Research Concepts RC2500 - Manual (Page 66)

RC2500 Antenna Controller Chapter 7 Error Codes 59
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Chapter 7 – TROUBLESHOOTING/ALARM CODES
The alarm system monitors important system parameters and flashes a message on the bottom line of
the LCD display if an error is found. The parameters monitored include the condition of the lithium
battery, status of the azimuth and elevation antenna drive systems, and the values of certain variables.
Some error codes have priority over others. Alarm conditions are sampled sequentially, with the highest
priority sampled first. As corrective action is taken for each error, the code is eliminated, and if there is a
lesser error, it will then appear.
7.1 SYSTEM ERROR CODES
The alarm system monitors important system parameters and flashes a message on the bottom line of
the LCD display if an error is found. The parameters monitored include the condition of the lithium
battery, status of the azimuth and elevation antenna drive systems, and the values of certain variables.
Some error codes have priority over others. Alarm conditions are sampled sequentially, with the highest
priority sampled first. As corrective action is taken for each error, the code is eliminated, and if there is a
lesser error, it will then appear.
Many of the alarm messages described in this section are caused by corrupt CONFIG mode items. Note
that access to certain CONFIG mode items is controlled by the value of other CONFIG mode items. See
the first few paragraphs of section 5.8 for an explanation of the role of controlling CONFIG mode items. If
the value of a controlling CONFIG mode item is such that access to other CONFIG mode items is
restricted, corrupt values of those other CONFIG mode items can still generate an alarm message.
Access to the corrupted item is only available if the controlling item is changed to allow it.
All of the CONFIG mode items must be initialized to a valid value, even if the feature associated with that
CONFIG mode item is disabled. For example, even if REMOTE mode is disabled, the Comm Port Baud
Rate and Comm Port Address CONFIG mode items must still be initialized properly.
LOW BATTERY
The RC2000C constantly monitors the level of the lithium battery. When the power level is low, this error
code will appear. Replace the battery with a Duracell DL2450. Make sure that the unit is unplugged
from the AC power before removing the cover to change the battery. Take care to hold the battery tab
away from the battery housing while replacing the battery, and it will not be necessary to reprogram the
memory. Since there is a chance that the non-volatile memory will be corrupted when the battery is
changed, please refer to the Appendix A section entitled ‘Updating RC2500 Antenna Controllers that are
In-Service’ before changing the battery.
ESTOP
This alarm message indicate that the Emergency Stop button at the A.I.U. has been actuated. Determine
the cause of the emergency stop. No antenna motion is allowed from the RC2500 or the A.I.U. when this
alarm is active. This error may be reset only by resetting the Emergency Stop button located near the
Antenna in the A.I.U. ESTOP is controlled by a current loop described in Sec. 3.3.2. Interruption of this
current loop by a broken connection or loop supply failure will also produce the error. Refer to the
controller specific appendices for details about this error in non-standard applications.
MAINTENANCE
This alarm message indicate that the Remote/Maintenance switch at the A.I.U. has set to allow local
jogging of the antenna from the A.I.U. In this state, the RC2500 cannot control antenna motion and
simply displays the position of each axis. This Status Flag may be reset only by switching the
Remote/Maintenance switch at the A.I.U. to Remote. MAINTENANCE is controlled by a current loop
described in Sec. 3.3.2. Interruption of this current loop by a broken connection or loop supply failure will
also produce the error. Refer to the controller specific appendices for details about this error in non-
standard applications.
SUMMARY LIMIT
For the ‘7134 Summary Limits’ firmware version, the arrival of the antenna at any of the six position limits
will produce a Summary Limit alarm. The Summary Limit alarm message indicates that a limit has been
reached on one of the antenna axes. Antenna motion in this state is limited only by the limit switch