LECTRA/SAN MC

B

Bob J

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Jan 1, 2000
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181
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Vic, a tad redundant; I sent same text to Raritan web page in hopes of getting quickest possible answer.
Vic, how do I "POSITIVELY" determine if P/N 31-603 is shot? Friday evening, pressed blue pad (Push To Flush) & nothing happened. Several minutes later, tried again & everything worked like it should. Several more times unit worked. Then this morning a repeat of Friday evening & now, nothing. Definitely have 12VDC + going to unit. Tiny fuse on circuit board checks out good. All connection are secure. I just don't want to buy new control panel if problem is elsewhere. Please advise what I can do to determine status of P/N 31-603 & what I can do to resolve problem.
 
Vic, you the man !! All is well aboard the "WEATHER OF KNOT" ! CUDOS !!
 
Bob did you try replacing the control panel wiring harness? Hint it is a straight CAT5 cable. I just talked with Vic about something similar. Also try soldering the rivets under the fuse clip holders.
Bill
 
For those of you who don't know what this is all about, Bob J. has a Lectra/San MC, which can accomodate two marine heads under certain conditions; it has basically a "dual" control board.

However, Bob only has one toilet connected to it. The one circuit died on the PC board, and the toilet which was powered by the output from the Lectra/San wouldn't flush. We put our heads together, and decided to connect the toilet to the second (unused) circuit on the board. So after switching the cable and toilet outputs to the second circuit, it worked just fine.

Bob and I have been dealing together for a number of years now. I think this is the first time he's ever called me with a problem, where we were able to get him back operational on the same day, where it didn't cost him a cent!
 
Doesn't get better than that !! Thanks again, Vic
 
Vic thanks for the update. As you know I called you last Friday about the same unit. The unit I gave my boat slip neighbor is also a 2 port unit. I will keep that in mind when or if he ever has that problem. I do have a question when the low voltage light flashes (after the 2nd treatment phase turns on) what should the voltage be at the positive main buss? I have a feeling my buddy has a bad battery or undersized cabling. When I inspected his wiring I was able to eliminate 6 feet of #6 on the positive side. Once I did that the low voltage (slow flashing yellow) would only happen when the 2nd treatment phase pump comes on. I still feel he needs a new battery and or cabling. This was a refit on a early 1980's vintage Marine Trader.
Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by Vic Willman

We put our heads together, and decided to connect the toilet to the second (unused) circuit on the board.
Click to expand...


Vic, you truly are the HEAD master!
 
Bill, on a 12 volt Lectra/San MC, if you're using #6 wire, the maximum wire run distance between treatment unit and batteries is 7 1/2 feet (15 foot round trip). Anything longer than that will be marginal, and will likely result in it complaining about low voltage.

Regarding battery power, the voltage should be measured at the two lugs on the side of the treatment unit (where the battery cables connect) while it is running in the second cycle (35+ seconds after startup). It should read 12.0 volts or better. When the voltage drops to 11.5 volts measured there, the machine will start to complain (warning lights will come on) and when it drops to 10.5, the machine will completely shut down and a fast blinking red light will show on the indicator panel.

People call me and say I've got 12.8, 13.2, or whatever, available at the unit. As soon as I ask them if the unit was running when they checked, they say no. That reading means nothing. The reading must be done while it's running and under full load (both motors running and the electrodes energized) in order to be of any value during troubleshooting.

Note: a fast blinking red light on the Lectra/San MC series to indicate low voltage, is two blinks per second. A slow blinking red light (once per second) means something else. And a red light on steadily (not blinking) means something else again. The causes are printed on the indicator panel. When you walk into the head and see the red light lit on the Lectra/San panel regardless of whether it's on steady or it's blinking, it means the previous cycle never finished - that it shut down prematurely, and that something is wrong.

Don't simply press the "R" button to reset it, walk away, and forget about it. It's telling everyone that there's some sort of problem with the system that needs to be corrected. And if it isn't corrected, more serious problems will develop with the system, if you keep using it that way.

This same basic information also applies to both older and newer Lectra/San and Electro-Scan units, not just the MC series. The voltage readings must be done while the system is running and under full load.
 
Thanks Vic that is what how I instructed the guy to test it "under full load". I will be back down on the boat tomorrow and measure the full current load myself. We have no blinking red lights just a slow yellow flash which on the touch pad indicates low voltage. The light doesn't start flashing until about 35 seconds. I'm guessing he's in for a rewire using #4 his round trip is about 16 feet.
Bill
 
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