Troubleshooting Guide for both Control Systems

[jenny]

Sea Perch Troubleshooting:

Problem: The motor connected to the orange and orange white wires are
not working when connected to the circuit board.

Solution: To determine that the problem is not in the film canister
or the motor itself, cut the orange and orange/white wire. Then take
off about ½ inch of insulation from each end. Attach one wire to the
red side of the battery and the other to the black side (as you would
if you were using alligator clips). If the motor moves, the problem
is in the cat-5 cable. If the cat-5 clip has already been crimped, a
new cat-5 cable must be used and that process must be repeated. If
the motor does not move, the problem is in the film canister. Cut the
orange and orange white wires near the broken film canister. Using a
new film canister and motor, repeat the process of covering the motor
with tape and filing the film canister with wax.
NOTE: This solution should work for any colored cable.



Problem: The cat-5 cable does not “click” into the circuit board.

Solution: Using a crimp tool, which is a hand-held tool designed for
cat-5 cables, place the cat-5 cable in the designated spot and squeeze
the crimp tool multiple times to ensure that the golden rods on the
top of the cat-5 table are completely pressed down. The process can
also be completed by using a narrow flat headed screwdriver and
pressing down each of the golden pins individually.



Problem: When testing the circuit board none of the motors work.

Solution: Test the cat-5 cable in a known working circuit board to
determine that the cat-5 cable is not the problem. Next check the
solder and make sure that no connections are touching. Then, check to
make sure that the fuse is the right size and positioned correctly.
Lastly, using a multimeter, check to see that each of the connections
have amps going though them. If the above steps fail, re-do the
construction of the circuit board with new materials.



Problem: Accidently cut a wire.

Solution: First, strip about ½ inch off the insulation off each end.
Then, solder the connection together. Next, use electrical tape to
tape the connection. Lastly, use butyl rubber tape (monkey dung) to
cover the electrical tape so this part of the wire can go in the
water.



Problem: Previously, switches were working fine, yet suddenly they
stopped working.

Solution: Go though every wire connection on the bottom of each switch
and make sure the solder is not touching another connection and
causing a short circuit.



Problem: The propellers don’t spin, but you can hear the motors
vibrating.

Solution: Peel the glue surrounding the connection between the
propeller shaft and the film canister. Continue doing this until you
can spin the propeller shaft with your fingers.



Problem: The propeller attached to the green and green white cord
spins the wrong way.

Solution: Cut the green and green white wires. Then take off about ½
inch of insulation from each of the 4 ends. Attach the green wire to
the corresponding green white wire and vice-versa (this should form an
X). Solder, electrical tape and monkey dung the connection.
NOTE: This solution should work for any colored cable.



For videos concerning troubleshooting and construction information
please refer to the following links below:

http://seaperch.mit.edu/build_videos.php

http://www.seaperch.org/blogs/seaperch_video/archive/2009/08/21/intro-to-seaperch.aspx


Good Luck!!