Simulator problems and troubleshooting

1. Simulators not starting, beeping or pausing randomly during a program

Such problems are usually due to a faulty installation, or incorrect or worn out wiring
between the computer and the simulator.

You test for the latter by switching simulators as explained below.

Similar problems may however also be caused by colored pad cables being defective or fractured. You test for this by doing the pads test ('two and two') as also explained below.

Important! It's always a good idea to verify the placement of the pads on
a client by pressing the START or ACTIVE button before you start the
simulator. Any outlet (1-16) that does not light up has a problem.

Simulators with no lights on the display may have faulty external or internal fuses.

There can also be other simulator problems as explained further below.

2. The simulator switching test

In order to check if a problem is with a simulator or with wiering, you simply replace the simulator with another simulator from another cubicle, and visa versa. Switch both ways.

If the problem follows the simulator then the problem is with the simulator, if the problem remains within the cubicle then the problems is with the wire going from the same cubicle to the computer.

When there is a problem with the simulators wiering, the problem is almost always to be found within the plug going into the simulator.

Try to have the wiering in the cubicle installed so that the clients can not disturb it. The wiering should not be too tightly installed.

Note: You can only switch simulators of similar types.
(All FIG/SIM simulators use the same wiering.)

2.1. Repairing the simulator wires

You can either re-soldier or replace the wires with news ones.

(If you are re-soldiering the wires then you have to disconnect the wires from the simulator and the computer, and at both ends. If not the simulators and the computer may both get damaged.)

Instructions for soldiering the wires are found here.

3. The simulator pads test ('two and two')

This test does not require the simulator to be connected to the computer.

Put the pads together 'two and two' (black side against black side). Put the pad from output no.1 against the pad from output no.2, and the pad from output no.3 against the pad from output no.4 etc.

Make sure the pads are properly put together, then press the simulator's start or active button. Verify that all outlets (1-16) lights up. If some outlets have no lights, adjust the pads (perhaps you need to apply some more pressure) then press the start or active button again.

If you can not get all outlets to light up some of the pad cables or simulator outputs may be defective

If none of the 16 outlets light up an internal fuse may be broken.

4. Testing for defective pad cables and/or outlets

First do the 'two-and-two' test as explained above.

In order to establish whether the pad cables or the outlets are defective, you switch some of the working pad cables with those that are not working and repeat the test.

If the problems follow the cables then the cables are at fault, if a problem stay with an outlet, the outlet are at fault.

On defective or near defective cables you can often see signs of a faint white ring at around the cable near the plug.

To check for a pad cable that may be close to breaking, you pull slightly at the cable near the plug while pressing the start or active button. Do not pull the cable too hard, it will break.

Pad cables that are defective will have to be discarded. Pad cables are expendable material, but the average life time of the pad cables should be several years by normal use.

If the problems are with the outlets the simulator needs to be repaired.

5. Other simulator problems

5.1 No lights on a simulator

Possible causes:

the device may not by powered on
the power cord may not be firmly connected
the wall outlet may not have power
a simulator fuse may be broken
the simulator may be defective

5.2 Simulators not starting, or starting in the wrong cubicle

Make sure the simulator is correctly connected to the computer, e.g. that simulator no. 1 starts in cubicle no. 1 and not in another cubicle etc.

Each arm on the multi-port cable is marked with a number. You can change the ordering of the simulators by moving the cables coming from the simulators going into the the multi-port ('octopus') cable. See the 'port' and 'connections' tests below for more information.

If port 1 or 2 (or port 7 or 8) does not work check if the simulator card has been incorrectly seated inside the computer.

If the simulator card is only partly seated in the computer slot either the first or the last of the eight ports will not work.

5.3 Simulators where some outlets are not working

Outlets that are not working may be due to problems with the simulator or the colored pads cables. However, similar problems can also occur if the pads are not placed correctly on the client.

Outlets that have not been properly initialized during the beginning of a simulator program, will not work until the program is restarted. (Make a habit of verifying that all pads have a good connection by pressing the START or ACTIV button on the simulator before you start a simulator program)

Do the 'two-and-two' and the 'pad cables' tests as explained above.

5.4 Garbled or dark display

This problem is due to a problem with the simulator hardware. This problem does not affect the actual working of the simulator, nor the output. The only way to correct this problem is to get the simulator replaced.

5.5 Incorrectly colored outlets or diodes

The correct color coding for the outlets: Red: 1-4, Yellow: 5-8, Green: 9-12, Blue: 13-16

The color of a outlet does not affect the actual working of the simulator, nor the output.

Two kinds of light emitting diodes are used for the outlets (1-16): Some simulators use diodes switching between red and green, others switches between yellow and green.

5.6 Incorrectly installed front panel

Simulators with displays are usually delivered for wall mounting. If the font panel is mounted up side down, you can fix this by temporarily removing four screws at the back of the simulator and turn the frount panel carefully around.

The MS simulator has no front panel that can be turned around. However the computer program has a function to mirror a simulator's output. By using this function the simulator will replace the output from channel no.1 with the output from channel no.16, and the output from channel no.2 with the output from channel no.15 etc.

5.7 Problems with the multi port (octopus) cable

Make sure the multi port cable is properly connected to the simulator card, and that the simulator card in the computer is properly seated.

A poor connection can affect all connected simulators.

5.8 Simulators with outlets that have weak or no stimulation effect

Check that the clients has been instructed on how to use the remote control, check that the pads has been properly applied to the client and also that the intensity of the stimulation is not reduced too much on the computer.

You can compensate for a weak output by increasing the intensity of the stimulation from the computer program. This can be done individually for each client.

5.9 Ourlets stimulating with an irritating, 'pricking' or 'burning' sensation

Always apply water to the pads before they are applied to the clients skin. A 'pricking' sensation can be reduced somewhat by tightening the elastics.

The computer program has menu options that can be used to change the simulator stimulation in ways that some clients perhaps may experience as being more comfortable. (However the default selection should be the most effective choice for most clients)

It is very important that only cleaning fluids approved for use with the simulators are applied. (In particular no oil-based cleaning fluids should be used)

Refer to the Bailine manuals for more information.

6. The simulator and port test

Start the Bailine BSP program. (No clients can be open during the test.)

Select the menu 'Bailine' + 'Program Setup' + 'Simulator connections'.

Make sure all simulators and ports that you want to test are marked as 'enabled' on the computer screen, then press 'T' (= Test simulators) in order to start the simulator test.

In order to mark a simulator as 'enabled': Hit the digit corresponding to
the simulator number, in the small window appearing you press '1' for
'enable'. If you then get an error message the simulator card may not be
properly installed. (In that case, check the installation instructions.)

Make sure each port is returning OK or 000 in the small window that appears. ERR (or any number greater than zero) indicates a problem with the simulator card installed in the computer.

6.1 If the test does not return OK or 000:

The first time you run the test on a newly installed card (or on a card that has been removed and reinstalled) the test will usually not work, and you may not even be able to 'enable' the simulator ports.

If this is the case, exit the program (this will take some more time than usual because a partly
activated card is slowing down the process) then restart the program and redo the test.

7. Testing the simulator connections

Start the simulator and port test as explained above.

While the test program is running, check the simulator in each cubicle. (You can power on and off the simulators while the test program is running.)

All powered simulators that are properly connected to the computer should flash the lights for 'PC' and 'ST' while the test is running. Some simulators may also be beeping.

Then for each simulator, put the pads together two and two as explained above. Press the start or active button to check that all outlets lights up.

One of the outlets should be blinking differently from the other outlets, the number on the blinking outlet tells you what cubicle number the computer has assigned to the simulator.

E.g. if a simulator flashes at outlet no.3, then this simulator has to be started as simulator no.3 ('simulator#3') on the computer screen.

Verify that all simulators flashes the 'correct' outlet. You change the ordering of the simulators by moving the cables coming from the simulators going into the the multi-port ('octopus') cable.

If one or more simulators are not responding at all during the test, do the 'switching test' as explained above.

8. Simulator fuses

WARNING: DISCONNECT ALL POWER AND PC CABLES BEFORE
REPLACING FUSES.

USE ONLY FUSES MARKED WITH THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS.

IT IS ILLEGAL TO USE FUSES EXCEDING THE SPECIFICATIONS.

8.1 The external fuse

If there is no lights at all on a powered simulator the external fuse may be broken.

The external fuse is located under a small black round lid at the back or the side of the simulator. The user can replace this fuse. Replacement fuses can be bought in any electronic shop, or you can ask for them in shops that sells electronic equipment as radios and tv-sets.

The external fuse affects all 16 outlets the same, so if some outlets are working but not all, then it is not this fuse that has to be replaced.

Each fuse has a thin wire inside connecting both ends of the fuse. If this wire is broken or melted the fuse needs to be replaced. Note that is not always possible to visually verify if a fuse is broken.

The specification for the external fuse is written on a sticker attached to the simulator.

SIM-16, American model (115VAC 60 Hz) - 630 mAT - 5 x 20 mm
SIM-16, FIG-16, European model (230VAC 50 Hz) - 315 mAT - 5 x 20 mm
MS-16, European model (230V 50-60 Hz) - 250 mAT - 5 x 20 mm

8.2 The internal fuse

If a powered simulator has lights but you can not get any of the 16 outlets to light up the internal fuse is most likely broken. (If you can get at least one outlet to light up then the internal fuse is not broken.)

The SIM-16 (all models) and FIG-16 has an internal fuse:

SIM-16, FIG-16, Internal fuse all models - 100 mAT - 5 x 20 mm

Some simulators have been shipped with internal fuses of type 50 mAT, these should be replaced with the above type 100 mAT fuses.

Contact HQ if you need to have the internal fuse replaced.

For further information refer to www.bailine.com/faq