automating the gecko reset button on power up

[Chris64]

Anyone come up with an easy way to do this? I'd rather not have two power switches. I'd also rather not build a timer circuit just because I'm not really good at it and it's a pain. I'm getting a little burned out on this conversion as it is. lol

I was thinking I could probably use a relay and a capacitor and feed the coil in series with the cap so when the cap charges it will drop the coil. I've done this before for a time delay in a car and it worked OK, but 5 seconds is a pretty long time.

It may require a resistor for discharging when the relay is not engaged.

Any thoughts?

[Chris64]

I do want to add, I've read the Gecko instructions over and over and it doesn't say there's a problem with just leaving err/res connected to enc+ (+5vdc I assume) as long as you don't plan to use it as an fault output.

I was told on the Yahoo groups that I shouldn't do this. Can anyone comment on this?

[Bubba]

Chris64,
On my machine, I have a manual reset button that is tied in to do this function. I hold it in for the required time and off we go. There have been times that I have had a drive fault out (thank goodness) and I push the reset button and off we go again. Also, I personally prefer this so I can make a last minute check before engaging the controls.

If you leave the resistor tied in and have a fault while running, it will reset and possibly try to move on. This could be disastrous if you have hit a hard limit and could possibly cause damage!

I have had occasion to fat finger a MDI command and drive my vice into the column as there is overhang on the back of the table. I would hate for it to sit there and keep trying to do that over and over:{(

[leo.dearden]

Chris64,

I left my ERR/RES tied high, and I have now got three out of four blown G320s. I don't know if these two facts are in any way connected, but I'm now looking at doing what I can to make my system more robust, while I wait for Gecko to look at my drives.

I agree with CB. I sympathise with your desire to get it done, but if you cut corners (as I did) it will likely take you longer and cost you more in the future, while you fix your damaged system.

I hope that this helps.

Leo