HELP!! I cannot get any Victor motor controlers to work. Jaguar works.

[Robot215]

I have been developing software since the Kickoff using a cRIO system that is a duplicate of our robot system.

I started with two Jaguar controllers driving two small motors to simulate driving the robot.

I have spent most of my time developing the Autonomous mode code.

Yesterday I added a Victor controller to simulate one of the devices to be used to kick the soccor ball.

That Victor worked activating another small motor.

Then, I had to give up one of the Jaguar's for our robot.  I replaced it with a Victor controller and changed the code to open the Victor.

Since that time NEITHER of the Victor controllers have activated their motors.

The single Jaguar still works.

I have spent hours testing multiple Victor controllers and none of them will activate a motor.

I ran the FRC cRIO Imaging Tool to clear out the cRIO.

I have run several of the Example programs that use a motor controller.

I changed the Example programs, and my prior working programs, to use a Victor or a Jaguar Open.

I have moved the PWM cable between my single Jaguar and my multiple Victor controllers.

No mater what the program uses in the open (Victor or Jaguar) the only time the motor runs is when it is controlled by a Jaguar.

That is, even using a Victor motor contol Open vi the Jaguar motor controller will run a motor.

Nothing that I do will cause a Victor controlled motor to run.

PLEASE HELP!

[sciencewhiz]

It's very hard to get a PWM cable to seat correctly in a Victor. It often takes a few minutes for me to do it, and I've done a bunch. I'm not really sure how to describe the process, so keep trying. If you have a vetran team that is close to you, maybe they can help.

[Robot215]

I agree with the difficulty of plugging the PWM cable into the Victor.

I have three Victors that were used on previous robots.

At least one of them feels like the plug went where it should have.

Nothing seems to change my problem.  The only motor controller that causes a motor to turn is my Jaguar.

I have used the FRC cRIO Imaging Tool several times.

I just thought that I should ask if I'm using the wrong version.

After power-up the Driver Station Diagnostics screen shows: cRIO Image   LabVIEW - 2010_v19

Is the the latest?

Thanks,

Mike

[richardharman]

Hello

It looks like you are another victim of the USFirst conspiracy to give fancy hardware without decent instructions to make it work.

I think this may be the solution. On your sidecar above where you plug in the control wire from the victor there are two posts that you can ponder until hell freezes over and will never know what to do with them.  You need to connect them to each other (or shunt them). I took an old three color control wire cut off then ends of it and twisted two of the wires together then used that to connect them.  I am using the victors fine with this arrangement.

The only reason I know this is because I have given up on anything  that USFirst puts on their site and I have found the forum a rather clumsy way of getting time sensitive help.  SO when I have a problem with programming I call the NI first line.  It was one of their techs, Olivia, that told me about this.  If you had done this, I think your problem would have been solved in about 45 seconds.  Of course, the same information could have easily put on the first control system instruction manual.

[Robot215]

I thank you all for your help.

I went and got more Victor controllers and while plugging a new one into the PWM's I felt that it seated differently than the first three..

I tested it and it worked.

Therefore, I spent many frustrating minutes re-plugging the ones that started this problem and NOW THEY ALL WORK.

I'm sorry for bothering you with this.  Please don't tell anyone how much time I wasted tracking down those "bad" Victors..

Thanks,

Mike

[sciencewhiz]

I'd be really suprised to find out that the jumper does anything at all with the Victors. It jumpers the middle (red) wire to 6v.

From the IFI Victor 884 web page:

The red wire (center pin) on the PWM cable connected to the Victor is an open circuit.

There is no reason to disconnect the red wire in the cable.

The Victor does not source or draw power on the red wire.

[richardharman]

I am just wondering.  Did you say that you did not have to jump the two wires on the sidecar in order to use the victors (as opposed to jaguars)  Olivia at ni was sure that you had to.  I did and my victors work fine.  It would be nice to clarify if you must not, maybe , absolutely must jump those two posts together to use victors.  I don't want to put out any more misinformation

THanks

Rich