
between RED and GREEN to indicate a cal mode.
3. While continuing to hold the Cal button, move the
joystick to the maximum and minimum positions.
This can be done in any order and as many times as
desired.
4. While continuing to hold the Cal button, return the
joystick to center (neutral position).
5. Release the Cal button.
6. A flashing GREEN indicator confirms a successful
calibration.
7. A flashing RED indicator denotes an unsuccessful
calibration.
An unsuccessful calibration occurs when either:
a) Insufficient joystick travel was detected in forward
and/or reverse.
b) The trim tab is too far from center.
Resetting Calibration to Factory Pre-calibration:
1. Power OFF the speed controller.
2. Press and hold the Cal button.
3. While continuing to hold the Cal button, Power ON
the speed controller.
4. A flashing GREEN indicator denotes calibration is
reset. Release the Cal button.

Hopefully this helps out...