Veris U3 User manual

Veris U3 12-Volt Electrical System Troubleshooting Guide
The 12V power system for the U3 performs several functions: 12V power is required for collecting soil
EC, optical, and pH sensor readings. 12V power is also required to raise and lower the implement, insert
and retract the pH sampler, and to wash the pH electrodes after each measurement cycle. The entire
system includes controllers, solenoids, proximity sensors, and other components that are designed to
function in concert with each other. If 12V power is inadequate or interrupted, or if any of the
components isn’t functioning properly, the system will not perform its tasks. This troubleshooting guide
provides an overview of the system and its components, and step-by-step instructions on how to
diagnose and correct any problems that occur.
Contents:
12V System Overview P.1
U3 Lift Hydraulics Overview P.2
pH Sampler doesn’t move properly when in manual mode P.2
pH System doesn’t cycle in automatic mode, but ok in manual mode P. 4
pH System cycling is intermittent or erratic P. 14
Figure 1

Figure 2
Figure 3
Remote, which controls the implement wheels.
Note orientation (wire out the bottom)
Up
Down

If pH sampler or lift cycler doesn’t move in manual mode or only moves one direction.
A. Does the motor run and maintain above 10V?
Check for adequate voltage good connections to the battery, and hydraulic pump. Is there 10V at the
motor while running the hydraulics?
Rev engine if necessary to maintain voltage above 10V while testing.
C. Check the LED on din connectors—this indicates signal is reaching coil to engage the valve.
If the appropriate LED indicator doesn’t light up when the hydraulics are engaged, there could be a
broken wire in the harness, or less than adequate voltage to engage the coil.
Cart Lift
Cart Lower
pH probe down
pH probe up
LED on the clear Din connector will
light up when each hydraulic function
is enabled.
Figure 5
Figure 6—Valve Function
Figure 4

C. Manually engage the valve.
The coil may not be getting enough voltage to open the valve, or the valve could be stuck. Try to
manually engage the valve by pressing manual indent while engaging the motor (engage the motor by
pressing the up or down function on the yellow remote, or pressing the manual up or down function of
on the pH controller—engage the motor using based on which function you’re trying to replicate)
If it moves, then check coil resistance, and low power condition. Replace coil if ohm reading shows open,
or above 8ohms.
Check the top and bottom
prongs on the coil. Standard
resistance is 4 ohms.
Press the indent on the valve appropriate valve function;
See figure 6
Simultaneously press the indent and
engage the motor using the
standard hydraulic remote, or U3
pH controller UP/Down switch
Figure 7a and 7b
Figure 8

If intended hydraulic function doesn’t move by pressing indent, but the opposite function does (ex. the
pH doesn’t move up or down; however, the wheel lift does), then swap valve bodies
If after swapping the valve bodies the issue persists, the issue could be related to the internal check
valve—contact Veris support.
Remove the two allen screws holding valve
body in place, swap with the alternate valve
(top is cart lift, bottom is pH probe lift), and
see if the issue follows the valve body, if so
contact Veris Service department and order
material# 113003
Figure 9

Unit doesn’t cycle in automatic mode, but cycles ok in manual mode.
In order for the pH system to cycle automatically, several conditions must be met: consistent
communication between the tablet PC and the V-Sense Controller, GPS signal received, positive EC
values, a minimum distance from previous sample, and adequate 12 volt power.
Figure 10. Conditions for pH sampling to initiate
Positive EC
readings
Single sample
can be taken any
time; automatic
sampling
requires a
minimum
distance
Communication
between tablet
PC and V-Sense
controller
pH sampler must
be in up position
to initiate
sampling
GPS or DGPS or RTK

A. Is EC/OM communication light green, showing communication between V.Sense controller and PC?
Troubleshooting USB/Serial Connections
1) Ensure the OM Com cable is securely connected to the OM Com port, then that the serial Output is
connected to the USB to Serial Converter, and lastly that the USB cable is connected to the PC.
3) Check the device manager for a known USB COM port listed under the ports section. Unplug and
replug the USB cable, and the COM port should disappear and reappear. The Device Manager can be
accessed by right clicking on the windows icon , and selecting Device Manager. If no COM port is
present under the ports section, then the driver is missing, see Installing USB/Serial Converter procedure
#.
Figures 11-13
Figure 14
2) Force the USB port to reset, by shutting down the software and the
V.Sense controller, unplug the USB cable, and restart the PC. Only plug
the USB cable back in after the PC is fully reset. Once restarted, turn on
the V.Sense, plug in the USB, and open SoilViewer. Be sure to follow
this order of operations, and use the Windows restart option
Figures 16
Figure 15

4) The COM Port is available; however, it still doesn’t connect automatically. The port can be set
manually in SoilViewer. Use the drop-down arrow to select the COM value shown in the device
manager. Note: for U3 systems you’ll only assign an OM/EC Com
After setting the port, check SoilViewer for communication (green OM/EC Com light, and sensor
readings showing on screen).
5) After attempting to set the port manually, if there is still no OM/EC Com shown on the SoilViewer
Screen, then open the V.Sense controller, and check for a red blinking light. Be careful when removing
the lid—there’s a circuit board mounted to the top.
Figure 17
Figure 18
Figure 19 Showing the red light which will blink to indicate data is being sent out of the controller.
Note: If there’s a green blinking light as well, that’s indicating GPS signal is reaching the controller

Red Blinking Light Present on Controller:
If there’s a red blinking light, then controller is working properly, and the issue is external of the V.Sense
box. Check the following
1) Test OM COM serial cable for continuity (see figure 20),
2) Try another USB/Serial converter
3) Use a different PC if available
4) Switch to Bluetooth Connection.
No Red Blinking Light Present on Controller
If there is no red blinking light then, unplug all connections to the V.Sense controller, except the 12V
power. Power cycle the V.Sense controller, and check for the red light. If the red light is not present
contact Veris Support. If the red light begins to blink, then an external cable is shorted causing the
controller to malfunction. Plug in each cable one at a time, and check for the light to turn off which
would indicate the faulty component.
Figure 20

Troubleshooting Bluetooth connections
1) Ensure the Bluetooth is properly paired using procedure #.
2) Check that the antenna is installed
3) If the controller is paired and still not connecting, restart the PC with the V.Sense controller
turned off. Once the PC is turned back on, power on the V.Sense controller, and start SoilViewer
to try again.
4) Unpair any other devices which may be connected to your PC.
5) Unpair the device (figure 31 below), and repair using procedure #11 from Operations Manual.
6) Swap to USB/Serial Connection and follow troubleshooting steps listed for Troubleshooting
USB/Serial Connections, if no USB/Serial Converter connection is possible, then see step 5 of
Troubleshooting USB/Serial Connections
Figure 30
Figure 31

B. Does ‘Fix’ window show GPS, DGPS, or RTK?
If no GPS signal is being received, first check to see if the problem is actually a break in communication
between the tablet PC and the V-Sense controller (Figure 33) Because the GPS information is contained
in the sensor data message coming from the V-Sense controller, a communication interruption will
result in the No GPS warning in the Fix window.
Figure 32. Proper GPS fix is received Figure 33. ‘No GPS’ warning; problem is related to communication
Solutions: If communication is intact but no GPS message is received, allow enough time for GPS to
establish location, move away from buildings and trees. If still no GPS, reboot the tablet and V-Sense
controller. If using an external GPS source, double check its power, cabling and settings. (Must be 4800
baud, 8-N-1, at 1 hz; GGA and VTG strings activated). If using internal GPS supplied by V-Sense
controller, contact Veris Support.
C. Is system ready to cycle?
Solutions: Does top proximity light indicate sampler is in up position? (Figure___) Has previous cycle
completed? System will not cycle again until it has completed the current cycle. Are both prox sensors
working? Raise and lower pH sampler in manual mode and verify lights turn on when sensor is in
proximity of its metal tab. (Figures 35 and 36) Adjust prox sensor or service as needed.

Figure 34 SoilViewer indicator shows pH sampler is in up position and ready for cycling
Figures 35 and 36 Upper and Lower prox sensors with indicator lights
Depending on the state indicated, you may need to manually reset pH system by turning both
controllers off and on again.
D. Are EC 0-2’ readings positive? (Figure 37)
Figure 37 Positive EC readings
Figure 38 Negative EC Readings due to no communication with V-Sense controller
Figure 39 EC Test load installed.
Solutions: If not positive, check Communication light and establish communication with V-Sense
controller if needed. If communication light is green and EC is negative, make sure EC coulters are in the
soil, pull ahead a short distance in case coulters weren’t making adequate contact. Use EC test load if
needed to provide positive EC values for pH cycling trouble-shooting.

E. Are you more than the minimum sample distance from previous sample?
Solution: In Automatic sampling mode, there is a minimum distance setting (Under Controller Settings).
If system hasn’t moved this distance it will not permit Automatic sampling. Move unit ahead at least the
minimum sample distance or sample in Single pH Sample mode.
F. Does pH electrohydraulic motor have adequate voltage?
Remove cover to expose hydraulic pump. Check the voltage on the motor while running the pH sampler
in manual mode.
Monitor voltage to see if it drops below 9 volts, the minimum the internal circuit needs to run in
automatic mode is 8.4 volts. If the 12V system drops below 9v, there is little margin and you can
potentially see intermittent cycling issues.
Solutions:
-Clean battery contacts
-Check charging system (min 75 amp alternator necessary)
-Remove unnecessary cable extensions on the power cord
-Put a separate 12v deep cycle battery in parallel with the main battery source
Figure 40
Figure 41 and 42

Automatic cycling is intermittent and erratic
Possible cause: External battery buffer for V.Sense controller isn’t maintaining charge
Measure the voltage on the external battery while running the pH sampler up and down in manual
mode
This source is isolated from the main 12v system via the blue battery isolator located behind the battery
box. This voltage should maintain 12v or greater while the pH sampler is cycling up and down. This
battery source prevents the V.Sense controller from resetting. If it drops, then the controller can rese;
which causes intermittent cycling issues, such as the sampler getting stuck in up or down, or the motor
failing to disengage.
Solutions:
-Clean battery contacts on vehicle
-Charge isolated battery, and vehicle battery
-If issue persists replace battery
Figure 43

Procedure # Installing USB-Serial Converter
Check for a device with a yellow exclamation mark next to it, either in the “Other Devices” or “Universal
Serial Bus Controllers” section. This device will be labeled “Edgeport”, or possibly “USB-Serial RS232”.
The drivers can be installed automatically, or manually. If PC has access to the internet the Automatic
method is preferred.
To install the driver automatically: Connect your PC to the internet, then right click on the device and
choose “Update Driver”, then select “Search automatically for updated driver software”. After driver is
installed, restart the PC, and check that the COM port is listed under the “Ports” section.
Figures 44 and 45
Figures 46 and 47

To install the driver manually: First unplug the USB-Serial Converter from your PC, then navigate to
the C:\Veris directory, double click on 40002537_J.exe
Figure 48
Figure 49
Figure 50
The following screen will appear, once its
done it will automatically close. Restart your
PC, then plug in your USB-Serial Converter,
and check the Device Manager for the port to
be listed under the “Ports” section.