SPT RF Tube and Fan Control Board Ports and LED Indicators for Troubleshooting
High-level technical reference for SPT RF Tube Fan Control Board port designations, LED indicators, wiring connections, and signal testing procedures for troubleshooting.
Preface: This article is high level information about the Fan Board ports and indicators and troubleshooting based of the visual observations. It is very technical
| Fan Board Designations | N30 Fan Board Wiring Connections |
|---|---|
 |
RJ45 to RJ45 |
| ET-60 Connections in Bolt Series | ET-60 and ET-80 in Nova Plus Series |
|---|---|
RJ45 to DB9 |
RJ45 to DB9 |
- P1 - 48V power Input - Power will only be present after Machine is homed (initialized)
- P2 - In Parallel with P3 and used as a backup (no connection from factory) Speed of Fan indicated by D7
- P3 - 48V fan control for Housing - Speed of Fan indicated by D8
- P4 - 48V RF Tube Fan Speed Output - Speed of Fan indicated by D9
- P7 - PWM Input signal from the Ruida Controller (L-PWM and GND on CN-5)
- P8 - Laser OK to fire from Ruida Controller Input - 5V From U-Axis Connector
- P9 - Output signal of RF Tube Alarm - No connection - 5V means no alarm
- P10 - 24V Power Input for the Fan Control Board
- P11 - Output signal for Alarm Status of the RF tube from the Fan Board to the TL Timer
- RJ1 - Output signals to the RF Tube
During power up, the lights may come on as part of a self test. You should only read the light status after the machine is homed and 48V is applied to the fan board.
- D1 - Pre-Ionization Status Incomplete - Light Off means Ionization is Complete
- D2 - RF Tube Temperature Alarm (>65C, 149F) - On means Alarm Present
- D3 - Indicates that the Fan board is receiving the 48V power on P1
- D5 - RF Tube Power Supply Voltage out of range (47V-49V), On means Alarm Present
- D7 - Housing Fan Speed Indicator on P2 - Brightness of LED indicates Fan Speed
- D8 - Housing Fan Speed Indicator on P3 - Brightness of LED indicates Fan Speed
- D9 - RF Tube Fan Speed Indicator on P4 - Brightness of LED indicates Fan Speed
- D10 - Indicates that the 5V signal from the Ruida Controller U-Axis connector is ok on P8
- D11 - Indicates an RF Tube alarm - On = OK, no alarm
- D15 - Indicates that the Fan Board is powered on by the 24V feed on P10
| 24V Section | 48V Section |
|---|---|
 |
 |
Fan Board P11 Wiring
These signals go to the TL Timer board (For Bolt Series, not on Nova Plus V1.0)
- Pin 1 - No Connection
- Pin 2 - Blue Wire - Pre-ionization Error Signal to TL Timer - 5V means pre-ionization is complete and OK
- Pin 3 - Brown wire - Temperature Alarm to TL Timer - 5V on is normal, temperature OK
- Pin 4 - Black wire - Power Supply Status Alarm to TL Timer - 5V on is normal, power supply is within range
- Pin 5 - Green\Yellow Wire - Normal or Smart mode for Fan Control - 0V means Intelligent Mode, 5V is standard mode
Fan Board Rj1 to RF Laser Tube "Ethernet" Port
| RJ45 Pin and Wire Colors | Pin Functions |
|---|---|
 |
 |
Nova Plus ET Series tubes (60,80w tubes)
| Fan board Signal Breakout to Tube DB9 | Tube Port Signals |
|---|---|
Brown White to Pin 1 (Enable) |
 |
Bolt with ET-60
| Fan board Signal Breakout to Tube DB9 | Tube Port Signals |
|---|---|
Jumper Pin 1 to Pin 8 (Enable) |
|
| Indicator Designation | Normal State | Pre-Conditions and Notes |
|---|---|---|
| D1 | Off | Is on until the machine completes initialization, then On if alarm condition exists |
| D2 | Off | Is on until the machine completes initialization, then On if alarm condition exists |
| D3 | Off | |
| D5 | Off | Is on until the machine completes initialization, then On if alarm condition exists |
| D7 | Off | Spare in parallel with D8 |
| D8 | Varies in Brightness | Fan Speed indicated by Brightness of LED |
| D9 | Varies in Brightness | Fan Speed indicated by Brightness of LED |
| D10 | On | |
| D11 | On | |
| D15 | On | |
| P11 - Pin 2 - Blue | 5V | |
| P11 - Pin 3 - Brown | 5V | |
| P11 - Pin 4 - Black | 5V |
To test some of the signals you will need a sacrificial ethernet cable. Cut the end off the cable and separate the 8 wires.
To test the 5v Enable signal with a meter set to DC
(Not applicable for Bolt with Et-60 and V2.9.x fan board)
This 5V signal starts on the U Axis connector on the Ruida controller for the Rotary.
Ethernet Control Enable signal wires:
- 7 White/Brown (Control Enable)
- 9 Brown (GND)
To test the PWM signal from the Ruida controller
This signal starts on the Ruida CN5 controller and is the LPWM-1 and GND signals
Ethernet PWM signal wires:
- Wire 1 White/Orange (PWM+)
- Wire 6 Green (PWM-)
Tie these 4 wires together: (This will turn off the 3 red LED under the ethernet port on the fan board and fake out the TUBE ok signals to the controller)
- Wire 7 White/Brown
- Wire 5 White/Blue
- Wire 3 White/Green
- Wire 4 Blue
Use the alignment screen or pulse button to set up a 50% power pulse that you can hold on with the button and measure between the White/Orange and Green. You should get around 2.5VDC. You can adjust the power percent and it should scale like 1-99% power is 0-5vdc roughly. You may have to bypass the doors if you cannot get the cable out of the back lid with the door shut enough to be closed.
Since the Nova Plus signals are NOT wired to the fan board or TL timer, you will need to use the LED's on the bottom of the tube to determine the status.
Example image of the lights of a 60W tube at rest:
- If the red light is off, the PWM signal is not making it to the tube.
- If the yellow light is off, the control enable signal is not making it to the tube.
- If the yellow light is flashing, the tube is trying to ionize.
- Thunder Bolt RF Tube Manual for SPT ZAMIA 30W N30 series laser tubes
- Bolt Pro 32 Odin 32 55w Coherent Tube Spec Sheet
- Thunder Laser Nova Plus Zamia SPT ET-60 RF Laser Tube Manual
- Thunder Bolt Tl Timer V9.4 Wiring Diagram September 2023 aka Schematics
- Thunder Bolt Tl Timer V9.3 Wiring Diagram September 2023 aka Schematics
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