Paradise Robotics Forum

Robotic Lawnmowers => Lawnbott => Topic started by: Radjack on July 22, 2010, 06:54:42 PM

Title: Service programming
Post by: Radjack on July 22, 2010, 06:54:42 PM
Hey guys,
Has anyone laid out the service programming?
I think you press "charge", "-", "+" to get into the service section.
There is a bunch of options that I cannot find explanation/descriptions about.
Wondering if anyone has gone through all of the items and tested them to come up with a sub section to add to the user manual.
The more info we all have the better.
Thanks
Title: Re: Service programming
Post by: shep874 on July 23, 2010, 07:15:01 AM
Redjack,

Amen to "The more info we all have the better." I have personally experienced the cost of lack of knowledge.  Robotlady some time ago made a suggestion of rules, and I followed it by suggesting that we somehow not only have a few sensible rules but also a better organization of topics on the form.  I will re-post that post and hope that someone with time and skills will help to organize in order to make the form more useful.
Title: Re: Service programming
Post by: jzawacki on July 27, 2010, 10:23:52 AM
Couldn't agree more!  Here is all I have so far:

-----

I haven't fully started to research this yet.. so if anyone has better details please contribute!

To access the service menu, power on the bot and enter your password (if it is set). When you get “Pause” on the display, press Charge, then +, then -.

 * Motors *

To test the motors, after accessing the service menu as described above, press + once and the display should read “Test Motors”. Press enter. Caution: While in the test motors option do not press enter again as it starts/stops the blade test.

Now press the + key 10 times to put the motors at +100% and read the lines on the display. If you have a failing motor one number will be higher than the other (e.g. for arcs to the right the left one will be higher than the right one).

Now press the - key 20 times to put the test at -100% (reverse direction) and read the lines on the display. Don't be surprised if you discover the bot can back up completely fine but can't go forward correctly… that appears to be the failure mode of the motors which leads to the right arcs.
Title: Re: Service programming
Post by: Radjack on July 27, 2010, 10:46:18 AM
Where is robot lady on this topic, i would guess she has all of these items in this list documented.

**update**
Robot Lady do you have any documentation on this?
Thanks
Title: Re: Service programming
Post by: RobotLady on August 10, 2010, 11:15:33 PM
Hi Guys (or gals :) ), sorry for the silence, I am behind on forum posts.

We do not recommend monkeying around in the service menu.  It is intended for dealers only.  On top of that, they don't give us a whole lot of info about the settings and what they mean.  What we know is the settings should not be changed.

The motor test is an exception, however.  We often ask customers to run the motor test to help diagnose motor problems.  Usually a motor error that doesn't clear means there is a bad motor, but occasionally the failure can be the motherboard.  The electronics that drive the motor can sometimes fail, but it is very rare.  Typically, when it happens, it is the blade motor electronics that fail.  To verify it, we have the customer plug the wheel motor connector into the blade motor spot on the motherboard and then run the blade test.  If the wheel motor runs, it means the motherboard is ok.

I mentioned in another post we believe documentation is best kept in a Wiki while the forum should be used for discussion.  A Wiki is a better platform because it is easier to use and anyone can edit or modify it.  Then if someone posts inaccurate information someone else can correct it.  It also spreads out the effort and allows more good information to be posted and easily located.  We will put up and administer a Lawnbott Wiki if people will use it...