This is basically a continuation of this thread:
http://wiki.makerbot.com/forum/t-362546/brand-new-heater-board-won-t-reach-temperature-above-110
Which kind of got long and cumbersome to post on.
I have been messing around with my heater board. Ed, had suggested that I put a multimeter on it… and I did just that. While it was running, I got 10.4 volts from the back of the connector while it was plugged in to the heater board and on its way up to temp.
So I immediately assumed, like Ed had said, that there could be a problem with my cable. So, i tested with just the thermistor plugged in directly at the EC. It read 12 volts there. Great, so now I was certain it is the cable. So I put a new cable on it. Turns out, even with the new cable it reads about 10.4 volts at the back of the connector plugged into the heater board. So… obviously I misunderstood… I guess what Ed meant was to unplug just the Heater power wires from the heater board and test them. Because I guess there is always going to be that slight dip in voltage because of the resistance of the heater board.
All that work for nothing! >.< Hey at least I am learning from my mistakes.
So, I definitely think the heater board is bad now. But… I just wanted to verify. Could one of you guys… with a heated build platform and a MakerBot aluminum build surface please tell me how long it takes to get from 40 degrees C to 130 degrees C with your heater board? I would also request that you change your P I D to 100, 0, 0… for the sake of science, but it is not absolutely necessary!
Also, can you get me a reading of the voltage at the back of the connector, while the heater board is turned on, for the red and black heater power wires?
And one more thing, what should the resistance read for the heater board circuit?
This way I can be certain there is something wrong with the board. So there are no questions left in the air. Plus it would help me learn.
Thanks so much!