Service Information XRA

557F/S
010824 4022 339 01861

Type Numbers: PW24XX, PW26XX and PW28XX Instruments

Subject: HT Generator Diagnostics and Generator Control Board Versions

Urgency: For information

Class Code: 4

Related XRA’s: Replaces XRA532/F/D/S

INTRODUCTION

Improvements have been carried out to the Generator Control Board on new MPPCs. The triggering frequency
measuring circuit on this board has been changed to give greater accuracy when reading the actual frequency./

The consequences of this change in the accuracy of the triggering frequency measurement are that changes are need to
the diagnostic procedures contained in the service manuals.

When carrying out diagnostic procedures the tables included in this XRA need to be referred to. The version of the
Generator Control Board must be checked before using the information given in the tables and the correct table must be
used for the MPPC under test.

Also additional diagnostics procedures are provided which are not included in the service manuals.

NEW FREQUENCY TABLES FOR GENERATOR CONTROL BOARD VERSION b

The following tables provide the triggering frequencies for both versions of HT Generator installed in instruments in the
field. provides information for the earlier version and provides information for the recent version. To identify which
version is applicable, check the identity of the Generator Control Board fitted to the MPPC, the later version is
identified as 4022 332 8522 version b as shown in Figure 1 Generator Control Board - Version Label.

Version
Label

Figure 1 Generator Control Board - Version Label

Page 2 XRA 557/F/S 010824

Table 1 Triggering Frequency Mattrix Early Version

Voltage 20 24 30 32 35 40 45 50 55 60
(kV)

Current Trigger Frequency (kHz)

(mA)

10 2.6 2.7 2.9 2.9 3.0 3.2 3.5 3.8 4.3 5.1

20 5.5 5.8 5.9 6.1 6.5 7.0 7.7 8.7 10.3

30 8.3 8.8 9.0 9.3 9.8 10.5 11.6 13.1 15.8

40 11.2 11.7 12.0 12.3 13.1 14.1 15.5 17.6 21.6

50 13.9 14.7 14.9 15.4 16.4 17.5 19.5 22.3 27.0

60 16.7 17.5 17.8 18.4 19.5 20.8 23.1 26.4 29.7

66 18.3 19.1 19.5 20.1 21.3 22.8 25.2 28.2 31.8

70 19.4 20.2 20.7 21.2 22.4 24.2 26.4 29.9

80 22.0 23.1 23.5 24.1 25.3 26.8 28.6

90 24.2 25.1 25.6 26.2 27.3

100 25.8 26.7 27.1 27.6 28.7

110 27.2 28.0 28.4 29.0

120 28.3 29.1 29.5

125 28.9 29.6 29.9

NOTE: a. All the figures included in the above table have a tolerance of ±10%.
b The figures in the shaded boxes reflect the additional triggering frequencies for the 4kW version,
010824 XRA 557/F/S Page 3

Table 2 Triggering Frequency Matrix Later Version b

Voltage 20 24 30 32 35 40 45 50 55 60
(kV)

Current Trigger Frequency (kHz)

(mA)

10 3.1 3.2 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 4.1 4.5 5.0 6.0

20 6.4 6.7 6.8 7.1 7.5 8.1 9.0 10.1 12.0

30 9.6 10.1 10.3 10.6 11.3 12.1 13.4 15.2 18.4

40 12.8 13.5 13.8 14.2 15.0 16.2 17.9 20.3 24.8

50 15.9 16.8 17.1 17.7 18.8 20.2 22.2 25.8 31.0

60 19.1 20.1 20.5 21.1 22.4 23.6 26.5 30.2 34.2

66 21.0 22.0 22.5 23.1 24.5 26.3 29.0 32.2 35.4

70 22.2 23.3 23.7 24.5 25.7 27.8 30.3 33.2

80 25.3 26.4 27.0 27.7 29.0 30.7 32.7

90 27.7 28.8 29.2 29.9 31.0

100 29.6 30.6 31.0 31.5 32.8

110 31.0 30.8 32.4 32.6

120 32.2 33.2 33.5

125 32.8 33.2 34.0

NOTE: a. All the figures included in the above table have a tolerance of ±10%.
b The figures in the shaded boxes reflect the additional triggering frequencies for the 4kW version,

ADDITIONAL HT DIAGNOSTICS PROCEDURE

DANGER WHEN CARRYING OUT THE DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES CONTAINED IN THIS

SECTION OF THIS XRA IT IS POSSIBLE THAT HIGH VOLTAGE POINTS ARE
EXPOSED.

WHEN REMOVING CONNECTORS AND PCB CARDS ENSURE THAT THE HT

GENERATOR IS SWITCHED OFF.

REMEMBER THAT THE HT GENERATOR CONTAINS CAPACITORS WHICH HOLD

THEIR CHARGE AFTER THE GENERATOR HAS BEEN SWITCHED OFF.

When there is problem with the HT generation circuit use the TDS to find the reason of the problem. In the subsystem
>> x-ray Tube and generator
Page 4 XRA 557/F/S 010824

On this screen the status of the HT generator are given and also the reason of the last error. The information on this
screen can be very helpful to identify the problem.

The most common error messages generated by on HT generator failure are

• Safety errors

• kV ready time out

• mA ready time out

The diagnostic procedure for each error is given below.

Safety Errors

On the TDS screen there are three main fields giving information about the HT generator status. The first field gives
information about the safety circuit, the second field information about the cooling water and the last field information
about the MPPC status. If one of the signals monitored by these fields is not indicating OK then the HT will turn off and
the reason will be displayed in the tube status field. Other safety circuit errors which are not indicated in the three status
fields will be reported in the message field of TDS together with a code for the error. For interpretation of the error code
refer to Appendix B.

kV Ready time out

When this error message is generated the cause of the fault can be found in one of the HT generator components i.e
♦ The MPPC
♦ The HT tank
♦ The HT cable
♦ The X-ray Tube
To find which component is faulty carry out the following tests. The flow diagram for these tests is shown in Figure 2
kV Ready Time Out Error - Flow Diagram.
010824 XRA 557/F/S Page 5

Kv Ready
time out

Reconnect the HT cable

to the tank
Disconnect the HT cable
Disconnect the MPPC
from the tube side
resonator cable
Switch On the HT
Switch ON the HT

NO
HT = 20 kV
No mA HT Cable faulty
No kV YES
No mA MPPC short circuited 0 kHz
0 kHz internally
YES
NO

HT Tube faulty
Short circuit the MPPC
resonator output
Switch On the HT
Check the triggering frequency

Trigger NO
Frequency < 32 kHz MPPC Faulty

YES

Reconnect the MPPC

resonator cable
Disconnect the HT cable
from the tank side
Switch On the HT

HT 20 kV NO
No mA Tank Faulty
0 kHz

YES

Figure 2 kV Ready Time Out Error - Flow Diagram

Test 1:

Disconnect the MPPC resonator cable from the tank (X400), shown in Figure 3 HT Resonator Cable - Disconnected,
switch on the HT and monitor the kV, mA and the triggering frequency on the screen. If the MPPC is short circuited
then the triggering frequency will not be 0 kHz and the kV will increase. If this case then replace the MPPC.

If you get 0 kV , 0 mA and 0 kHz proceed to the following test.

Figure 3 HT Resonator Cable - Disconnected

Page 6 XRA 557/F/S 010824

Test 2:

Short circuit the MPPC resonator outputs, these are connection sockets 1 and 4 on the female connector of the resonant
cable. Make sure that the short circuit is not connected between the wrong connection sockets by checking the resistance
between the short circuit and ground, this should be open circuit.

Switch the HT generator on and monitor the triggering frequency. If the frequency is greater than 32 kHz (version a) or
greater than 36 kHz (version b),, then the MPPC is faulty and should be replaced. If the frequency is less than 32 kHz
(version a), or less than 36kHz (version b), then proceed with the next test.

Test 3:

Reconnect the MPPC resonant cable and disconnect the HT cable from the tank. Switch on the HT. If the voltage rises
to 20 kV and 0 mA then proceed with the next test. If not then the tank is short circuited and must be replaced.

DANGER THE FOLLOWING TEST (TEST 4) INSTRUCTS YOU TO OPERATE THE HT

GENERATOR WITH THE TUBE PLUG DISCONNECTED. IT IS IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER THAT 20 KV IS PRESENT ON THIS CONNECTOR. TAKE PRECAUTIONS
TO PREVENT ARCING BETWEEN THE CONNECTOR AND OTHER COMPONENTS.

DO NOT LEAVE THE INSTRUMENT UNATTENDED WHEN CARRYING OUT THIS

TEST.

Test 4:

Reconnect the HT cable to the tank and disconnect it this time from the tube side, shown in Figure 4 Tube HT
Connector - Disconnected. Maximum care must be taken here because a voltage of 20 kV will be present on the cable
end therefore make sure that the cable is kept well away from any metal objects to avoid arcs

Figure 4 Tube HT Connector - Disconnected

If the voltage rises to 20 kV and 0 mA that means the HT cable is faulty. If not that means that the tube is faulty.

mA ready timeout

When this error is generated by the TDS then there is a fault in the current generation circuit. Carry out the following
tests to find out which component is faulty. The flow diagram for these tests is shown in Figure 5 mA Ready Time Out
Error - Flow Diagram.
010824 XRA 557/F/S Page 7

mA Ready
time out

Disconnect the filament

cable from the tube side
Switch the HT on
Measure the DC voltage
on the filament cable

YES YES Check the filament

Voltage = 30 V Measure the resistance R = 0.2 Ohm
of the tube filament is not grounded

NO NO

Replace the tube

Check the fuse on the
filament supply board
Measure the voltage on
the output of T1

YES
V = 130 Vac Replace the tank

NO

Replace the board

Figure 5 mA Ready Time Out Error - Flow Diagram

Test 1:

Disconnect the filament cable from the tube side. Switch on the HT. Measure the DC voltage on the cable if the voltage
rises to 30 V, the HT switches off and the error mA ready time out is generated. This means that the current generation
is OK but the tube is faulty. Check the tube filament by measuring the filament resistance this should be about 0.2 Ohm
under normal conditions. If the measured voltage is 0 V that means the current circuit is not working. Carry out the next
test.

Test 2:

Remove the Filament Supply card.

First check that the fuse on the card is not blown. If the fuse is still working make two test points on the filament supply
card by soldering two wires on the output contacts, refer to Figure 6.

Figure 6 Filament Supply Card - Test Connections

Page 8 XRA 557/F/S 010824

Refit the card and switch the HT on. If the voltage across the transformer output is 130 V ac then the Filament Supply
(mA control) card is not defective and the fault lies in the HT tank rectifier circuit. In this case, replace the tank.