Driver Short to Ground
The "Driver Short to Ground" error indicates a potential issue with motor drivers or their connections. This guide provides a systematic diagnostic process to identify whether the problem is caused by a faulty motor, damaged cable, or mainboard issue.
Before you begin - safety and risk
Read the Safety - Before You Begin article to understand the hazards involved in working on the Vision Miner 22IDEX V4 - including electrical, thermal, mechanical, and chemical risks. All procedures in this wiki are provided as recommendations only. By choosing to follow any procedure, you do so at your own risk.
Never disconnect or connect motor wires while the machine is powered on. Always power off and unplug the machine before disconnecting or reconnecting any electrical components. Connecting or disconnecting wires with power on can damage the electronics and pose a safety risk.
Initial Checks
- Verify firmware is up-to-date. Ensure your printer firmware is current, as updates may address known driver issues. Check the firmware version in the Web Interface under Settings > General.
- Inspect all electrical connections. Ensure all connections are secure using a PH2 screwdriver. Loose connections can cause intermittent driver errors.
- Inspect all wiring. Check for correct connections, potential shorts, loose wires, or visible damage to insulation.
- Check motor wire connections. Inspect where motor wires enter the motor body and where they connect to the control board. Ensure connectors are fully seated.
- Examine the ribbon cable. Inspect the ribbon cable between the Duet 2 mainboard and DueX5 expansion board for damage, loose connection, or bent pins.
- Verify 24V wire connections. Ensure 24V power supply wires are securely connected to the screw terminals of both the mainboard and expansion board. Tighten terminal screws if necessary.
- Verify 5V wire connections. Check that 5V power supply wires are securely connected and terminal block screws are tight.
Isolating the Problem
- Enable movement without homing. Open the Web Interface, navigate to Dashboard > Macros > System, and select "Allow Movement Without Homing."
- Test each axis individually. Move each axis separately (X, Y, U, Z) using the Dashboard controls to identify which axis triggers the error. Observe the console for error messages after each movement.
- Test extruders. Select Tool 0 (left extruder), preheat it to the filament's temperature, and manually retract and extrude filament using the Extrude and Retract buttons. Repeat for Tool 1 (right extruder).
- Analyze console error messages. Check the console for "Driver Short to Ground" messages and note which driver number is reporting the error.
- Identify the affected motor. Use this table to determine which motor corresponds to the driver reporting the error:
| Driver | Axis |
|---|---|
| 0 | LHS Y Axis Motor |
| 1 | X Axis Motor (Tool 0) |
| 2 | Unused |
| 3 | Extruder Left Tool (Tool 0) |
| 4 | Extruder Right Tool (Tool 1) |
| 5 | Z Axis Motor |
| 6 | Z Axis Motor |
| 7 | Z Axis Motor |
| 8 | U Axis Motor (Tool 1) |
| 9 | RHS Y Axis Motor |
- Determine mainboard or expansion board issue. Drivers 0 to 4 are on the mainboard. Drivers 5 to 9 are on the expansion board. This helps isolate which board may be faulty.
Single Driver Error - Board Test
If only one driver reports the error, follow these steps to determine if the mainboard is faulty.
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Power off the machine. Unplug the power cord completely.
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Disconnect the motor wire. Unplug the motor wire connector from the mainboard (or expansion board if driver 5-9).
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Power on the machine. Reconnect the power cord and turn on the machine.
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Test the axis movement. Open the Web Interface and try to move the affected axis.
- Interpret the result. If the same error appears with the motor disconnected, the mainboard or expansion board is likely faulty. If no error appears, the problem is with the motor or motor wire. Proceed to the motor and wire test.
Single Driver Error - Motor and Wire Test
If the board test showed no error with the motor disconnected, follow these steps to determine if the motor or wire is faulty.
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Power off the machine. Unplug the power cord completely.
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Reconnect the motor wire to the board. Plug the motor wire connector back into the mainboard (or expansion board).
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Disconnect the wire from the motor. Unplug the motor wire connector from the motor body.
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Power on the machine. Reconnect the power cord and turn on the machine.
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Test the axis movement. Open the Web Interface and try to move the affected axis.
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Interpret the result. If the error persists, the motor wire is faulty and should be replaced. If the error is gone, the motor itself is faulty and should be replaced.
Multiple Driver Errors
If more than one driver reports the error, the issue is likely a wiring problem affecting multiple circuits or a power supply issue.
- Perform a thorough wiring inspection. Carefully inspect all wiring for correct connections, potential shorts, loose wires, or damage. Pay special attention to areas where wires may have been pinched or stressed.
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Re-check motor wire connections. Verify all motor wire connections at both the motor body and control board. Ensure all connectors are fully seated.
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Re-examine the ribbon cable. Inspect the ribbon cable between the Duet 2 and DueX5 boards again for any damage, loose connection, or bent pins that may have been missed initially.
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Re-verify power supply connections. Ensure all 24V and 5V power supply wires are securely connected to screw terminals on both boards. Tighten all terminal screws.
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Check for common ground issues. Verify that the power supply ground is properly connected and there are no loose ground connections that could cause multiple drivers to fault.
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