Diagnosing VSI joystick controller

Hi June,
Any electromechanical device requires occasional troubleshooting. However, most problems that arise can usually be solved with a bit of thought and common sense. Many of these problems occur because the batteries are not fully charged or because the batteries are worn down and can no longer hold a charge. Below are a series of basic troubleshooting instructions for the Jet 7 Power Chair. This information is to be used as a supplement to the troubleshooting instructions provided in the owner's manual. If you have any questions about this information, contact your authorized Pride Provider. What if the systems on my Jet 7 seem to be "dead" (controller does not light up when the on/off key is pressed)? ! Make sure the batteries are wired properly-refer to the battery wiring diagram located on the power base. ! Make sure the connections on the battery terminals are tight and secure. ! Make sure the battery quick-disconnect harness connections are fully joined. ! Make sure the main circuit breaker has not tripped-push in the main circuit breaker reset button. ! Make sure the controller is completely connected to the power base. What if the range per charge of my Jet 7 diminishes over time? ! Determine if the batteries have ever been replaced. Batteries over a year old may be defective. ! Determine how frequently you charge the batteries in comparison to how often you use the power chair. If you use your power chair on a daily basis, you should charge the batteries every day for 8-14 hours. ! Determine when the batteries were last charged. Even if the power chair has not been in use, the batteries should be charged once a week for 12-14 hours. ! Determine how long you let the batteries charge. It takes 8-14 hours to fully charge a depleted set of batteries; continual undercharging reduces the overall life of the batteries. ! Observe the ammeter during battery charging to determine if the batteries are receiving a charge. If the ammeter does not go up when the battery charger is plugged into the charger power cord receptacle and an electrical outlet, the batteries are not getting charged. Check the charger fuse and ensure the electrical outlet is good. ! Determine if a wall switch controls the electrical outlet used for battery charging. If a wall switch does control the outlet and the switch is turned off inadvertently, the batteries will not fully charge. ! Is an extension cord being used to connect the battery charger to the electrical outlet? Pride prohibits the use of an extension cord when charging the batteries. The charger should be plugged directly into a properlywired standard electrical outlet as the length and condition of the extension cord can have an adverse affect on the battery charger. ! Determine how far you let the battery condition meter LEDs go down before charging the batteries. If you continually allow the battery condition meter LEDs to fall into the red area, the overall life of the batteries will be reduced. What if my Jet 7 is operating slower than it has in the past? ! Determine when the batteries were last charged. When the battery charge gets low, the batteries supply less power to the motors, which causes the motors to spin slower. ! Determine the temperature of the power chair at the time the problem occurred. The Jet 7 electrical system will protect itself from overheating when its internal temperature gets too high by reducing the amount of power sent to the motors. When this happens, the power chair will gradually slow to a stop. Allow the power chair to cool down and it will resume normal operation.
What if my Jet 7 begins pulling to one side? ! Determine if the joystick is being deflected straight or at a slight angle. Even a small amount of deflection right or left will cause the chair to veer over a long distance. ! Determine if both manual freewheel levers are in the drive position. If only one manual freewheel lever is in the drive position, the other motor will not operate and the Jet 7 will veer severely. ! Determine if both tires are inflated to the proper psi if the power chair is equipped with pneumatic tires. Pneumatic tires should be inflated to 35 psi (2.4 bar). If one tire is inflated more than the other, the power chair will pull to the side that is underinflated. ! Determine if the caster wheels are pivoting freely. If either caster wheel is not pivoting freely, the unit will veer to the side. What if the Jet 7 powers up, but will not move? ! Determine if both manual freewheel levers are in the freewheel position. If the power chair is in freewheel mode, then the electronics will function but the motors will not spin the wheels. ! Determine if the controller is flashing a fault code. The Jet 7 comes equipped with a VSI controller. The VSI controller will flash a code via the battery condition meter LEDs if a system fault is detected.
# OF LEDS CODE CAUSE POSSIBLE SOLUTION One red LED 1 Low battery voltage Charge batteries Two red LEDs 2 Left motor open Make sure left motor is plugged into controller. Three red LEDs 3 Left motor wiring fault Contact your authorized Pride Provider. Three red LEDs 4 Right motor open Make sure right motor is plugged into controller. One yellow LED Three red LEDs 5 Right motor wiring fault Contact your authorized Pride Provider. Two yellow LEDs Three red LEDs 6 Inhibit active Contact your authorized Pride Provider. Three yellow LEDs Three red LEDs 7 Joystick error Contact your authorized Pride Provider. Four yellow LEDs Three red LEDs 8 Controller error Contact your authorized Pride Provider. Four yellow LEDs One green LED Three red LEDs 9 Brake fault Make sure both motors are plugged into controller. Four yellow LEDs Two green LEDs Three red LEDs 10 High battery voltage Contact your authorized Pride Provider.
What if the speed LEDs on the VSI begin to flash? ! Determine if the battery charger is connected to the power base. When the battery charger is connected to the power base, an internal charger inhibit feature keeps the power chair from driving. This is indicated by the VSI speed LED(s) flashing. ! Determine if the charger harness fuse has blown. A blown charger fuse can cause the charger inhibit to activate. ! Determine if all controller connections are plugged into the power base properly. If the 3-pin charger inhibit connector is not plugged in properly, then the charger inhibit feature will activate. What if the speed LEDs on the VSI begin to scroll? ! Determine if the VSI has been placed in lock mode. The VSI is equipped with a lock mode feature that prevents unintended use of the power chair. If the VSI is in lock mode, deflect the joystick full forward until it beeps, and then deflect the joystick full rearward until it beeps. The joystick should go back to the drive function.

Hand control is locked. turn chair on push joy stick forward til it beeps then pull it back until it beeps then put it in neutral ( joy stick in the center) then it should be unlocked.
LOCKING/UNLOCKING THE VSI
The VSI has a feature that enables you to lock your power chair to prevent
unauthorized use.
To lock the VSI:
1. With the VSI powered on, press and hold the on/off key. After one (1)
second, the VSI should beep.
2. Release the on/off key.
3. Push the joystick to the full forward position until the VSI beeps.
4. Pull the joystick to the full rearward position until the VSI beeps.
5. Release the joystick. There should be a long beep.
6. The VSI is now locked.
To unlock the VSI:
1. Press the on/off key and power on the VSI. The maximum speed/profile
indicator should ripple side to side.

Locking/Unlocking the VSI
The VSI has a feature that enables you to
lock your power chair to prevent unauthorized use.
To lock the VSI:
1. With the VSI switched on, press and hold the on/off key. After 1 second, the VSI should beep.
2. Release the on/off key.
3. Push the joystick to the full forward position until the VSI beeps.
4. Pull the joystick to the full rearward position until the VSI beeps.
5. Release the joystick. There should be a long beep.
6. The VSI is now locked.
To unlock the VSI:
1. Press the on/off key and power on the VSI. The maximum speed/profile indicator should ripple up and down.
2. Push the joystick to the full forward position until the VSI beeps.
3. Pull the joystick to the full rearward position until the VSI beeps.
4. Release the joystick. There should be a long beep.
5. The VSI is now unlocked.

This is taken from the owner's manual from the 1121 with a VSI controller:

I suggest you print this out and keep it handy.

Locking/Unlocking the VSI

The VSI has a feature that enables you to

lock your power chair to prevent unauthorized use.

To lock the VSI:

1. With the VSI switched on, press and hold the on/off key. After 1 second, the VSI should beep.

2. Release the on/off key.

3. Push the joystick to the full forward position until the VSI beeps.

4. Pull the joystick to the full rearward position until the VSI beeps.

5. Release the joystick. There should be a long beep.

6. The VSI is now locked.

To unlock the VSI:

1. Press the on/off key and power on the VSI. The maximum speed/profile indicator should ripple up and down.

2. Push the joystick to the full forward position until the VSI beeps.

3. Pull the joystick to the full rearward position until the VSI beeps.

4. Release the joystick. There should be a long beep.

5. The VSI is now unlocked.
NOTE: If the above procedure fails to either lock or unlock the VSI, contact your authorized Pride Provider.

This is the procedure to unlock the controller on a Pride Jazzy:

Locking/Unlocking the VSI

The VSI has a feature that enables you to

lock your power chair to prevent unauthorized use.

To lock the VSI:

1. With the VSI switched on, press and hold the on/off key. After 1 second, the VSI should beep.

2. Release the on/off key.

3. Push the joystick to the full forward position until the VSI beeps.

4. Pull the joystick to the full rearward position until the VSI beeps.

5. Release the joystick. There should be a long beep.

6. The VSI is now locked.

To unlock the VSI:

1. Press the on/off key and power on the VSI. The maximum speed/profile indicator should ripple up and down.

2. Push the joystick to the full forward position until the VSI beeps.

3. Pull the joystick to the full rearward position until the VSI beeps.

4. Release the joystick. There should be a long beep.

5. The VSI is now unlocked.
NOTE: If the above procedure fails to either lock or unlock the VSI, contact your authorized Pride Provider.

Jazzy is in lock mode try the following to unlock:

Lock Mode

To unlock the VSI:

1. Press the on/off key and power on the VSI. The maximum speed/profile indicator should ripple side to side.

2. Push the joystick to the full forward position until the VSI beeps.

3. Pull the joystick to the full rearward position until the VSI beeps.

4. Release the joystick. There should be a long beep.

5. The VSI is now unlocked

Hope this helps

Hi
delobner,

Sometime we lock our vsi joystick by mistake. Here are the instructions on how to lock and unlock your joystick.

If the problem is still there after write me back and I'll help you.

LOCKING/UNLOCKING THE VSI

The VSI has a feature that enables you to lock your power chair to prevent

unauthorized use.

To lock the VSI:

1. With the VSI powered on, press and hold the on/off key. After one (1)

second, the VSI should beep.

2. Release the on/off key.

3. Push the joystick to the full forward position until the VSI beeps.

4. Pull the joystick to the full rearward position until the VSI beeps.

5. Release the joystick. There should be a long beep.

6. The VSI is now locked.

To unlock the VSI:

1. Press the on/off key and power on the VSI. The maximum speed/profile
indicator should ripple side to side.

Good Luck
mi mobility

Hi patriped,
Sometimes we lock our joystick by mistake.
Here is how to unlock it.
If this dosen't fix the problem you may have a bad joystick. Write me back for more info if thats the case.

LOCKING/UNLOCKING THE VSI

The VSI has a feature that enables you to lock your power chair to prevent

unauthorized use.

To lock the VSI:

1. With the VSI powered on, press and hold the on/off key. After one (1)

second, the VSI should beep.

2. Release the on/off key.

3. Push the joystick to the full forward position until the VSI beeps.

4. Pull the joystick to the full rearward position until the VSI beeps.

5. Release the joystick. There should be a long beep.

6. The VSI is now locked.

To unlock the VSI:

1. Press the on/off key and power on the VSI. The maximum speed/profile
indicator should ripple side to side.


Good Luck

mimobility

If you have a vsi joystick seven bars means there is a possible joystick trip
a joystick trip is indicated . Make sure the joystick is in the center postion before switching on the VSI.
It may also be locked try this.

LOCKING/UNLOCKING THE VSI

The VSI has a feature that enables you to lock your power chair to prevent

unauthorized use.

To lock the VSI:

1. With the VSI powered on, press and hold the on/off key. After one (1)

second, the VSI should beep.

2. Release the on/off key.

3. Push the joystick to the full forward position until the VSI beeps.

4. Pull the joystick to the full rearward position until the VSI beeps.

5. Release the joystick. There should be a long beep.

6. The VSI is now locked.

To unlock the VSI:

1. Press the on/off key and power on the VSI. The maximum speed/profile
indicator should ripple side to side.

Good Luck

mimobility

I think this chair uses the VSI joystick controller, and those flash codes are located here: http://www.pgdt.com/scenter/diagnostics/diagvsi.html