Vol. Advanced Theory
Chapter Problem-solving and Diagnostic Strategies in Control System Analysis

Common Diagnostic Mistakes in Control Systems

Volumes could be written about poor diagnostic technique. The following mistakes are not intended to comprise a comprehensive list, but are merely warnings against errors that are all too common among students and within the profession.

Failing to gather data

Perhaps the most common mistake made by technicians attempting to diagnose a system problem is failing to gather data (i.e. taking measurements and performing simple system tests) during the troubleshooting process. Even a small amount of data gathered from a system may profoundly accelerate the process of diagnosis.

A colleague of mine has a very descriptive term for the poor habit of looking for faults before gathering data: Easter-Egging. The idea is that a technician goes about finding the problem in a system the same way they might go about searching for eggs hidden on Easter morning: randomly. With Easter egg hunting, the eggs could literally be hidden anywhere, and so there is no rational way to proceed on a search. In like manner, a technician who lacks information about the nature or source of a system problem is likely to hunt in random fashion for its source. Not only will this likely require significant time and effort, but it may very well fail entirely.

A much more efficient way to proceed is to gather new data with each and every step in the troubleshooting process. By “gathering data,” I mean the following:

  • Taking measurements with test equipment (multimeter, pressure gauges, etc.)
  • Observing equipment indicator lights
  • Stimulating the system and observing its response(s)
  • Using your other senses (smell, hearing, touch) to gather clues
  • Documenting new data in a notepad to help track and analyze the results of your measurements and tests

Failing to use relevant documentation

Diagrams are indispensable “maps” for solving problems in complex systems. A critical first step in diagnosing any system problem is to obtain correct diagrams of the system, so that you may see the pathways of power and signals in the system. Attempting to diagnose a system problem without consulting the relevant diagrams is like trying to find your way around a city without a map.

A corollary to the rule of obtaining relevant diagrams is to use them when reasoning through fault scenarios. All too often I see students locate the diagram for a system, glance at it, then set it aside and proceed to stumble through the rest of the diagnosis because they try to trace all the signal paths in the real world as they assess fault possibilities and devise tests. Diagrams are laid out in a clean and logical format for a reason: it is much easier to follow the flow of signals and power in a diagram than it is to follow the same flow through the convoluted paths of real-world wires and cables. If you reject the diagram in favor of tracing all pathways by looking at the real-world system, you are needlessly adding complexity to the problem: not only do you have to reason through the fault hypotheses and diagnostic tests, but you also must mentally “un-tangle” the signal paths as they are laid out in the real world (which can be a daunting task in itself!). Do all your diagnostic thinking while looking at the diagram, and refer to the real-life system only when the time comes to execute a diagnostic test. The result will be a much faster and less frustrating experience than if you try to trace everything in real life.

When diagnosing a problem in a system where one or more of the key components are unfamiliar to you, it is important to consult the relevant technical literature on those components. This is especially true if the component in question has been identified as suspect by your diagnostic test(s) and it is quite complex (e.g. loop controller, PLC, motor drive, data acquisition module, etc.). Just a few minutes’ worth of reading the manual may save you hours of fruitless diagnosis.

This point also underscores the necessity of technical reading as a skill to be practiced and honed at every opportunity. Being able to quickly locate pertinent information in a dense technical document is key to fast and efficient troubleshooting!

Fixating on the first hypothesis

When diagnosing a faulted system, an efficient strategy is to brainstorm multiple hypotheses accounting for the symptoms, then devise tests to support or discredit those hypotheses in the fewest steps.

Let me illustrate by example. Suppose a pump motor is controlled by a PLC, the PLC sending a command signal to a variable-frequency motor drive (VFD) to command the motor to start and stop:

pump motor is controlled by a PLC

If the motor refuses to start when the “Pump start” icon is pressed on the HMI screen, a competent troubleshooter will begin to mentally list a range of problems that could prevent the motor from starting:

  • Motor faulted
  • VFD lacking power
  • VFD not configured properly to receive signal from PLC
  • PLC output defective, not sending signal to VFD
  • PLC program halted or faulty
  • HMI not sending signal to PLC
  • . . . etc.

After brainstorming such a list, a competent troubleshooter will then devise a simple test to “divide the problem space in half.” One such test in this system would be to use a multimeter to measure the electrical signal from the PLC’s output card to the VFD input terminals. If a signal appears when the “Pump start” icon on the HMI is pressed, it means everything in the HMI and PLC is working as it should, and that the problem must lie with the VFD or beyond. If no signal appears, it means the problem lies with the VFD, HMI, or associated cabling. Again, the wise strategy is to brainstorm multiple hypotheses explain why the motor won’t start, then execute simple tests to eliminate most of those hypotheses so you may focus on those that are most likely.

By contrast, a novice might only think of one possibility – such as the VFD being improperly configured – and then immediately fixate on that hypothesis by inspecting the drive parameters looking for one that is improperly set. If the fault lies elsewhere, the novice could spend all day reviewing VFD parameters and never find the problem. Given the wide range of possible faults, fixating on any one fault from the start is very likely a waste of time. I have watched technicians and students alike waste hours of time trying to find a fault that was not where they were looking, simply because that was the first area they thought of to look toward. Only after squandering valuable time on one failed hypothesis will the novice then consider other possibilities and other tests.

Failing to build and test a new system in stages

Technicians must sometimes assemble new systems from components. A very common mistake is to assemble the system completely before attempting to test it for proper operation. This is almost always a grievous mistake.

The number of potential mistakes one can make when assembling a brand-new system is quite large. Given this large set of potential mistakes, the probability of making multiple mistakes when assembling the system is very high. Since diagnosis of a system with multiple faults is always more complicated than diagnosing a system with one fault, waiting for the entire system to be assembled before checking it invites multi-fault scenarios.

To illustrate, consider this pressure-control system, where an electronic pressure transmitter sends a 4-20 mA signal to a loop controller, which in turn drives a control valve with another 4-20 mA signal:

diagnosing a faulted system diagram

Imagine building this system, placing each component in the proper location, connecting all wires together, and testing it for proper operation. If one were to wait until the entire system were assembled before testing, the probability of having to diagnose multiple faults would be great.

A better strategy would be to assemble and test the system in stages. Consider this sequence of steps as a more practical alternative:

  1. Install the I/P transducer, connecting air tubes to supply and valve diaphragm.
  2. Test the I/P and control valve operation using a loop calibrator in “source” mode to drive a 4-20 mA signal to the I/P.
  3. Install and wire power to the loop controller, ensuring it powers up properly.
  4. Connect cabling between the I/P and the loop controller’s output.
  5. Test the controller’s ability in manual mode to “stroke” the control valve throughout its entire range.
  6. Connect wires between the loop controller’s input and the 250 ohm resistor on the terminal block.
  7. Test the controller’s ability to properly read an input signal by using a loop calibrator to drive 4-20 mA through the 250 ohm resistor.
  8. Install the pressure transmitter, connecting impulse line between it and the process line.
  9. Power the transmitter with a portable DC power supply (or loop calibrator set to the appropriate mode) and check its calibration by applying known pressures to the input tube.
  10. Connect wires between the permanent DC power supply, the transmitter, and the controller’s input.
  11. Apply pressure to the transmitter input and check to see that it reads properly on the controller’s digital display.
  12. Test the controller’s ability to monitor and control process pressure in manual mode.
  13. Perform manual-mode (open-loop) tests to verify process characteristics and obtain data needed for loop tuning (e.g. lag time, dead time, etc.).
  14. Enter preliminary PID tuning parameter values.
  15. Test the controller’s ability to monitor and control process pressure in automatic mode.
  16. Modify PID tuning parameter values and re-test in automatic mode until robust control is obtained.

Note how the pressure control instrumentation is constructed and then immediately tested as a series of sub-systems, rather than assembling the entire thing and testing only at the very end. Although the built-test-build sequence shown here may appear to be more time-intensive at first blush, it will actually save a lot of time and confusion over the build-everything-then-test-last method favored by novices.