1 Topic by Rocketman

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Topic: Multimeter & Extruder won't heat up.

I finally got the money enough to get a multimeter to see where the problem might be for why my extruder isn't heating up anymore. I am looking at these instructions:

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/636/hot- … to-repair/

Problem being the manual isn't helping me understand how the multimeter works very well. I don't know which side of the "H" plug is to be touched by the plus side versus the minus side, and so far haven't gotten the number 12 on the meter. I don't know if I am to turn the meter to "V" with a wave over it or a "V" with a dotted line over it, and a solid line over that. While telling the software to try heating the extruder up I get a beep and the notice, ".0L" I manual makes it seem like that could be either good or bad. Help???

2 Reply by ronsii

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Re: Multimeter & Extruder won't heat up.

you will want to use the V with dotted and solid lines, this is the DC volt range also most volt meters these days doesn't matter which side is '+; or '-' the meter will indicate 'reverse' with a '-' sign in front of the readout. The OL probably indicates out of range... iin other words you need to select a range higher than you are on... 0-20 Volts instead of 0-2 volts... not sure here am just guessing because I don't know what specific meter you have smile

3 Reply by Rocketman

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Re: Multimeter & Extruder won't heat up.

ronsii wrote:

you will want to use the V with dotted and solid lines, this is the DC volt range also most volt meters these days doesn't matter which side is '+; or '-' the meter will indicate 'reverse' with a '-' sign in front of the readout. The OL probably indicates out of range... iin other words you need to select a range higher than you are on... 0-20 Volts instead of 0-2 volts... not sure here am just guessing because I don't know what specific meter you have smile

I got a $60 Amprobe AM-60 at Lowe's.

What does the "V" with the wave line over it mean? When I did tell the extruder to heat up unlike before it seemed to go from having small decimal numbers right to zero when it should be on. I don't suppose you know if there are general technicians one can go to to have stuff worked on? I am worried now that the board in the back burned out or something. I am seriously worried that if that is the case the printer as a whole has less than half value if I had to sell it for parts. sad

4 Reply by adrian

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Re: Multimeter & Extruder won't heat up.

The symbol you describe is for AC Power Rocketman.

5 Reply by ronsii

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Re: Multimeter & Extruder won't heat up.

Ok, just looked at the meter you got...I see what you mean about the manual sad good if you like pictographs smile anyways for all the test you will be doing now we will have the test leads in the bottom right two places NOT the one with the 'A' over it. for checking voltages on the SD printer place the switch to the 'V-...' NOT the 'V~' and make sure the 'AUTO' is displayed at the top,left of the display on the meter press the 'range' button to get it there if it is not already. Now it does not matter which lead (red or black) you place on which test point the meter will still show you what voltage is present smile

Here are some quick checks to make to see if your main board is working or not.
Test points 1 and 2 to check for hotend heater voltage working at main board.

Test points 3 and 4 to check for bed heater voltage at main board.

Test points 5 and 6 for 12 volt power supply in to printer.

http://i.imgur.com/La7XJxB.jpg

6 Reply by Rocketman

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Re: Multimeter & Extruder won't heat up.

I don't have anything marked with "A" on mine. The print bed does heat perfectly fine last I checked. I think it is just the extruder. The instructions with the link I included said I should test the "H" part. Where that port should be it looks somewhat like an H and somewhat like a P, but I'll assume it is H. I'll post up a picture of the board a little bit later.

7 Reply by Rocketman

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Re: Multimeter & Extruder won't heat up.

The "H" in back tested at 12.75 volts. Is there a special way to open up the red wire at the hot end? I don't know how to remove it without tearing something in the process.

8 Reply by ronsii

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Re: Multimeter & Extruder won't heat up.

Rocketman wrote:

The "H" in back tested at 12.75 volts. Is there a special way to open up the red wire at the hot end? I don't know how to remove it without tearing something in the process.

Yes, unplug what is listed as 1,2 on my picture then test the plug that you unplugged with the ohm meter part of your multi meter

Btw: I was referring to your meter when I referenced the 'A' connection, I d/l'ed the manual for it.

9 Reply by ronsii (edited by ronsii 2013-04-22 19:58:33)

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Re: Multimeter & Extruder won't heat up.

Just checked the link you posted the'H' is the same as my picture 1,2 or the 'PT' written in marking pen in my picture.

Since you got 12 volts at the 'H' your main board is most likely good at least as far as the hot end is concerned.

10 Reply by Rocketman

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Re: Multimeter & Extruder won't heat up.

ronsii wrote:

Just checked the link you posted the'H' is the same as my picture 1,2 or the 'PT' written in marking pen in my picture.

Since you got 12 volts at the 'H' your main board is most likely good at least as far as the hot end is concerned.


So wait, I should change one of the cord into the meter to the "A" slot? For volts it looked like the manual wanted the black in the "com" and the red in the "HZ V -|(- [horse shoe shape]." lol. So is there a way to remove the red cord at the extruder to test it from that end? I can't seem to seperate it at that end.

I measure Ohms when at the hot end? Will that be with the meter set to the horse show shape? And how will the cords be rearranged on the meter?

11 Reply by ronsii

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Re: Multimeter & Extruder won't heat up.

No, the 'A' terminal is only used when checking current flow of amps, do NOT use it for anything else as it will short out whatever you are trying to test.

12 Reply by ronsii

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Re: Multimeter & Extruder won't heat up.

As for checking ohms on the hotend just pull the plug (1,2) straight down maybe wiggle it a bit it will come off then with your meter set to the horseshoe(ohms) setting and the leads plugged in to the 'COM' and the 'HZ V~-...' check on the '1' and '2' if it shows open=very high ohms then either the hot end is burned out or the connections to the hot end are 'open' broken(bad connection)

13 Reply by Rocketman

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Re: Multimeter & Extruder won't heat up.

ronsii wrote:

As for checking ohms on the hotend just pull the plug (1,2) straight down maybe wiggle it a bit it will come off then with your meter set to the horseshoe(ohms) setting and the leads plugged in to the 'COM' and the 'HZ V~-...' check on the '1' and '2' if it shows open=very high ohms then either the hot end is burned out or the connections to the hot end are 'open' broken(bad connection)

So '1' and '2' are both of the 2 connection associated with "H" in the back? I don't take one meter wire to the back and one to near the hot end to see how well electricity passes through? I am unable to seperate the red wire near the extruder. Only take the "H" wire out of its sleeve.

14 Reply by Rocketman

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Re: Multimeter & Extruder won't heat up.

I think at this point I am going to try to find some local help. A friend of mine's father is retired from working at IBM and he claims he might be able to figure out what maybe the issue.