GP Traps L.L.C.TROUBLE SHOOTING 12 Volt ELECTRIC CIRCUIT 

You will need an electric meter that you can read two functions on. First is continuity, second is 12volt DC.

Always use a fully charge battery. LOW VOLTAGE makes HIGH AMPS

Machine will not cock or throw target: (The term would be: My machine is dead)

1) Check your 12volt battery with your meter.

2) Check battery ring terminal leads to battery. Clean and tighten.

3) Check 35-amp fuse with the meter, using your continuity function. Just because the fuse looks good doesn’t make it good. The element can brake away or off of the end caps and make the fuse bad. Always meter fuse.

4) Check fuse holder for 12volt DC power. You can lose voltage in a bad fuse holder. Bad connections or little spring in fuse holder can become weak and not make the proper contact needed. If you replace fuse holder, remember to solder new one in. Do not use the plier-type or crimp connectors. Always meter fuse holder.

5) Check all wires and connections in control box. Any wire may contribute to your problem. Treat ground/negative wires with equal importance. Replace bad push on spade connectors with new ones. Always use the solder on type and solder them on. Tighten the terminal strips screws with a little slot style screwdriver. 

6) Motor relay chatters back and forth and will not work properly:

B) Bad connection somewhere

C) Broken wire somewhere

7) Control box has 12-volt power and relay will not change over.

A) Check coil side connections. They are to two smaller wires at the bottom of relay.

B) Check terminal strip where two coil wires connect to terminal strip.

C) Verify that voltage is passing through toggle switch. Center pole on toggle switch should meter 12 volt DC. 

D) Replace Relay

8) Control box has 12volt power and relay changes over properly.

A) Meter motor wires # 3 & # 4 on terminal strip to see if motor is getting 12volt from relay. To do this correctly, put meter leads on terminal numbers 3 & 4, with the toggle switch in the down or off position, and at the same time push in on the black pushbutton on control box lid to change over the relay. If you do not have 12volt reading on meter, then replace relay. If you have 12volt reading on meter, then problem is motor. Service motor brushes or replace if they are badly worn. If servicing motor doesn’t fix problem you may need a new motor. REMEMBER LOW VOLTAGE makes HIGH AMPS. The high amps you have created from low voltage on uncharged batteries may have damaged your motor.

9) Machine blows 35-amp fuse all the time.

A) 12volt machine should have 35-amp AGC fuse. Check to see if you are using the correct fuse.

B) Blows new fuse-Check the battery leads for correct polarity connections.

C) You can turn motor and gearbox by using the screwdriver slot located at the back of motor. You will have to remove cap and turn slotted bolt with long slotted screwdriver. Try replacing fuse after you have turned motor.

D) Blows fuse because you can not turn slotted bolt at back of motor with screwdriver:

1) Bad motor

2) Bad gearbox

Throwing arm will not stop. (The term would be: My machine is throwing or firing thru)

1) Disconnect release cord at machine, as machine is firing thru, to see if machine stops firing. If throwing arms stops and machine works correctly from control box, fix your release cord. If you plug release cord in and the machine starts firing thru, you know the problem is in release cord.

2) Check the brake wiring circuit in control box. A loose connection can cause your machine to have this problem. The brake wire on a 12volt machine is the little jumper looking wire that is connected on the top of relay, connecting the two together. This connection is very important. Clean, re-crimp or replace this connection as needed.

3) Check limit switch:

A) You can check limit switch function by using your meter and do a continuity check while you work the limit switch head. This is just a switch, so meter the component to see if part is working correctly. Place meter leads on number 7 & 8 and rotate limit switch head manually to check continuity. The limit switch is wired normally closed. This explains why you have continuity when limit switch head is not clicked over and you do not have continuity when tab has clicked over limit switch head. 

B) Make sure the tab on bearing is making good contact with the limit switch head. The limit switch has a roller head that rotates as it is making contact with tab on bearing. The limit switch head can be adjusted to assure correct contact with bearing tab. You can position roller head by adjusting the screw that attaches the limit switch head to the body. The roller head can be adjusted to any position necessary to assure switch works correctly.

 C) To adjust limit switch, clear machine and disconnect power source. There are two 1/8” allen set screws located on bearing collar. This is the bearing that the steel tab is welded to that makes contact with the limit switch roller head. To stop throwing arm sooner, rotate bearing collar counter clockwise or towards limit switch head. To stop throwing arm later, rotate bearing collar clockwise or away from limit switch head. Do not hit the tab with anything. It will break off if you do. 

DO NOT EVER HIT THE TAB ON BEARING COLLAR THAT MAKES CONTACT WITH LIMIT SWITCH ROLLER HEAD. IF YOU CAN NOT MOVE COLLAR AFTER YOU LOOSEN BOTH SET SCREWS, YOU CAN USE A PUNCH OR SCREWDRIVER ON THE SET SCREWS, THEMSELVES TO TAP THE COLLAR IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION.

If you are using some after market electrical parts or wiring, please refer to the O.E.M. list to obtain the correct parts and wiring diagrams for troubleshooting your problems. 

REMEMBER TO ALWAYS SOLDER ALL ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. 

METER ALL 12volt FUNCTIONS. LEARN TO READ AND OPERATE A METER. IT IS YOUR BEST RESOURCE IN TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR ELECTRIC PROBLEMS. 

LOW VOLTAGE FROM AN UNCHARGED BATTERY MAKES HIGH AMPS AND AMPS CREATE HEAT OR HIGH TEMPERTURES. 

FOR FURTHER HELP PLEASE CALL YOUR DEALER OR GP TRAPS L.L.C. 1-620-394-2341