Hello, I need a device to check which wires have power and which dont. I am doing up a ebay tank and at the moment get nothing at all when I turn the tank on. I have checked the transmitter it is working fine.
What device do I need to check the wires have power?
Thanks.
How to check which wires have power?
Re: How to check which wires have power?
A cheap pocket multimeter such as by Gunson. Any carparts or electronic shop will stock them.
Re: How to check which wires have power?
This is the most basic meter yet it will test any system in our tanks. I have sent you a link in a PM, this meter is five dollars in the US.cheers Saxondog
- basic volt/ohm meter
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Bigwheels_inc
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Re: How to check which wires have power?
Check the on/off switch and cables first as ive had a few faulty ones
obvious place to start but allot of people over look it
Pete
obvious place to start but allot of people over look it
Pete
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wibblywobbly
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Re: How to check which wires have power?
There are two things you will need to test.
1. Continuity.
2. Volts.
You may have continuity, but no volts.
You may no continuity.
Also be aware than once you start connecting two terminals you are creating a circuit. Be careful where you prod, as connecting two components that are not supposed to be connected will potentially damage something that wasn't broken before.
If nothing is happening when you turn the tank on then:
Check the switch wiring.
Check the battery is charged.
Check the crystals are the same number.
Check the crystals are inserted properly.
Check the plugs from the rx board to the main board.
Check the ariel has not detached itself inside the rubber tube.
After that, you can only really check that there is power getting to the board, and pretty much the only option if it isn't is to get a new board.
Hopefully you will find something like a broken solder joint somewhere. When you say nothing happens, do the lights come on, or is it totally dead?
1. Continuity.
2. Volts.
You may have continuity, but no volts.
You may no continuity.
Also be aware than once you start connecting two terminals you are creating a circuit. Be careful where you prod, as connecting two components that are not supposed to be connected will potentially damage something that wasn't broken before.
If nothing is happening when you turn the tank on then:
Check the switch wiring.
Check the battery is charged.
Check the crystals are the same number.
Check the crystals are inserted properly.
Check the plugs from the rx board to the main board.
Check the ariel has not detached itself inside the rubber tube.
After that, you can only really check that there is power getting to the board, and pretty much the only option if it isn't is to get a new board.
Hopefully you will find something like a broken solder joint somewhere. When you say nothing happens, do the lights come on, or is it totally dead?
Tiger 1 Late
Panther G
King Tiger
M36 B1
Panther G
King Tiger
M36 B1
Re: How to check which wires have power?
At The moment the tank is in pieces as I am working on it. The upper hull is not connected at all so I dont know if the lights come on. 
There is no sound or movement from the tank. I will swap crystals around from my working tank and check that first! Cheers!
There is no sound or movement from the tank. I will swap crystals around from my working tank and check that first! Cheers!
Re: How to check which wires have power?
Great idea to buy and use a multi meter.
Just another bit of advice NEVER use a test lamp (Globe type) on electronic circuits the globe may draw to much current and distroy the circuits. The only type of test lamp is an LED test lamp.
Jeff
Just another bit of advice NEVER use a test lamp (Globe type) on electronic circuits the globe may draw to much current and distroy the circuits. The only type of test lamp is an LED test lamp.
Jeff
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wibblywobbly
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Re: How to check which wires have power?
Ok, with the uppper hull removed you should still be able to start the tank, and run it.
However, in order to check that the power is getting to the board, you will need to reconnect the upper hull and see if the lights come on. Once you know that, you know that the switch and power supply are ok.
If the lights do not come on, check the solder joints on the switch, I have had duff ones, and it took me ages to find the problem. HL soldering can either be perfect, dodgy, or completely useless.
Next up check the wiring from that little square pcb. This takes the current from the board to the lights. Wires often fall off here.
If there is a loose wire, and you have an RX14, there is a risk that the loose wire has touched the main board and caused a short circuit, blowing the board.
Check the FETS, and the rest of the board with a magnifying glass, there shouldn't be any scorch marks anywhere.
Once you have a multimeter, you can check that the power is getting to the board, if it isn't then there is a break in a solder joint between the battery/switch/board.
If power is getting to the board, then most probably the board is blown.
Do you have an RX14 or an RX18?
However, in order to check that the power is getting to the board, you will need to reconnect the upper hull and see if the lights come on. Once you know that, you know that the switch and power supply are ok.
If the lights do not come on, check the solder joints on the switch, I have had duff ones, and it took me ages to find the problem. HL soldering can either be perfect, dodgy, or completely useless.
Next up check the wiring from that little square pcb. This takes the current from the board to the lights. Wires often fall off here.
If there is a loose wire, and you have an RX14, there is a risk that the loose wire has touched the main board and caused a short circuit, blowing the board.
Check the FETS, and the rest of the board with a magnifying glass, there shouldn't be any scorch marks anywhere.
Once you have a multimeter, you can check that the power is getting to the board, if it isn't then there is a break in a solder joint between the battery/switch/board.
If power is getting to the board, then most probably the board is blown.
Do you have an RX14 or an RX18?
Tiger 1 Late
Panther G
King Tiger
M36 B1
Panther G
King Tiger
M36 B1
Re: How to check which wires have power?
I have rx18 board. I will check in the next few days. Cheers for the pm sax I will have a look on ebay. Im a noob at electronics so it will be fun learning.
Re: How to check which wires have power?
Ok, I have added a spare tiger top half to my current build and I am getting lights flashing when it is all connected. Hence, I have power. But I get nothing when I try to start the tank.
I will try a few spare crystals now to see if that makes any difference. I have checked the internals of the tank, and I have power to everything, except the small electrical board at the centre of the tank. Is this normal????
I will try a few spare crystals now to see if that makes any difference. I have checked the internals of the tank, and I have power to everything, except the small electrical board at the centre of the tank. Is this normal????
