Page 1 of 1

A10M Short When Bed Heating Begins

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 10:44 pm
by JaredBurton
Hello,

I am having issues with my A10M, just got it all set up, went to start a test print, and it will not work. Everything shuts down upon the bed starting to heat up. I have done some troubleshooting, and it looks like this is the cause. The head heats up no problem, everything moves the way it should, but as soon as the bed heating begins, there's a click, and everything goes still. The screen remains lit, but does not display anything. It almost seems like it is drawing too much power? After turning off the switch on the power supply, as power dissipates in the system, the screen shows the initial boot screen again briefly before turning off completely.

I have tried flashing the firmware again, but this did not correct the issue. I did a once over on the board, and can't seem to find anything that looks fried or shorted, but this isn't my area of expertise.

Has anyone else had this issue? Any recommendations to fix this so I can start printing?

Re: A10M Short When Bed Heating Begins

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 1:29 am
by _kaktus_
Hello.
:mrgreen:

I suggest that you carefully check if everything is connected correctly. Especially the power connectors. ;)
You can disconnect and reconnect them to make sure that they are firmly and reliably plugged into the sockets.

You can also measure the voltage of the main power supply while turning on the heating. Observe the voltmeter readings attentively.
If you notice large fluctuations in output voltage, it indicates that the power supply does not work properly.
Or it does not have enough power. :o

Waiting for new messages from you. :D

Re: A10M Short When Bed Heating Begins

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 2:52 am
by JaredBurton
_kaktus_ wrote:
Thu Oct 11, 2018 1:29 am
Hello.
:mrgreen:

I suggest that you carefully check if everything is connected correctly. Especially the power connectors. ;)
You can disconnect and reconnect them to make sure that they are firmly and reliably plugged into the sockets.

You can also measure the voltage of the main power supply while turning on the heating. Observe the voltmeter readings attentively.
If you notice large fluctuations in output voltage, it indicates that the power supply does not work properly.
Or it does not have enough power. :o

Waiting for new messages from you. :D
Checked all connections, everything appears to be fine.

Output from the power supply measures 24 V while active. Upon beginning heating, it immediately drops to 4, and the printer no longer responds.

Re: A10M Short When Bed Heating Begins

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 2:55 am
by _kaktus_
Hello.
;)

In this case, check how the connection to the heat bed is configured.
It is probably configured for 12V DC.
:?

That's how I think by the way. :roll:
This type of power supply should be protected against overloads. :idea:
The power supply should switch off and counteract this situation.
This should continue until the excessive load has subsided...

Re: A10M Short When Bed Heating Begins

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 3:23 am
by JaredBurton
_kaktus_ wrote:
Thu Oct 11, 2018 2:55 am
Hello.
;)

In this case, check how the connection to the heat bed is configured.
It is probably configured for 12V DC.
:?

That's how I think by the way. :roll:
This type of power supply should be protected against overloads. :idea:
The power supply should switch off and counteract this situation.
This should continue until the excessive load has subsided...
The heatbed has 2 positive and 2 negative leads, which appear to be run in parallel, as well as a blue and a green control wire.

With the bed disconnected from the board, starting the heating does not trip the power supply.

Tested continuity between the positives and negatives, both on ends of wire and on bed. However, measuring resistance between leads on the bed, the resistance is always 0. Possibly a short in the bed itself?

Re: A10M Short When Bed Heating Begins

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 3:48 am
by JaredBurton
Figured it out! The clips holding the print surface to the heat bed, metal clips, had scratched the backing off of the bottom of the heat bed when they were put on, exposing the copper underneath. The clips themselves were contacting multiple points along the outer coil, and were creating the short. It appears the clips are not needed anyway, as the glass top is glued to the heat bed. Soooo, now it appears that it will work, sans clips.

Re: A10M Short When Bed Heating Begins

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 4:03 am
by _kaktus_
:mrgreen:

Re: A10M Short When Bed Heating Begins

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 4:24 am
by JaredBurton
Tore the whole damn thing apart at least 8 times and it was the damn clips...

Re: A10M Short When Bed Heating Begins

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 4:29 am
by _kaktus_
:mrgreen:
And I'm glad that you quickly dealt with the problem.
:lol: