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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    58

    C23 board relays

    I'm trying to activate the relays on my c23 bob with smooth stepper to handle the run and cw/ccw functions of my VFD using Mach3. In spindle setup I have M3 set to output 1, M4 as output 2. These are assigned pins 16 and 1. The motor relays box is unchecked. In the Mach diagnostics screen M3 and M4 commands illuminate the output 1 and 2 indicators but the relays do not switch.

    Any thoughts?

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    58

    Re: C23 board relays

    Digging a little deeper, I shut the board down and applied 5v directly to the coils of each relay. The relay assigned to pin 16 does switch, the other relay appears to be dead. Though the pin 16 relay functions in this manner it does not operate via Mach and M3 command.

    I'm stumped.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    58

    Re: C23 board relays

    Well, I think this C23 is under demonic possession. One relay seems to be dead while the other refuses to take commands. I then noticed that while running the spindle motor the pin 14 LED was illuminating weakly. While messing with the board earlier I thought I caught a glimpse of an LED lighting but assumed it was glare. Pin 14 is set to spindle motor step/analog output and since I could control the VFD I figured, in this configuration the LED was out of the loop. I thought "cool" the LED lights...yay. I then found that all 3 axis outputs were dead and I had no control of the analog/VFD speed as it was maxed out. I swapped out the chip set to see if one had gone belly up with no change.

    I'm giving up on this board. I just ordered a C11... I can ruin that at half the cost of the C23 Grin

    For the C23, do I use a shaman, big hammer or the tried and true Sharps 45-110?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    58

    Re: C23 board relays

    Being a glutton for punishment I messed around with this thing again. I reinstalled Mach, told the smooth stepper how to behave, pulled every chip off the C23 board and re-seated them while putting the newer set back in and fired it up. I have my axis back and control of the VFD speed via the analog output. My M3 and M4 commands are still not triggering the relays...well, one is still dead.

    Interesting thing...with Mach opened, when I power on the C23 board pin 16 and pin 1 activate. Pin 16 triggers the associated relay. Pin 1 relay is dead. Once I input M4 pin 16 relay switches off as it should but will not switch back on (as it should) with an M3. Pins 16 and 1 do not re-activate as if M3 and M4 commands get lost in the ether.

    Spindle is set to step/dir
    Disable spindle relays box is un-checked
    M3 is Output 1 and set to pin 16 port 1
    M4 is Output 2 and set to pin 1 port 1

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    58

    Re: C23 board relays

    Update; I ordered a C11G bob which arrived today. I plugged my Smoothstepper into it, fired up Mach3 and.......everything works. I never touched the setting in Mach. I wired the VFD into it, adjusted the analog output and I can now command the run/fw/rev/speed through Mach.

    The C23 board is bad and not my brain.

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