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Roboclaw stops with all LEDs off, power cycle required

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2019 6:39 pm
by ChrisA
As said in the title. All the LEDs are off. From the user manual I'd expect any error condition to put the red LED is some state other then solid off. When I power cycle the Roboclaw it seems to start working again.

I just refreshed the unit with latest firmware, perhaps now the firmware is ahead of the user manual?

This Roboclaw is connected to a Raspberry Pi3 via USB. It is able to run for a while then stops. One guess is that the red LED is defective so I don't see the error code.

Just checked: On power up I see a veery fast LED flash and I think the red LED flashes but it is hard to see because it is very fast and the green flash is 10X brighter. How long is the duration of the power-up LED flash?

This is a 2x15 unit and I have set the current list very low, to 5A for each motor because I am just being carful with the motors. What happens with this list is reached? Does it shut down like this until power cycled? And then I can't se the code.

if going over 5A is causing this I wi remove the limit.

So two questions: Why is is stoping? Why is there no error code?

Re: Roboclaw stops with all LEDs off, power cycle required

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 10:05 am
by Basicmicro Support
No. There is no state(other than completely powered off) where all the leds would remain off. However if one or more LEDs have failed that may explain the problem.

On power on we flash all 3 LEDs once so you can be sure they are all working. Check if all three briefly flash. If one or more doesnt that LED is damaged. If that is the case you can send the board in with a note and return address and we will replace the bad LED and return it to you.

Re: Roboclaw stops with all LEDs off, power cycle required

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 3:02 pm
by ChrisA
How long do the LEDs flash on power up? On power up I see a green flash that lasts as long as a lightening bolt, not long enough to check of both green LEDs are lit or just one. It could also be that the green flash is so bright it overpowers the red flash.

Is there some way to force the red LED to be on?

Re: Roboclaw stops with all LEDs off, power cycle required

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2019 9:35 am
by Basicmicro Support
If you trigger an estop all three LEDs will light solid. Set S3 S4 or S5 to E-Stop mode and ground the specific pin to trigger it.

Alternatively you can force the unit in to bootloader mode(hold the mode button on power up) and all three LEDs will start to cycle.

Let me know the result. If its a dead LED its an easy repair but you would need to send it in.