Pneumatic Hub Troubleshooting

Is your Status LED light showing a new color or sequence? Check out the Status LED Pattern page!

General Troubleshooting

If you are experiencing issues with your Pneumatic Hub that you are struggling to diagnose, we recommend following the troubleshooting guides and steps listed below, both in the flowchart and in the following subsections.

Checking for Faults

Clearing Sticky Faults

Sticky faults are cleared when the mode button on the Power Distribution Hub is pressed or can be cleared using the REV Hardware Client. It is also possible to clear sticky faults using WPILib.

Compressor Test Mode

To activate Compressor Test Mode, please follow these steps:

  1. Turn on and enable your robot, or connect your Pneumatics Hub to the REV Hardware Client.

  2. Hold down the mode button for 7 seconds.

  3. Compressor will start, continue holding the mode button to keep the compressor on.

  4. When done with Compressor Test Mode, release the mode button to stop the compressor.

Fuse consistently pops during use

Your Pneumatic Hub is drawing more current than the fuse can handle. If you’re using a 15A fuse, try a 20A fuse.

If you’re using a 20A fuse, we recommend moving your Pneumatic Hub to be powered by a High Current Channel and a 20A breaker.

You should also check your logs to see how much current the PH is pulling. Please note that the PH will draw more current at lower battery voltages.

Recovery Mode

When updating the firmware on the Pneumatic Hub, it is possible for the process to be interrupted or for the firmware to be corrupted by a bad download. In this state, the Status LED will be dark and the Pneumatic Hub will fail to operate. There is a built-in recovery mode that can force it to accept new firmware even if the controller seems to be bricked and the procedure is outlined below:

  1. With the Pneumatic Hub powered off, press and hold the Mode Button

  2. While still holding the Mode Button, connect the Pneumatic Hub to the computer using the USB-C cable - the Status LED will not illuminate, this is expected

  3. With the REV Hardware Client running on the computer, wait a few seconds for the audible tone or icon for the device to be recognized in recovery mode then release the Mode Button -no lights will be present on the Pneumatic Hub during this stage of the process, this is expected

  4. Select the Pneumatic Hub in Recovery Mode from the REV Hardware Client window

  5. From the "Choose a Device" type dropdown, choose - Pneumatic Hub

  6. Choose the latest version of the firmware from the dropdown and then click update

  7. Wait for the software update to complete

  8. Power cycle unit (unplug and plug in USB-C) click on Pneumatic Hub icon, clear any sticky faults - the recovery should be complete.

Other Common Issues

SymptomPossible Resolution

The PH won’t power on even though the PDH is on.

  1. Check the polarity of the main power wiring on the PH

  2. Check the fuse on the PDH side channel that the PH is wired to.

Solenoid does not turn on despite the channel turning on (Green LED is on).

Check the cable wiring and make sure there is enough bare wire to make contact in the solenoid terminal. Verify that the solenoid voltage switch is set to the proper voltage.

Compressor does not turn on despite the compressor channel turning on (Green LED is on).

Check the wiring of the compressor and make sure there is enough bare wire to make contact in the compressor terminal.

PH cannot communicate over CAN

Check your CAN wiring and make sure there is enough bare wire to make contact in the CAN terminals.

CAN Warning

A CAN warning means that there is something wrong with your CAN bus. Check your CAN bus wiring and the devices on your CAN bus. Note: if you are operating the PH by itself using the REV hardware client, you can ignore most CAN warnings. The PH will send a CAN warning if it does not see any other device on the bus

CAN Bus Off Fault

A CAN Bus Off fault means that the CAN bus has run into a critical issue resulting in the bus network turning off. Check your CAN bus for shorts on the high and low CAN wires. The CAN bus will turn back on once the issue is resolved.

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