BLTouch Not Responding
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Hi,
The two wire connection (black and white) is the signal from the probe to the board.
The three wire connection (brown/blue, red and orange/yellow) carries power to the probe and the control signal.
If the probe does a self-test on power up then the power (red) and ground (brown/blue) connections on the three wire connector are good.
If the probe does not deploy something is wrong with the control signal connection (orange/yellow) or the output feeding the probe is configured wrong.
So for starters do this from the DWC console:
M98 P"config.g"
If there is something wrong in the config.g file you should see something on the console mentioning the problem.
Let us know.
Frederick
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Hey Frederick,
Thanks for your reply!
Running the M98 P"config.g" returns no errors.
Thank you for the explanation on what the wires do, I actually had no idea as far as their functions. I wired it according to the guide here: Duet 3 BLTouch Guide
Here is a link to the picture of my wiring.
I tied the blue and black wires together on the same pin because the table defines them both as ground. Is this table potentially out of spec?
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check the extension cable. bad connection there is often the cause for the problems
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@Veti I have just continuity tested all 5 wires and confirmed their connections.
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As an update, I have ordered a second BLTouch to make sure it's not just a dead-on-arrival issue. I will keep posted. Thank you again to all who have posted suggestions. I really appreciate your additional eyes.
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Hi,
It's a little hard to tell but the crimps don't look as good as they could be.
You may want to invest in a IWISS SN-28B Crimping Tool for AWG28-18 Dupont Pins - you can get one from Amazon for $23 or so.
Assuming they are good the connections appear to be in the correct places.
Have you read up on how to use the BLTouch adjustment screw?
Have you tried a different connector - with the appropriate config changes?
Frederick
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@fcwilt Thank you for the suggestion on the crimper! Yes, I actually have a IWISS crimper for the Molex KK type crimps (the kind used for the IO pins on this duet board), and used it for this cable. I could definitely go back and retry it, but I am not sure if much will change since I was able to verify proper continuity on all pins from a variety of cable positions... If all else fails, it won't hurt
I really appreciate you verifying that my wires were in the correct spot. Extra eyes are always a good thing.I have not read about the adjustment screw and will look into that shortly.
Yes, I have tried with IO pin 5 and 7, changing the configs appropriately to no avail sadly.
Warmly,
Eric -
@linuxinstalled said in BLTouch Not Responding:
Yes, I actually have a IWISS crimper for the Molex KK type crimps (the kind used for the IO pins on this duet board), and used it for this cable.
You have of course noticed that the crimper has a section for crimping the bare wire and a section for crimping the insulation.
Sometimes the wire and insulation sizes don't perfectly match the tool.
I often will re-crimp the insulation using the section for the wire being careful to not over crimp - you can always force the tool to release using the ratchet.
You always want to get a good crimp on the wire AND the insulation. You only need 2-3 mm of bare wire - it's easy to strip too much.
Frederick
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@fcwilt I came looking for advice on a BLTouch and have left with some more knowledge on how to use my crimpers haha. Thank you very much for your description of the re-crimping on the insulation. This will be a tool in my mental tool box
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TLDR: there was a problem between the probe side connector of the cable and the actual electrical connections to the probe where the connector is received
The second probe arrived today and I used its cable to if the new probe would function. After plugging it in, the probe started up and ran its self test. I had not seen this behavior with the prior cable.
Attaching the prior cable again, I connected its end to the new probe, with no response whatsoever.
The reason I am inclined to believe it was on the connector that attached to the probe itself was that I was able to continuity test each wire individually, each coming back with a positive connection. What I didn't test was physically stabbing a wire into the front of the connector to see if the connection there was working.
Instead, my continuity testing was done on the exposed metal parts of the pins just on the back of the connector.
After testing, I now have 2 fully working BL Touch modules, and 1 good cable haha.
Thank you again to all of you for your suggestions and help. Because of you, I was literally able to just wire the new probe up and instantly have it working when it arrived. I also greatly appreciate the crimping tips, which I used this time around on the new cable.
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@linuxinstalled said in BLTouch Not Responding:
Instead, my continuity testing was done on the exposed metal parts of the pins just on the back of the connector.
You've learned a valuable less about crimps and how they can malfunction.
If you can add to your collection of tools PC board mating connectors for the connectors that you crimp then it is easier to test the cable "end to end".
Glad to hear you got it sorted.
Frederick
