Spider - Motor problem

[leight]

Hey guys,

I'm very new to robotics, infact this is my first experience with soldering and even playing with electrical boards and parts. I bought a robot kit from www.robotics.com.au (www.robotics.com.au/getpage.asp?PAGE=shop&cid=34&pid=316) and 'completed' it last night.

You see, there is a problem. The left motor doesn't rotate so it just walks around in circles. The left motor does all the reversing and forward motions for dodging obstacles. I had no idea why it wasn't working, so I did the trouble shooting steps. Check if the components are in the correct place on the board, check the soldering and check the motor wires.

I check it all, over and over again. Nope, still not working. Suddenly it started working. I'm like - "What the... WOOHOO " So I put it back together (screwed the board on to the dome), turned it on... babumm. It doesn't work again. So I unscrewed it, and it doesn't work.

Any ideas? I'm pretty sure my soldering is fine, since it did work for that little while. I also swapped the motor wires around (left and right) to test the left motor. That works fine also. I just had a thought as I wwas typing this. It may be the connection between the left motor and the left motor wires. Thats all I can think of - which may explain the dodge start stop actions.

Has anyone else done this kit? Or had similar problems before?

Thanks

- leighton

[Bones]

Hi,
Check your soldering. It has to be a bad soldering joint or crack in the PCB someware. If you have a multimeter check from point to point on the track. eg from the solder tag on the motor to the joint on the board then the next joint etc. untill you find the problem. Basicly find the weak link or broken track.

bones