ProTrack 1 stuck at boot *solved*

Started by jusubbi, November 06, 2018, 11:01:28 AM

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jusubbi

Here is video:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JanEq7R9Qqgi8StbA

Unit works before but lcd contrast was very low. When i increased contrast, unit works until i shutdown it and now it doesn't boot any more.

Picture is now very dark and after few seconds it goes crazy. Buttons also not responding and there is no other leds than "alt" below monitor. Monitor is blank also.

I measured voltages and they are fine. This is model 10, so there is no com port for backup settings.

Any tips how to fix this?

admin

Hello and welcome to the Huntron User's Forum.

The ProTrack model 10 can be a bit tricky to test because there is no PC control option. Here is a link to the main PCB test procedure. Perhaps it will help with your troubleshooting.

http://www.huntron.com/privatesales/technical/063090tp.pdf
The most important troubleshooting tool is your eyes.

jusubbi

Thanks for that pdf. I checked all voltages at page 5. and they are ok. I also tried reset button, but it won't help. What next?

admin

Not sure what the next step would be. Maybe some old school troubleshooting such reseating any socketed ICs and connectors?
The most important troubleshooting tool is your eyes.

jvthorsley

#4
Hi JUSUBBI
See problems I had with my ProTrack "Sick ProTrack over voltage warning September 2016" and "ProTrack stuck at Calibrating offsets August 2018"on this Forum.
Found on both the cause of the problems was 47 uf 25 V caps leaking electrolyte that was eating away at the copper track.
I imagine this could could case many different problems so worth checking with a ESR meter, or just replacing all as I did of the 47 uf 25 V  Caps. And carefully inspecting the copper track. All the 47 uf caps I removed had high ESR.
The older ProTracks had no cooling fan so the electrolytic capacitors age quicker.
Best to replace with the higher temperature 105 C types rather than the cheaper 85 C CAPS.

jusubbi

I reseated all socketed ICs and connectors, no help.

I can't see any leaks from electrolytic capacitors, but i have ESR meter so maybe i need to check them.

jvthorsley

#6
A good ESR meter is as useful as a working ProTrack impedance signature analyzer.
Its not always obvious that a capacitor is leaking until you lift it off the circuit board.
These are the 47 uf caps on the main base circuit board. I'm sure the base board on the ProTrack 10 is very similar to the ProTrack 20, except it doesn't have the additional daughter boards for RS232 and Centronics Parallel printer Ports.
I'm sure Curtis will correct me on this if I'm wrong.

jusubbi

I soldered C112..C115 (47uF) and C122..C123 (100uF) off from main pcb and measured them. Capacitance was right and resistance was 0.9..1.0 ohm so i think they all are right. What next?

jvthorsley

#8
Just sent Curtis (Huntron Tech support Engineer) an email about your ProTrack problem.
I believe I had similar fault on my ProTrack 20 that was caused by a corrupted Flash Prob.
Curtis emailed the program to me, and with an inexpensive programmer from EBay I sorted the problem.
Does your ProTrack 10 have a reset switch on the base board, and if so is the problem the same after a reset?

jusubbi

Yes i tried reset button. Where i can get Curtis email address?

jvthorsley

Curtis can be contacted on csmith@huntron.com

jusubbi

Ok, thanks! I try to contact him.

jusubbi

#12
What programmer you used and software?

jvthorsley

#13
I used a Universal programmer Minipro TL866A EEPROM, USB from Amazon.

jvthorsley

#14
I see they still have them for one hundred and thirty five pounds in UK money.