In our robot design, we have a Neo Vortex w/Spark Flex on our intake. Recently, after mounting the Spark Flex, we received a gate driver fault. After removing the Motor Controller, and testing it on our test panel, the error still showed. We then replaced it with a known tested working Spark Flex, and once mounted onto the robot, it also gave a Gate Driver Fault. Our first instinct was to check if the bolts were too long, but we checked and they are only going .25 in into the spark flex (albeit an exact .25in). All the troubleshooting for this error says is to contact REV, which we did. Is there anything that could be causing this error multiple times? We couldn’t find too much about it. Thanks!
Power the motor controllers via the PDP/PDH
the motor controller is - unless it’s a faulty slot on the pdh potentially? But then why would the first one still show the error on a separate pdh?
The robot needs to be powered on to clear the error, if it doesn’t then there might be an issue with the controller and you should contact REV
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The error doesn’t clear when powered on. We already contacted REV. I’m looking for more info on what “Gate Driver Fault” means, and why it happened to both of our motors (including an previously working one) when plugged into the PDH (without ever being plugged in via USB)
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REV will have a better explanation so take this with a grain of salt.
I definitely could be wrong, but I think it’s where the main power from the PDH isn’t being received or shorting somewhere inside of the SparkMAX.
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Hm. Maybe @Greg_Needel or @dyanoshak might know more about this issue. I’ll keep the thread updated when my coach lets me know what Rev support gets back to us. Rev’s support has always been wonderful for us and I’m sure they’ll get it figured out.
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So I was able to investigate the first broken Spark Flex, and it seems like there’s some apparent damage to the circuit board around the middle pin. I’m still not sure what could cause this damage, and why it happened twice (maybe a weird pin on a vortex, or being crushed somehow by mounting?) There was zero damage to the 6 mounting holes, confirming that the bolts we used were the right length. Have any other teams experienced this failure state, and what causes it?
Is this a separate issue than the recall they had about something like this?
these are flexes with painted dots, but based on the description of the issue, it may have been missed - but i’m not sure what date caused it to happen twice in a row for us.
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Update: Never trust your build people. The screw depths they used went .5 in into the spark flex, not .25 in into it. Total damages: 280$: 2 flexes and one vortex. Take this as a cautionary tale.
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