Talon UEC Lite User manual

Manual for the UEC Lite
5V Incremental Encoder Checker
Version 1.0

Thank you for purchasing the UEC Lite encoder checker. This unit will check 5 volt
incre ental encoders of any brand. The tests that can be perfor ed are PPR, analog, phase and duty.
Specifications:
Battery power 9 Volts
Available encoder current 0.5 A p ( ax) < 200 a reco ended
Encoder voltage 5 Volts
Pull up current 20 illia ps
Pull down current 20 illia ps
Input voltage range 0 – 5.1 Volts
Digital Threshold 0.8V LOW, 2V HIGH
The DB connects the checker to the encoder. The pin-out of the connector is:
Pin number Function Wire Color (supplied cable)
1 A+ (or A) WHITE
2 B+ (or B) GREEN
3 Z+ (index or Z) YELLOW
4 Not used ---
5 GND BLACK
6 A- BROWN
7 B- BLUE
8 Z- ORANGE
9 5V supply RED

Encoder Operation:
Incre ental encoders output 2 signals, A and B, which are used to deter ine distance and
direction. When a change in digital state occurs, the internal counter is incre ented of decre ented
depending on the last state. Starting with both A and B low, if A changes to high (A leads B), 1 is
added to the counter. After that, if B goes high, the count is incre ented again. To continue
incre enting, A would go low, and then B would go low. This is called 4X counting. If the opposite
happens (B leads A), the counter is decre ented. The negative (or NOT) signals, if present, have the
opposite polarity. If an index signal is present (Z), this indicates one revolution (or if the encoder is
linear, a specified distance) of the encoder.

Testing an encoder:
The UEC Lite is designed to test an encoder that has been disconnected fro the achine that it
is in. Testing an encoder attached to a achine with the achine on, could cause a dangerous
condition that could cause the achine to operate erratically. If the encoder is to be tested on a
achine or otor, ake sure the power is off to the achine or otor, disconnect the encoder
electrically and power the encoder fro the UEC.
After connecting the UEC to the encoder, press the ON button (third button). After startup, the
ain screen will show:
To turn off the eter, press and hold OFF (first button), for about 2 seconds. Also, the eter
will cut off in about 30 seconds if no buttons are pressed and the encoder is not turned. If the OFF
button is held down while turning on, the backlight for the LCD will turn on.
The top line of the screen is present on ost odes and shows the battery voltage, options, and
the current value of the incre ental signals. The botto line shows the enu selection and testing
values. Press up and down to ove through the enu and press SELECT to activate the enu ite .
MODE enu:
Auto Count:
This ode will test an encoder with a Z (index) signal. After selecting this ode, the screen
will show “Turn Encoder”. Turn the encoder in one direction until the screen shows “Keep Turning”.
Keep turning the encoder until the screen shows the nu ber of counts per revolution and current count.
If the screen does not change, this could ean the UEC is not receiving the index signal fro the
encoder. The counts per revolution, if shown, will be transferred to the PPR Setup (see below) count.

Press select to exit this ode. When on the testing screen (shows current counts), keep turning the
encoder several ti es. It is i portant to turn the encoder as s oothly as possible in the sa e direction.
If the Z changes state going the opposite direction, an error ay show up. It is a good idea to test again
to confir the error. Also, it is a good idea to re-run the test in the opposite direction.
The polarity of Z show the first change in state for the Z signal. If the Z is nor ally low, it will
pulse high and show an “H” there.
The errors that can show in this ode are:
COUNT – This eans the counts per revolution was not consistent fro the last index pulse
(Underflow). The nu ber of counts in error will show on the botto line.
OVERFLOW – Si ilar to COUNT, but the counts per revolution was over the initial count. The
nu ber of counts and the initial count will show on the botto line.
A POLARITY – During testing the encoder, the A+ and A- had the sa e value. They should always be
the opposite value. This can show up also when a single ended encoder is tested without selecting the
single ended option.
B POLARITY – During testing the encoder, the B+ and B- had the sa e value. They should always be
the opposite value. This can show up also when a single ended encoder is tested without selecting the
single ended option.
Z POLARITY – During testing the encoder, the Z+ and Z- had the sa e value. They should always be

the opposite value. This can show up also when a single ended encoder is tested without selecting the
single ended option.
AUTO PHASE:
This ode will check the phase and duty of the A and B signals. The screen will show the
highest and lowest phase and duty of each signal. During this ode, the encoder should be turned at a
fairly slow pace. If the speed is too low or too high, the UEC will not update the screen. An asterisk
will display in the top right if the speed is good. The defaults are for phase 60% high, 40% low. For
duty it is 60% high and 40% low. The high and low thresholds can be set under the options enu. The
readings are only updated when the asterisk is shown. Turning the encoder several ti es in both
directions is reco ended. If the nu bers do not change, one or both of the A or B signals ay be
issing. Check the duty of the signals to deter ine which signal is issing. The phase is expressed in
percentage of 180°. 50% would be 90°.
If the screen doesn't update while turning the encoder, the PPR ay be set incorrectly. This can be
changed under options, using the DRO ode, or using Auto Count (if there is a Z signal).
The auto phase ode screen is arranged as:
Errors that can show in this ode are:
Phase High – The phase between A and B was greater than the high threshold level.

Phase Low – The phase between A and B was less than the low threshold level.
A Duty High – The A signal's duty was greater than the high threshold level.
A Duty Low – The A signal's duty was less than the low threshold level.
B Duty High – The B signal's duty was greater than the high threshold level.
B Duty Low – The B signal duty was less than the low threshold level.
DRO Mode:
This ode just shows the current count. Turn the encoder to incre ent or decre ent the count.
Pressing the down arrow will reset the count to zero. Pressing the up arrow will transfer the count
shown to the PPR Setup (see below) count. If no counting occurs, the A and B signals are not changing
correctly. If the count bounces up and down one count, either the A or the B signal is issing. The A-,
B-, and Z- are also testing in this ode.
Phase:
This ode is just a quick check of the phase and duty. After entering this ode, use the up and
down arrows to select A Duty, B Duty, or AB Phase. Press select to start the ode selected. Turn the
encoder to update the value. The duties in this ode are shown as percentage (50% being perfect).
The phase is shown in degrees (90° being perfect). Press up and down to select a different ode. Press
select to exit phase ode.
Analog:
This ode shows the ini u and axi u voltages for the channels A+,B+,Z+,A-,B-, and
Z-. Use the up and down buttons to cycle through the different displays:

The A+ and B+ ( and A- and B-) output measurements are taken on the state change of other output. The high A
reading is taken when B changes while A is High. The high B reading is taken when A changes while B
is High. The low A reading is taken when B changes while A is Low. The low B reading is taken when A
changes while B is Low.
The Z+ (and Z-) output (if present) measurement is onl updated once per revolution. The encoder ma need to
be rotated slower for the Z pulse measurement since the Z pulse width is smaller than A or B. The Z
(and Z’) measurements are taken approximatel 20us after the change in state.
OPTIONS menu:

Single Ended – Press Select to toggle between Y (Yes) and N (No). If the encoder onl has A, B, and Z
(or just A and B), select [Y].
PULL-UPS – Press Select to toggle between Y and N to select whether or not the pull-ups are activated.
The pull-ups provide 20ma to 5 Volts on each signal.
PULL-DOWNS – Press Select to toggle between Y and N to select whether or not the pull-downs are
activated. The pull-downs provide 20ma to 0 Volts on each signal.
Phase Setup – Allows selection of High and Low phase and dut thresholds.
After selecting Phase Setup, press the up and down arrows to select between Phase MIN/MAX Setup ,
Dut MIN/MAX Setup, and PPR Setup. Press Select to enter the selected mode. In each of these
modes, use the Select button to choose the digit to adjust and use the up and down arrows to select the
digit. Placing the cursor on “Done” and pressing up or down will exit that mode. The functions of each
mode are:
Phase MIN/MAX Setup – this allows the setup of the minimum and maximums for the Auto Phase.
Dut MIN/MAX Setup – this allows the setup of the minimum and maximums for the Auto Dut .
PPR Setup – This should be the counts per revolution of the encoder. Not having this set properl can
result in no reading on the Auto Phase and the Phase modes. This number is automaticall enter b :
using Auto Count and getting to the point of the the counts per revolution screen or pressing the up
arrow in the DRO mode with the correct counts showing (usuall one full revolution).
Save & Return – Press Select to save the settings and return to the main menu.
Contrast:
Press the up and down arrow to adjust the contrast of the screen. Press Select to save the contrast
value.