/products/roadtest/b/blog/posts/roadtest-support-access-bit-for-micro-bit-troubleshootingThis is the forth instalment in a series of blog posts to support a RoadTest Review of the ACCESS:bit for micro:bit . The review is being conducted by a student from a high school computer club. Details on how the RoadTest is being conducted can be fen-USTelligent Community 12https://community.element14.com/products/roadtest/b/blog/posts/roadtest-support-access-bit-for-micro-bit-troubleshootingSat, 01 Aug 2020 15:25:28 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:4a49ca8a-e14c-4881-b0e3-e7d22885acb7kmikemoo1<p>This is actually a great opportunity - although it never feels like it in the moment.&nbsp; I feel that part of being a good troubleshooter is to be slightly skeptical about the accuracy of the documentation.&nbsp; I love the task of writing the documentation.&nbsp; It&#39;s not as easy as one thinks.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Why be slightly skeptical about the documentation?&nbsp; The documentation could be old and outdated.&nbsp; The product could have changed from design to implementation - and the documentation was written from the design specifications and not updated.&nbsp; I feel this is exactly what your servo schematic is showing.&nbsp; Schematically, these are the same circuit (less the switch).&nbsp; In reality... not so much from a power draw perspective.&nbsp; Finally, there is the interpretation of what is written.&nbsp; We have all read instruction manuals that make no sense to us or we think we understand but it winds up being exactly opposite of what we read.&nbsp; &quot;Trust but verify.&quot;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>When speaking to customers about a troublesome piece of equipment, I ask the question &quot;What is it doing that it&#39;s not supposed to or what is it not doing that it is supposed to do?&quot;&nbsp; During actual troubleshooting, I ask &quot;What should it be doing?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;What does it need to have to be able to do that?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Am I looking at a symptom or the actual cause?&quot;&nbsp; The most common cause of an emergency generator failing to start is a flat battery.&nbsp; No power for the controller to do anything.&nbsp; I have had customer change the controller and wonder if they got a bad replacement controller.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Troubleshooting Mantra:</p><p>1.&nbsp; Never overlook the easy.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Check battery, fuses (with a meter), fuel level, plugged in, etc.</p><p>2.&nbsp; If <strong>you</strong> haven&#39;t checked it, it hasn&#39;t been checked.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I don&#39;t care if you just watched me check it.&nbsp; <strong>You</strong> check it.&nbsp; Trust no one&#39;s readings here.</p><p>3.&nbsp; Have a process and follow it.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Start at the power source and trace it through the system.&nbsp; Or... Start at the end and see where the power finally appears.&nbsp; Or... divide the circuit in two.&nbsp; Is it okay up to this point?&nbsp; Then divide again.&nbsp; Pick a method and use it consistently.&nbsp; The times I have hated me the most were when I shortcutted my process and started gun-slinging.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>This was written with the student in mind.&nbsp; Hopefully, they find some helpful tidbits in it.</p><img src="https://community.element14.com/aggbug?PostID=9674&AppID=14&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">