Encoder Base Motor Troubleshooting (5.3.1)

Encoder Base Motor Troubleshooting

You may have ENCODER based motors. They look like this:

• These motors have an auto calibration function that is performed each time you power on. 
• Each motor will move to the limit and back to the middle – normal position. 
• If one or few motors fail to do so the system will indicate it with the corresponding beeps (see 5.0) and get into the self testing mode until the issue is fixed. 
• If this happens, you need to check that all connectors (power and phone RJ12) are properly plugged to the proper ports of the control box and do full power cycle (turn power off and disconnect USB for at least 20 seconds). 
  
  

If an issue persist, use the following steps:

Before starting, fully exit everything else on the PC possible, especially Sim Racing Studio and SimHub (check the Windows task manager to make sure).

1. Download https://dofreality.com/tools.zip, unzip all contents into any local folder on your PC. Run Tools app-there no viruses or malware there.You can ignore antivirus warnings. 
   
   

   Wait until the box stops beeping. Follow on screen instructions and click “Start SMC3 Utils” Button. You should not see or ignore any errors.

2. Only if you can’t get previous step to open SMC app without error:
   

   Open with notepad file SMC3Utils.ini and set COMM_PORT= to proper COM port number from your Windows Device Manager (see 5.1). Each control box has a specific port number. Test one box at a time. Start/run SMC3Utils.exe. If you are getting error messages about the COM port communication, you haven’t set the port number properly in the previous step. You should not see or ignore any errors.

3. Once SMC is open and box beeps are done you can see a value for Calcs/sec in the mid bottom of SMC (if not SMC is not started properly). You can select the motor in question and it should move back and force (if you need to test Motor 1 you need to select Motor 2 and then back Motor 1 (only after end of testing Motor 2) and the chart looks like this on photo below:

   

Motor should move in both directions and the green line on the charts should be moving as well. This confirms that the motor is working and the encoder is working as well. 

If the motor was not moving at all or only in one direction, please contact our tech DOF Reality Support detailing the tests you did and results. 

If the motor was moving , but the green line is not  – rotate the coupler between the motor and SFU gearbox with your fingers and see if the green line on the chart will be moving in both directions.

If not – contact our tech DOF Reality Support detailing the tests you did and results.

4. Check the default settings are