Shortwave Troubleshooting Guide

1. Connect the unit to the mains supply and switch on using the mains switch on
the control panel. The green power LED will light, the display will show the
model number and the cooling fans will be heard to start.

A. If there is no power LED, blank display and no fans:-

a) Check mains fuses

b) Check connections (+50V and 0V) from power supply to RF generator
PCB
c) Check connections from RF Generator (J3) to control PCB (J6)

B. If the display is blank but power LED is on :-

a) Check connection of LCD to display PCB (J6).

b) Replace display PCB assembly (A116-1-14A).

2. Switch off the unit. Switch the unit on again and

when the unit displays the firmware version and
gives a short beep, immediately press the up key on
the control panel. The display will show the
maintenance menu. From the maintenance menu
highlight “Tuning Box Set-up” using the up and
down keys and press the menu key to select the
option.

The next screen instructs the user to connect the

electrodes. Connect the 10cm capacitive electrodes
to the output sockets and locate them in the
electrode arms. Press the menu key to continue.

The next screen allows the user to set the output

level and observe the forward and reflected power
from the power monitoring circuit in the unit.
Increase the output to 10%. The forward power will
read 100±3.

A. If the forward power read <3:-

a) Check the BNC cable between the RF Generator and the

Control PCB
b) Replace the RF Generator

3. In addition to showing the forward and reflected power, the tuning box set-up
screen shows the output from the phase detector circuit used to “tune” the
output circuit. When the unit is tuned the phase reading will normally be
between 2000 and 2100 (target reading is 2047).
Place a load between the electrodes. This may be a 5 litre plastic container
filled with a 0.9 % saline solution (water in which has been dissolved 9g of
salt (NaCl) per litre of water) to simulate the human body or part of a body eg
leg.

A. If the forward power is 100 ± 5 AND the phase reading is >2150 or

<1950 AND not varying by more than ±10, measure the voltage
between the pins of J7 on the control PCB using a DVM.

a) If the voltage is 0 ±0.8 V replace the control PCB

b) If the voltage is outside the range is 0 ±0.8 V, check that the
tuning capacitor is rotating by viewing the top of the tuning
capacitor shaft in the tuning box. If the tuning capacitor is not
rotating then remove the tuning box assembly and verify that
the capacitor rotates will little resistance and that the
connections to the motor are intact. If necessary re-align the
motor/gearbox assembly and the tuning capacitor by
loosening the screws holding the gearbox to the bracket and
then re-tighten them.
B. If the forward power is 100 ± 5 AND the reflected power varies AND
the phase varies AND the tuning capacitor is rotating:-
a) Switch off the unit.
DO NOT TOUCH THE OUTPUT COILS UNLESS THE
UNIT IS SWITCHED OFF. IF THE COILS ARE
TOUCHED WHEN THE OUTPUT IS ENERGISED, IT
COULD RESULT IN INJURY
Increase the spacing between the output coils and the input
coil in the tuning box slightly compressing each of the output
coils (see diagram 1). Switch on and try again. When the coils
are correctly aligned, the phase will settle between 2000 and
2100 and the reflected power will be less than 10% of the
forward power (less than 10 for 10% output).
C. If the forward power is 100 ± 5 AND the reflected power is >40 AND
the phase is between 2000 and 2100 AND the tuning capacitor is NOT
rotating.

a) Replace the control PCB

Compress

Diagram 1

Compress

Output Coils