I am using an IFM Efector 4-20mA 2 wire sensor on the MC41 inputs capable of sensing current.  Their hookup diagram is what I expected connecting one side of the sensor to high and one side to the sensor port.  The input shows a high error when I'm in a neutral state and I can confirm with an ammeter in line that I am sending 4mA to the controller.  My best guess is there is too much impedance and internally it is not correcting for it so I tried adding a 5k resistor to ground externally to split the current.  It now senses 3.8mA but is no longer accurate over the range.  

We have an application which uses MC43FS module. We get an error code showing 4 x red, 2 x amber, 1 x amber, 1 x amber, 4 x amber. I have isolated the fault to one wire which is causing this error code, C1:10. The manual shows this as VIN / DIN, but we have found when connecting 24V to this pin once the module is booted, all is fine, no error code is generated. If we connect 24V to this pin and power the module on we get the error code flash up, the module shuts down, no communication is possible.

I have used a different MC43 to test and same error is generated. I have also tested by only connecting power, address tag and C1:10 and I still get the same error with the scenarios listed above. Is this a fault or is there something we are doing wrong (perhaps the allocation of pins)? Its almost as if the pin should only be a VIN and only accept 5VDC max, or perhaps its a pull up instead of pull down, is this what the error code is stating? We are unable to tell what the detailed error code is, only 'stopped critical' is listed. I will send across the video file of the error flash.

I have multiple MD4-7 low side output permanently latching off when it is driving a relay after a month or 2. Over the course of 2 years this seems to only be happening on the last few units I received, but not on any of the older ones. The current maximum on the output is 300ma and the relay I'm driving has a maximum inrush of 350ma for less than 1us, and it has a built in surge protection suppressor diode... I would normally say ugh I should have been more careful but I have quite a bit of units with all the same relays driving off of the same outputs without problems. has there been any component changes in the past couple months to these units? Anyone else have any thoughts on what might be happening? 

Hi there!

I've got a small problem and i had this before but it went away every time but i dont know how to fix my problem

if i start up my MD4-5 it shows our own startup screen (this is good) and then, after the startup, it shows an error message:

and it stays in this screen.

I've connected the Bat+ to 24V bat- to the ground and the RTC to the 24V with a 1.5K resistor.

is there any reason why this could happen?

Theleo De Bruyn

Hi there,

I have been working on the project that would involve MC41 master. Application that I have been working requires 8 digital outputs. MC41 has got 4 DOUTs and 2 bidirectional COUTs (current out). In the past I used XA2 that allowed to use these COUTs for DOUTs. It was clearly shown on electrical schematic. When I have checked electrical schematic for MC41 it did not show this option. Can I use these COUTs for additional DOUTs that I require or what can be suggested to achieve my requirement. I would like to add that I am rather 'mechanical' guy and have some problems with electronics. Have been working with IQAN since 2007.

Thanks in advance

Richard Kowalczyk 

 RKad Engineering

32 Kingussie Ave Castle Hill NSW 2154 Australia 

 ☎: +61 2 98940750

📲 :+61 431 639 295

E: richard.kowalczyk@rkad.com.au 

W: www.rkad.com.au

We noticed that we are getting the errors below in the MC43 log occasionally and it appears to get logged when turning machine off.  Machine runs fine and no errors appear during running.  I verified that the log has no errors during running, but when I key off and then key on and check MC43 log, the errors below are logged in MC43 log.

Any ideas as to why these errors would get logged on key off intermittently?  Any suggestions as to resolve this?

Hi all,

I connected an old G1 modem to a MD3.

The connection between them is OK, the modem receive and send SMS.

But when I connect my laptop with IQANRun2 to the system (MD3+G1) I have a Blue Screen.

Do you think the modem I'm using can cause the problem if it send voice instead of data?(56k USB Modem USRobotics)

Quick question on fuel senders.

The kind we have included with our fuel tank is in fact not a current out, but resistive fuel sender. That is, 1 terminal is connected to ground and 1 terminal is the signal wire with varying resistance based on fuel level.

Is there any way that the MC43 can read this?

We are having some odd things happening with a system designed using DOUT HS + LS outputs.

We will start with the first group circled in Red below, but are having the same issues with the other HS + LS groups. You can also reference the schematic below for the HS + LS wiring for “Servo Power” and Front “Diff Lock”. This is with "DOUT under current detection" on.

• If Servo Power and Front Diff Lock both are False and we disconnect one or the other, the corresponding function will show “open load” as expected.
• If Servo Power is True and Front Diff Lock is False, and we disconnect either one, the corresponding function will show “open load” as expected.
• If Servo Power is False and Front Diff Lock is True and we disconnect Servo Power, no “open load” is shown
• If Servo Power is False and Front Diff Lock is True and we disconnect Front Diff Lock, both show “open load”
• If Servo Power is True and Front Diff Lock is True and we disconnect either one, no “open load” is shown

If we turn "DOUT under current detection" off, the outputs will behave how we understand they are supposed to. Although, doing so removes open load detection when the output is true. 

The instruction book recommends NOT using an MC4x for 33/75 hz Pulsar coils.

I have an application where we are using an MC43 driving PF coils, and the customer is asking for a retrofit to 75hz pulsars, for common coils with other equipment.    Is it possible to add external diodes/etc and drive these coils, or will we have to replace the controller?