Troubleshooting the Spin-Cast Control Units
First determine which model you have. The only difference in troubleshooting the solar and nonsolar control units is the charging system.
The old style Mk-1/Mk-2 has a clock and a circuit board with a feed rate knob (see picture).
There are 2 versions of the new style Mk-1/Mk-2 (see picture).
- Version A
delay seconds will not go below 3
there is a battery low indicator
the press-to-test runs for 5 seconds only (regardless of feed time settings)
- Version B
delay seconds will go to 0
the battery low indicator has been removed
the press-to-test runs for the number of seconds set on feed time 1 or 3 seconds if feed time 1 is not set
The Mk-6/Mk-6Solar has a face that resembles a target (see picture).
OLD STYLE MK-1/MK-2
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- Basic Check Out For Old Style Mk-1/Mk-2 Control Unit
Check all connections and reset the clock. The clocks with black buttons have a reset button you can press with a pen point or similar sharp object. The older clocks with red buttons will have to be unplugged from the circuit board.
Leave the 6 volt battery connected and unplug the blue (or white) plug from the back of the circuit board. Wait for 45 seconds to a minute and plug the clock back in to the circuit board.
Press the clock button and the clock should read 12:00AM with the colon blinking. Hold clock button down and press the 'Hr' & 'Min' buttons to make sure they work. Press the 'Feeding Times' button and make sure it cycles through all 6 on/off times. Press the clock button to return to the time of day and push the 'Press to Test' button. If all of the buttons work, the display goes from "off" to "on" and the control unit spins for the time set on the feed rate knob, the control unit is working fine. Reset the clock again and set your times.
- The Clock Has No Display
Check the battery first. If you don't have a volt meter you can run a jumper wire from the negative of the battery (black wire) to the negative of the motor (gray wire). If motor runs battery is good. Next check the wires and plug that go from the clock to the circuit board. Wiggle the 3 wires that come out of the back of the clock to see if you can get a display. If any of the wires come out of the clock; replace the clock. Wiggle the blue (or white) plug on the circuit board to get a display. If the display blinks, you have a cold solder joint or loose solder pad on the circuit board; replace the circuit board. If you still do not get a display; replace the clock.
- The Clock Does Not Display Properly
If you have missing segments on the display; replace the clock. If the display appears scrambled or frozen you need to reset the clock. The clocks with black buttons have a reset button you can press with a pen point or similar sharp object. The older clocks with red buttons will have to be unplugged from the circuit board.
Leave the 6 volt battery connected and unplug the blue (or white) plug from the back of the circuit board. Wait for 45 seconds to a minute and plug the clock back in to the circuit board.
Press the clock button and the clock should read 12:00AM with the colon blinking. Push the 'Press to test' button and make sure the control unit spins.
- Motor Does Not Spin
Spin spinner with your finger and make sure it spins freely (the spinner should coast with a flick of your finger). You can use Teflon or silicon based lubricant on the motor shaft to free it up. Caution: Make sure there is no additive in the lubricant that will react with plastic! Connect 6 volt battery and run a jumper wire from the negative of the battery (black wire) to the negative of the motor (gray wire). If the motor does not spin you have a battery or motor problem (the battery is most likely).
Reset the clock (see 'Clock Does Not Display Properly') and check all of the buttons to make sure they work. Push the 'Press to Test' button. If the display on the clock goes from "off" to "on" and the motor does not run; replace the circuit board.
- Control Unit Spins All of The Time
Replace the circuit board.
- Battery Does Not Hold a Charge
NEW STYLE MK-1/MK-2
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- Basic Check Out For New Style Mk-1/Mk-2 Control Unit
Check all of the connections and press the reset button on the back of the circuit assembly (right side of control unit, about 3" from bottom of frame, near white plug with 2 pins). This will clear all feed times, feed for about 1 second and return the clock to 12:00AM with the colon blinking. If the reset button does not work on the first press you will need to press it several times to clean the contacts inside of the switch. The display should blink each time you press the reset switch. Once you have the control unit reset, press the 'Correct Time' button and see if you get the 'C' screen to set the time of day. Press the 'Correct Time' button again to return to the time of day screen. Press the 'Feed Time' button and the control unit should display feed time 1. Press the 'Hour Set +/-', 'Minute Set +/-,' 'Motor Run/Seconds +/-' and the numbers on the display should respond to the buttons correctly. Press the 'counter to zero' button and the feed time should become "--:--." Press the 'Correct Time' button to return to the time of day. Press the 'Delay/Seconds +/-,' then push the 'Press To Test' button. If the control unit spins when the delay/seconds reaches 0 and all of the buttons worked properly, the control unit is working fine. Press the reset button on the back of the assembly and set your times.
- Time is Wrong or Clock Does Not Work
If the clock is always 15 or 20 minutes off (VersionA) or the clock will not tell time (VersionB) you may have left it in the wrong mode. When you are finished with setting and testing your feeder the colon should be blinking between the hour and minute. If this is not the case press the 'Correct Time' button and the colon will blink which indicates that the clock is working.
If you cannot get the colon to blink press the reset button on the back of the circuit assembly (right side of control unit about 3" from bottom of frame, near white plug with 2 pins). This will clear all feed times, feed for about 1 second and return the clock to 12:00AM with the colon blinking. If the reset button does not work on the first press you will need to press it several times to clean the contacts inside of the switch. The display should blink each time you press the reset switch.
Set times and test feeder again.
- Does Not Spin Correctly
Check to see if the 'low battery' indicator is on all of the time (VersionA only) and push the 'Press To Test' button. If the motor runs on test, but does not run on a feed time; replace your circuit assembly (the low battery indicator circuit is bad). If the motor did not run check all of the electrical connections. Unplug the white plug from the back of the assembly and make sure all of the pins in the connector are shiny. Also check the battery connections for a snug fit and battery posts to ensure they are not loose. After plugging all connections back in, use a jumper wire and connect the negative battery (black wire) to negative motor (gray wire). If the motor runs; replace the assembly. If the motor does not run you have a battery or motor problem (the battery is most likely).
- Cannot Set Time Of Day or Feed time
Press reset button on back of circuit assembly (right side of control unit, about 3" from bottom of frame, near white plug with 2 pins). This will clear all feed times, feed for about 1 second and return the clock to 12:00AM with the colon blinking. If the reset button does not work on the first press you will need to press it several times to clean the contacts inside of the switch. The display should blink each time you press the reset switch. Once you have the control unit reset, press the 'Correct Time' button and see if you get the 'C' screen to set the time of day. Press the 'Correct Time' button again to return to the time of day screen. Press the 'Feeding Time' button and the control unit should display feed time 1. Press the 'Hour Set +/-,' 'Minute Set +/-,' 'Motor Run /Seconds +/-' and the numbers on the display should respond to the buttons correctly. Press the 'Counter To Zero' button and the feed time should become "--:--." If the display doesn't respond to the buttons; replace the membrane switch. The membrane switch buttons usually go out a row or column at a time (i.e. 'Correct Time', 'Motor Run/Seconds -' and 'Hour Set -' buttons will not work).
- Control Unit Spins All of The Time
Press reset button on back of circuit assembly (right side of control unit, about 3" from bottom of frame, near white plug with 2 pins). If the reset button does not work on the first press you will need to press it several times to clean the contacts inside of the switch. If the control unit still spins with the battery connected; replace the circuit assembly.
- Missing Segments on display
Press reset button on back of circuit assembly (right side of control unit, about 3" from bottom of frame, near white plug with 2 pins). If the reset button does not work on the first press you will need to press it several times to clean the contacts inside of the switch. Push the “Press-to-Test” button and all of the segments should light up. If some of the segments are missing the display may not be plugged into the circuit assembly all of the way. Remove the assembly from the unit and make sure all of the wires on the display are lined up with the plug on the assembly. Press firmly on the display to seat the pins into the plug. You may hear a crunching noise, but this is normal. Install the assembly and push the “Press-to-Test” button all of the segments should be visible on the display. If you still have trouble seeing all of the segments replace the circuit assembly
- Battery Does Not Hold a Charge
MK-6/MK-6SOLAR
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- Basic Check Out For Mk-6/Mk-6Solar Control Unit
Check all of the connections and press the reset button on the back of the circuit board. If the reset button does not work on the first press you will need to press it several times to clean the contacts inside of the switch. The display should blink each time you press the reset switch. Push the 'press to test' button. If the motor runs the battery and motor are good. Press the 'set' button and the "12:" will blink. Press the 'set' button again and the ":" will blink. Press the 1, 2, 3, 4 buttons and the feed time # with 0:00AM will be displayed. Go to feed time 1 and set the control unit to feed at 12:03AM. Press the 3sec, 6sec and 9sec buttons before you press the 'set' button to get back to the time of day. When the clock reaches 12:03AM the feeder will spin for 9 seconds (if that was the last 'sec' button you pressed). Your control unit works fine, press the reset button on back of circuit board and set your times.
- Control Unit Does Not Spin
Press the reset button on the back of the circuit board, make sure spinner turns freely with your finger and then push the 'press to test' button. Unplug the white plug from the back of the assembly and make sure all of the pins in the connector are shiny. Also check the battery connections for a snug fit and battery posts to ensure they are not loose. After plugging all connections back in, use a jumper wire and connect the negative battery (black wire) to negative motor (gray wire). If the motor runs; replace the circuit board. If the motor does not run you have a battery or motor problem (the battery is most likely).
- Cannot Set Time Of Day or Feed time
Press reset button on back of circuit board then press the '1', '2', '3', '4' and 'Set' buttons. If the display does not respond to any of the buttons; replace the membrane switch. The membrane switch buttons usually go out a row or column at a time (i.e. '1', '9sec' and '3' buttons will not work).
- Control Unit Spins All of The Time
Press reset button on back of circuit. If the reset button does not work on the first press you will need to press it several times to clean the contacts inside of the switch. If the control unit still spins with the battery connected; replace the circuit board.
- Battery Does Not Hold a Charge
BATTERIES AND SOLAR PANELS
- Battery Does Not Hold A Charge
The life span of a rechargeable battery is 3 to 5 years. If the control unit is not throwing strong at the beginning of the season and your battery is near the end of it's life cycle; replace the battery with a fresh one. You can use a volt meter to check the solar panel.
Checking at the battery wires with the battery disconnected you should get 7 to 9 volts on a sunny day. If you do not get any voltage at the battery wires disconnect the solar panel from the control unit and connect the meter to the solar panel plug. You should get 7 to 9 volts on a sunny day.
If you get a good volt reading at the solar panel plug, but not at the battery wires you can bypass the circuit and wire the solar panel directly to the battery.
Unplug the solar harness from the back of the circuit board and cut off the red plug. Strip the wires and connect them to the battery terminals. For best results use new battery wire terminals.
If you do not get a good reading at the solar panel plug check the wire for breaks or flat spots. Cut and strip the wire and take another reading with the volt meter. If all of the wire appears to be bad all is not lost. There is about 4" of wire inside of the solar panel that you can access by removing the solar panel bracket and opening the back of the solar panel. If you cannot get a good voltage reading inside of the solar panel; replace the panel.
- Storage And Care of Rechargeable Batteries
Operating your control unit year round even if the barrel is empty will give you the best results for a rechargeable battery. If you do take it down for any reason try to store it some place where you can leave the solar panel plugged in and facing the southern sky. If you don't have a place for the solar panel, you will need to charge the battery about every 90 days with a plug in the wall type charger.
The rechargeable batteries are lead acid batteries. They have the same characteristics as a car battery. If you leave them on the shelf they will die. If you let the charge go to zero volts, there is a good possibility they will die.
If you have a battery that has been on the shelf, charge it for 24 hours then let it stand for 24 hours. Test the battery under some kind of load (i.e. the control unit motor). Rechargeable batteries may read 6 volts or more with a volt meter, but when you apply a load like a motor the voltage will drop. If the voltage drops below 5 volts replace the battery.
