I’m glad you brought this up @OptimalHealth. We have not discussed it on the forum for a while. So, to bring everyone up to speed on ICES-PEMF internal system diagnostics:
OK, so the way to look at this is this:
The internal diagnostics are ultra-sensitive, but during normal operation they can be confusing and inconsistent as the system makes internal adjustments to keep the system operating well. But if there is a major system failure that can not be fixed by internal automatic adjustments, then you want to contact us and tell us what the internal diagnostic readout says. You only need to do this when you can not get the green LED on the hex test chip to flash when you test the coils.
More technical details for ultra-nerds:
During normal operation, the internal tests for the M1, C5, and B5 are very fine distinctions with very close thresholds, difficult to measure accurately, subject to variability based on a lot of factors such as cable length, plug contact pressure, manufacturing variability, etc. So, during normal operation, the internal diagnostic readouts really do not tell you anything. You will get a lot of false positives and false negatives. This is because the system makes continuous internal adjustments and corrections to keep the system operating properly.
(see note for ultra-super-uber nerds below)
The system tests each voltage and temperature every pulse, but the read-out only displays the most recent pulse when you pressed the blue button. Otherwise this readout would change with every pulse, maybe 5 or 10 times per second, depending on the pulse pattern you are using. So the display shows only one captured reading until you run the display capture again by pressing the button again. If you do look at a lot of tests this way, you will see that some channels change status every few pulses, some stay the same, some show a fault sometimes, some do not. It is very confusing when the device it operating properly, and to determine proper operation you need to use the hex test chip on each coil, not the internal diagnostics which are constantly adjusting.
Basically, if the device seems to be working properly (using the hex test chip, or listening for the clicks at each coil), then you should just ignore the diagnostic readouts.
So, look at the internal diagnostic read-outs as a diagnostic measure only to be used when the device stops working properly. Always, first check using the hex tester. If you see normal green flashing, then the entire system is working and you can stop trying to diagnose it. At that point, the internal checks and controls trend toward much more detectable values to tell you what has failed.
So, you probably should not bother worrying about those readouts until you have determined by other means that the device has failed.
Here is the Troubleshooting sequence you should use:
Is the green LED on the device itself (not the hex tester) flashing?
If YES, then you have power and the microcontroller is operating.
if NO, then try (1) turn the device ON, then (2) change the battery or power cable
Test each coil using the hex tester. Do you see green flashes with each pulse?
If YES, then all is well. No need to worry or fix anything.
if NO, then remove, clean, and firmly re-insert the cable connector.
If the hex test chip will not flash, then at this time you should look at the internal diagnostic readout. This is to allow us to help you through customer service. You can tell us what the readout says, we can suggest actions you can take, and sometimes we can fix the problem without you needing to return the device.
But before you spend time trying to decipher the meaning of the internal diagnostic readouts, first test for power, microcontroller function, and system function using the hex test chip as described above.
Note for ultra-super-uber nerds:
OK, break out your high-speed oscilloscopes and your soldering iron. If you start poking around the internal feedback signals of many feedback-controlled systems, you will find points at which the feedback signal is very noisy and appears to be unstable. You can see this in the feedback circuits involving op-amps, especially “bang-bang” controllers, and systems that use PWM within the feedback loop. There are hydraulic/pneumatic and other mechanical analogs to this. This arises in part because it is common strategy to use fast-acting feedback signals embedded within slower feedback loops to keep the system stable while also providing a fast system response.
Back when I was a young engineer, I worked on the FORD E4OD electronic automatic transmission, one of the first electronic automatic transmissions, and we used many instances of fast positive feedback (unstable) electronic and hydraulic feedback loops wrapped inside of slower negative (stable) feedback loops, to achieve fast but stable shifting. Notably, when we monitored these internal feedback loops, they behaved wildly, but the resulting transmission system was fast and stable.
Here is the technical trick that I use for ICES-PEMF internal control and diagnostics:
During normal operation, these signals seem meaningless and are confusing. But when the system fails, these internal feedback signals lock into position. The state into which these signals lock tells me where the system has failed.
So, when the ICES-PEMF system fails, you can just contact me through customer support, read the diagnostic display, and I can diagnose it for you and maybe we can fix it quickly.