Troubleshooting Problems with Q-210 or Q-270 Detector

Operation of an ADSC Quantum-210 or Quantum-270 detector requires correct functioning of:

1. the CCD detector itself,
2. the PixelVision controller,
3. multiple PC's, each running an OPERATE Detector application,
4. ADX control software running on the data collection computer,
5. proper connections among all of the above.

What to do if the detector operates, but produces images with one "funny" quadrant, is discussed separately. The remainder of this page concerns the situation where images are not collected at all.

A problem with detector operation may result in a message "Connection to CCD or transform process lost" from the ADX software, or may cause a hang at the "Detector readout" stage (shown in the Status Window).

First, look at the control rack inside (A1) or just outside (F1, F2) the hutch. If the green Normal Operation and Controller Power lights are on and the PC's are running, try the warm restart procedure. If that is not successful, you may reboot the PC's. The older Q-210 (SN 441) has two PC's; the newer one (SN 448) has four, as does the Q-270. To switch the display from one PC to another: at A1, use the CHANNEL button on the module at the bottom of the rack - note that to get from computer 2 to 1 you must step forward up to 8 and then to 1; at F1 or F2 use the buttons at the back of the keyboard tray - push the button for the PC you want to work with. After rebooting, try the restart again.

Do not power off the computers while the controller is on!

If the Normal Operation light is off, push the yellow Start button and hold it down for several seconds. If the Normal Operation light comes on and stays on when you release the button, proceed with a cold start, as described in the Q-210/Q-270 startup and shutdown procedures document. If Normal Operation will not stay on, check power connections and operation of the Neslab chiller. There may be a plugged water line.

What to do if OPERATE Detector process(es) will not start on the PC's

• Computer gives a system error - reboot computer(s), log in as Adminstrator (no password), try again.

• Error message of the type "get_modbb can't find module 2931" appears - proceed as follows:
  1. Power the PixelVision controller off and on. This will allow the detector to warm up and it will need to be recooled!

  2. Try again to start OPERATE Detector. If it succeeds (on all PC's), proceed to cool down the detector and complete the startup, as described in Q-210/Q-270 startup and shutdown procedures.

  3. If you still get the "can't find module" message, the controller has probably messed up one or more of the serial numbers for the CCD modules. To reset them, on the PC(s) where the error occurs, do this:
     A. Close the OPERATE Detector process if running.

     B. Go to the folder D:\pv_sw\bin_441 (for detector 441) or D:\pv_sw\bin_448 (for detector 448). Open the file detector_db.txt. Note the serial numbers of each of the four modules - they will be something like 2085, 2931, 3262, and 3267. Either one or two modules are controlled by each PC; the PC's are named '441-0', '441-1', '448-0', and so forth.

     C. Double click on Test Controller (a shortcut to D:\pv_sw\bin_441\controller_test.exe). Checkmark the first one (if there are 4 PC's) or two (if there are 2 PC's) controllers, then click Find Controllers. The serial numbers for the controller(s) should be reported. If the controllers cannot be found at all, check connections between computers and controllers. If controllers are found but serial number(s) do not match those in detector_db.txt, go on to the next step.

     D. Exit from Test Controller. Double click on Talk to Boards (a shortcut to C:\Program Files\PixelView 3.21\DBLGX32.exe). Pull down the File menu and select Open. A list of ".cdb" files will be presented. If the garbled serial number should be, for example, 2931, look for a file "fix_2931.cdb". If there is no such file, select one of the other "fix_###.cdb" files. Open the file. A list of commands will appear in the main window. If necessary, edit the list using the Send Serial, Remove, and Add to List buttons. The lines to specify serial number 6789, for example, are "SendSerial &0289" and "SendSerial &0367". Select LionM board 0 or 1 (at the top of the window) for the first or second module, respectively. Click Run Script. Repeat open, edit (if necessary), board selection, and run for other module if needed. Exit from Talk to Boards.

     E. Cycle power on the PixelVision controller. The serial number change will not take effect until you do this.

     F. Run Test Controller again to confirm that the serial number(s) are correct. Go to step 2.

• As a last resort, e.g. if the PC(s) will not respond to the mouse - do a complete shutdown and restart:

  1. Power off the controller.

  2. Power off the computers.

  3. Proceed with a cold start.