DRB-Device Timing Troubleshooting

Overview

If your tunnel devices are turning on and off, but not when they should, you can take several troubleshooting steps to rectify this problem.

TunnelWatch not knowing where the vehicle is in the tunnel causes almost all timing type problems. This can have several causes, and these causes and their solutions are discussed in the steps that follow.

Troubleshooting

The most common cause of timing problems is that the Pulse Switch or Enter Switch is not working properly.  Refer to 'Pulse Switch Troubleshooting' or 'Enter Switch Troubleshooting' documents for further details on each.

1. Check the Enter Switch.

a. The Enter Switch Input (1B) green indicator light (LED) should illuminate as soon as a vehicle passes in front of or over the Enter Switch.

b. The green LED should go out as soon as the vehicle leaves the Enter Switch.

i. If the Enter Switch LED turns on or off too soon or too late, or is always on or always off, the problem could be the Input, the Enter Switch itself, or the wiring.

ii. If the LED never turns on.

• Check to make sure the input works by using a short piece of wire to jumper the COM and 1B terminals together.

  • These terminals are located on the upper left terminal strip in the Tunnel Control Station.  

• The LED should turn on.  

  • If the LED turns on, the input is good, and you should try some of the additional suggestions for fixing the enter switch or wiring at the end of this section.  

  • If the LED does not turn on then move the Enter Switch wire from the 1B terminal to an unused input terminal (1F or higher).

    • Check to make sure this input works by using a short piece of wire to jumper a COM terminal and the new input terminal together.

      • The LED for this input should turn on.

        • If the LED does not turn on then call IT Remote Support to replace the Input card.

        • If the LED is ON then change the TunnelWatch software settings to match the new Input number.  

c. If the LED never turns off.

i. Try temporarily disconnecting the wire from the 1B terminal.  

ii. The LED should turn off.  

• If it does, the input is good and you should try some of the additional suggestions for fixing the Enter Switch or wiring at the end of this section.  

• If the LED does not turn off then move the enter switch wire from the 1B terminal to an unused input terminal (1F or higher)

  • If the LED switches on and off appropriately with the activation/deactivation of the Enter Switch then change the TunnelWatch software settings to match the new Input number

  • If the LED turns on and stays on then there may be a problem in the wiring of the device. You should try some of the additional suggestions for fixing the wiring at the end of this section.

d. If the LED turns on and off, but not at the right times, or if the input tested OK in one of the previous tests, the problem is likely in the wiring or Enter Switch itself.  

i. Check to make sure the wires are properly connected to the COM and 1B terminals on the upper left terminal strip in the Tunnel Control Station.  

ii. Try cleaning the Enter Switch or adjusting its sensitivity.

iii. If you cannot locate the problem with the Enter Switch, contact your electrician or tunnel equipment supplier for further help.

2. Check the Pulse Switch.

a. The Pulse Switch input (1A) green indicator light (LED) should flash on and off in a steady, regular pattern whenever the conveyor is running.

b. If the LED never turns on.

i. Check to make sure the input works by using a short piece of wire to jumper the COM and 1A terminals together on the upper left terminal strip in the Tunnel Control Station.  

ii. The LED should turn on.  

• If it does, the input is good and you should try some of the additional suggestions for fixing the Pulse Switch or wiring at the end of this section.  

• If the LED does not turn on then move the Pulse Switch wire from the 1A terminal to an unused input terminal (1F or higher).

  • Check to make sure this input works by using a short piece of wire to jumper a COM terminal and the new input terminal together.

    • The LED for this input should turn on.

      • If the LED does not turn on then call IT Remote Support to replace the Input card.

      • If the LED is ON then change the TunnelWatch software settings to match the new Input number.  

c. If the LED never turns off.

i. Try temporarily disconnecting the wire from the 1A terminal.  

ii. The LED should turn off.  

• If it does, the input is good and you should try some of the additional suggestions for fixing the Pulse Switch or wiring at the end of this section.  

• If the LED does not turn off then move the Pulse Switch wire from the 1A terminal to an unused input terminal (1F or higher).

  • If the LED switches on and off appropriately with the activation/deactivation of the Pulse Switch then change then the TunnelWatch software settings to match the new Input number.

  • If the LED turns on and stays on then there may be a problem in the wiring of the device. You should try some of the additional suggestions for fixing the wiring at the end of this section.

d. If the indicator light does not flash on and off steadily (misses a pulse, gets two pulses quickly back-to-back, etc.), or the input tested OK in one of the previous tests, the problem is most likely the Pulse Switch or wiring.  

i. Check to make sure the wires are properly connected to the COM and 1A terminals on the upper left terminal strip in the Tunnel Control Station.  

ii. Check to make sure the Pulse Switch is properly mounted and that there are no foreign objects interfering with the switch.  

iii. Check the Pulse Switch for problems, and replace it if necessary.

See how the TunnelWatch software tracks a vehicle

1. Once any problems with the Enter Switch and Pulse Switch have been resolved, verify that TunnelWatch knows were the vehicle is in the tunnel by checking the "Production" screen.

2. In the screen above, Q1 is a vehicle that has been programmed at the tunnel entrance terminal and has yet to enter the tunnel. This means the vehicle is in the queue or stack of cars waiting to enter the tunnel. W1 and W2 are both vehicles that are currently in the tunnel being washed. Notice that TunnelWatch is aware of how long each vehicle is and precisely where the front of the vehicle is in the wash. Also, notice the arrow to the right of W2. When the arrow is pointing at W2, the Service Selections box lists the services this vehicle is scheduled to receive.

3. If both the Enter and Pulse Switches are working properly, the "Production Screen" should match exactly to what is taking place in your tunnel.

a. If it does not, check your Enter and Pulse Switches for proper operation.

*Note: The second most common reason TunnelWatch becomes confused about where a vehicle is located in the tunnel is that its Simulated Pulse or Simulated Enter features have been turned on.

Check if the Simulated Pulse and Simulated Enter switch are active.

1. Navigate to the 'Operations' screen in TunnelWatch, if either or both are turned on and your Pulse and Enter Switches are working properly, turn them off.

a. These emergency features are not designed to be used when your Enter or Pulse Switches are working properly.

i. You should only use them in case your Enter Switch, Pulse Switch, or both fail.

2. To see if the Simulated Enter and/or the Simulated Pulse switches are on. Look for the scrolling message at the top of any TunnelWatch screen or check to see if they are turned on in the Operations screen 'Other Actions' section.

Check the Pulse Distance.

1. If device-timing problems persist, the final detail to check is the pulse distance configured in the TunnelWatch software.

a. The “Average Pulse Length” number is the average distance the conveyor travels in one pulse.

b. The pulse distance number is used by TunnelWatch to convert the pulses sent to TunnelWatch into feet and inches that you can more easily understand.

c. If the pulse distance is set incorrectly, TunnelWatch will not know where the vehicle actually is located in the tunnel and will not know its correct length.

2. If any of the following situations pertain to your situation then follow the 4th step to re-measure the pulse distance.

a. If the number is too low, services will turn on behind the vehicle.

b. If the number is too high, services will turn on before the vehicle.

c. This problem progressively gets worse the further the vehicle travels down the tunnel.

3. If none of the above situations pertain or it affects a single device, review the timing for a device document.

4. Follow these instructions to re-measure the Pulse Switch: