FAQ

My SmarTracker seems to keep heating after the water reaches the set point.

A relay may have gone bad, to check this you will need to remove the rear panel by powering down the unit, unplug the power cable, and remove the two bolts on the rear panel. Remove the panel by levering it up then lifting the panel up and away. Plug in and power on the unit—BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHILE WORKING IN THE REAR WITH THE UNIT PLUGGED IN. Look for the KS1 relay, using a multimeter, check across post 1 and 2: when the temperature controller has OUT lit the relay should show 220/230VAC, when the temperature controller does not have the OUT lit the relay should have no power across the post 1 and 2. f the relay isn’t working correctly, it will need to be replaced, contact InstroTek for replacements.

My SmarTracker will display an error about “motor control alarm,” how do I fix this?

From the main screen press the alarm icon and then the clear icon. If the alarm immediately returns, you’ll need to open the rear of the SmarTracker to check the connections to the motor controllers. Power off the SmarTracker, unplug the unit, and remove the two bolts securing the rear panel. Remove the panel by levering from the bottom and lifting away from the unit. At the top of the rear control box, you will see two red boxes with four sets of wires (two green connectors, one ground, and one communication). Unplug each connector and reseat to ensure they are fully seated. Unplug and reseat the communication cable. You do not need to adjust the ground. Plug in the SmarTracker, power on the unit, and check for the alarm. If the alarm displays again, one or both controllers will need to be replaced—contact InstroTek for help with replacement of these controllers.

My LVDTs seem to “skip” around during some of the testing. Why would this happen?

All LVDTs work by measuring the small movements of a core inside a barrel. Over time the core can create dead spots on the inside of the barrel and these dead spots can create measurements errors. When this happens, the LVDT needs to be replaced and a new LVDT will need to be calibrated to the system.

I had a company come calibrate my system, now the LVDTs are not displaying correctly, or the rut is visible on the samples, but the display is showing no rutting. Why is this?

Unlike other wheel tracker systems which have LVDTs separate from the arm movement, the SmarTracker system uses an LVDT that is integrated into the arm movement. This means that all the displacement measurements must be made under the wheel, not the LVDT tip. The gage blocks need to be placed under the center of the wheel while the arm is forward at the middle position of the stroke. This ensures a more accurate measurement of the rut because the compliance variables of the arm are included in the calibration. If after calibration the display is showing little or no rut, the LVDTs will need to be recalibrated with the correct procedure.

What plug type does the SmarTracker come with from the factory?

The SmarTracker does not come with power plug attached, this is left for the local electrician to work with local codes and requirements. InstroTek has found a NEMA 6-30P Twist lock works well on system.

What if my building does not have a 230VAC power supply?

I can get 208VAC supply:For buildings that can only supply 208VAC, the power supply will need to be supplemented with a transformer that will boost the supply up to 230VAC. The transformer will need to be able to supply 6000watts of power. Contact InstroTek for suitable transformers. I can get a 240/250VAC supply:For building that can supply the 240 or higher VAC, the power supply will need to be reduced with a transformer that will lower the supply to 230VAC. The transformer will need to supply 6000watts of power. Contact InstroTek for suitable transformers.