October 2008
Section 4 • Repair Procedures
4 - 76
GS-30 • GS-32 • GS-46
Part No. 96316
REV C
How to Test a Coil Diode
Genie incorporates spike suppressing diodes in all
of its coils. Properly functioning coil diodes protect
the electrical circuit by suppressing voltage spikes.
Voltage spikes naturally occur within a function
circuit following the interruption of electrical current
to a coil. Faulty diodes can fail to protect the
electrical system, resulting in a tripped circuit
breaker or component damage.
Electrocution/burn hazard. Contact
with electrically charged circuits
could result in death or serious
injury. Remove all rings, watches
and other jewelry.
1 Test the coil for resistance. See 6-5
How to
Test a Coil.
2 Connect a 10
Ω
resistor to the negative terminal
of a known good 9V DC battery. Connect the
other end of the resistor to a terminal on the
coil.
Note: The battery should read 9V DC or more
when measured across the terminals.
Resistor, 10
Ω
Ω
Ω
Ω
Ω
Genie part number
27287
3 Set a multimeter to read DC amperage.
Note: The multimeter, when set to read DC
amperage, should be capable of reading up to 800
mA.
4 Connect the negative lead to the other terminal
on the coil.
Note: If testing a single-terminal coil, connect the
negative lead to the internal metallic ring at either
end of the coil.
MANIFOLDS
a
multimeter
b
9V DC battery
c
10
Ω
resistor
d
coil
Note: Dotted lines in illustration indicate a reversed
connection as specified in step 6
5 Momentarily connect the positive lead from the
multimeter to the positive terminal on the 9V
battery. Note and record the current reading.
6 At the battery or coil terminals, reverse the
connections. Note and record the current
reading.
Result: Both current readings are greater than
0 mA and are different by a minimum of 20%.
The coil is good.
Result: If one or both of the current readings are
0 mA, or if the two current readings do not differ
by a minimum of 20%, the coil and/or its
internal diode are faulty and the coil should be
replaced.
9V
BATTERY
10
RESISTOR
W
MULTI
METER
COIL
+
-
+
-
d
b
b
a
c
c