Jaycar Ultrasonic Antifouling v2 Fault Light

W

weliwarmer

New Member
Joined
21 Nov 2019
Messages
20
Visit site
I couldn't find a Jaycar specific forum to ask about this kit so I thought I'd ask here...

I have some experience of building electronics but this has stumped me.

I followed the instructions in the SiliconChip articles, I am a little colourblind so didn't rely on the resistor colour chart but used a multimeter to check each resistor before fitting. Instead of using the insulator tubing, I covered each high voltage part and the crystal with conformal coating. During the testing step, without the transformers installed, I adjusted and measured the following voltages:

Input : 14.3v
IC pin 5->15 voltage : 4.95v
TP1 : 1.155v
TP2 : 0.5v
2200 uF capacitor: 0v

When power is applied, the green LED comes on for ~3 seconds then goes off and the fault led flashes.

If anyone has any ideas of what I can test/replace to get to the next step, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks,
Tim

IMG_20210615_125631.jpg
 
Been there....done that.....spoke to original designer in the end.........

It would be due to leakage across the low ESR capacitors. These are charged via Q5. You could avoid the error LED lighting if a 470 ohm 1W resistor is placed across the drain and source of Q5. This would assist the prelominary charging of the 2200uF capacitors preventing the error reading due to self discharge.
 
mattnj said:
Can't remember.....that's all I can give you I'm afraid.
Click to expand...
There was huge thread on this device some years back and the conclusion appeared to be - an interesting exercise but it terms of antifouling a waste of time.

However AF and solutions and then comments are variable because all the myriad of conditions are variable so......

After these years - what conclusion can you share on the Jaycar unit and on its performance.

Jonathan
 
Neeves said:
There was huge thread on this device some years back and the conclusion appeared to be - an interesting exercise but it terms of antifouling a waste of time.

However AF and solutions and then comments are variable because all the myriad of conditions are variable so......

After these years - what conclusion can you share on the Jaycar unit and on its performance.

Jonathan
Click to expand...
I started the original thread, using the original kits, not this Mk2 version. My conclusion was that it was worthwhile, allowing me to change from applying antifouling paint annually, to doing so every two years. It was also noticeable that there was less fouling close to the transducers, and that one year there was more fouling than normal in the forward part of the boat. The reason for that was that the forward transducer had become slightly loose in its mount and was no longer transmitting ultrasound to the hull. A re-tighten and a self tapping screw solved that issue.
The original thread is here. Building the Ultrasonic Antifouling Kit from Jaycar See post 303 on page 16 of the thread.
 
I confess I've forgotten the details of the original thread but was left with the distinct impression that the Jaycar concept was not very successful - which was a pity as there is a Jaycar retail outlet 15 minutes away and I was in there for a simple connector a couple of weeks ago.

Maybe I should re-visit the thread and Jaycar, in that order.

Tell me - are you still using the system? Are you recommending the Mk 1 version and NOT the Mk 2 version or are you simply saying the Mk1 worked, for you, and you don't know about the Mk 2?

We are getting toward 2 years from our existing AF and the thought this could possibly be extended to 3 or 4 years using the Jaycar kit has immense appeal.

I am sure that if most could look forward to a 2 year AF schedule many would welcome the opportunity.

I'm not suggesting re-visitn the thread - but an update would be of great value.

Jonathan
 
I was hoping that the ultrasonics would help keep the inside of my swing keel housing clean(er) - last year the housing filled with growth and it took two days with a metal ruler, hammer and a power hose to clean it out so the keel would swing down again.

I've now replaced all resistors, except 130K which I didn't have spare so I removed, tested and remounted those. I also replaced the 20MHz crystal and two of the capacitors. No change, the fault light still flashes after a couple of seconds.

Jaycar are have not replied to my email/cry for help.

Anyone want a geeky looking paperweight?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top