15
User ManUal
v1.6
Help, I don’t see my problem here!
We can’t predict every single failure mode that
may happen. If you encounter a problem that
isn’t covered here, take a look at our online
help forum at
onetesla.com/forum
. Someone
else may have had the same problem and
figured out a solution.
Please post on the forum rather than emailing
us for support, so that everyone can learn from
how you resolved your issue!
How to Check your IGBTs
Use a multimeter to check that your IGBTs
behave like a diode between pins 2 and 3. On
a resistance measurement setting, the pins
should read open in one direction and a near
short in the other direction. Some multimeters
have a diode test feature which shows you
the diode voltage drop, which is a better test.
A complete open or short in both directions
indicates dead IGBTs.
The fuse blows
during operation...
There are a few possible causes of spontaneous failure during
operation.
Interrupter latch-up
happens when the microcontroller
crashes, leaving the transmitter outputting high. A momentary
large, loud spark from the coil and green flash from the fuse
blowing is likely to be the interrupter latching up to 100% duty
cycle rather than it’s typical <10% duty cycle. You can confirm the
interrupter latched up by observing a continuous light from the
optical transmitter. Next time you power up your coil, take care to
coil your USB cable and unplug your control laptop from its AC
charger.
IGBT overload
can occur if you draw too much current from the
coil. If you run the coil at full power and draw an arc from it using
a grounded metal object for example, you may stress the IGBTs
too much.
Other causes of failure during operation include overloading the
coil by drawing too much current from it (particularly if you’re
drawing an arc), or running it for too long, causing overheating.
You may also cause a failure if you operate the coil at full power
while there’s a serious issue with your coil, such as if the spark is
very crackly or weak.
Unplug your coil from AC power and wait 5 minutes for the
capacitors to discharge. Check your IGBTs to check whether they
have blown. Unplug and re-plug-in your interrupter to verify it
functions normally when you restart your control software.
If your fuse blows, DO NOT simply replace the fuse and try again.
Meter your IGBTs.
