Why is the Status Light on My CompactRIO Controller Flashing?

Hardware: CompactRIO>>Chassis (Backplanes)>>cRIO-9101, CompactRIO>>Chassis (Backplanes)>>cRIO-9102, CompactRIO>>Chassis (Backplanes)>>cRIO-9103, CompactRIO>>Chassis (Backplanes)>>cRIO-9104, CompactRIO>>Controllers>>cRIO-9004, CompactRIO>>Controllers>>cRIO-9002

Problem:
I just purchased a new CompactRIO controller, and after hooking up my power supply, the status light flashes continuously. I have looked at the manual for the controller, and the manual points out that continuous flashing indicates:



The controller has detected an unrecoverable error. Contact National Instruments

The controller is brand new, it seems unlikely to have unrecoverable errors. Is there anything else that I can check?

Solution:
Depending on how fast the indicator is blinking, this could mean several different things.

If the status LED is blinking very quickly, a bad power supply may cause this behavior. The CompactRIO controller requires between 11 and 30 Volts of DC Power with sufficient current. Use a voltmeter to verify that your power source is outputting the proper level of voltage. If you find that you are not getting the proper amount of voltage or current out of the power supply, try switching to a different power supply.

A slower blinking, once every couple of seconds, means that the CompactRIO does not have an IP Configuration. Configuring the IP settings for the CompactRIO in the Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) should resolve this issue if the power supply is working properly. Please refer to the troubleshooting document in the related links section if you believe the power supply is working properly and are unsure of how to proceed configuring your device or are unable to configure it.

For more detailed information about the status light definitions please refer to related links section to find a link to your controller's operating instructions. A table with status light definitions is included here for quick reference:

Number of Flashes Every Few Seconds	Indication
1	The controller is unconfigured. Use MAX to configure the controller. Refer to the Measurement & Automation Explorer Help for information about configuring the controller.
2	The chassis has detected an error in its software. This usually occurs when an attempt to upgrade the software is interrupted. Reinstall software on the chassis. Refer to the Measurement & Automation Explorer Help for information about installing software on the chassis.
3	The chassis is in safe mode. Refer to the Measurement & Automation Explorer Help for information about safe mode.
4	The software has crashed twice without rebooting or cycling power between crashes. This usually occurs when the chassis runs out of memory. Review your RT VI and check the memory usage. Modify the VI as necessary to solve the memory usage issue.
Continuously flashing or solid	The chassis has detected an unrecoverable error. Contact National Instruments.

Note: More specific information about LED indications can be found in the Operating Instructions of your CompactRIO.

If after checking the power supply voltage and/or changing the power supply, you still experience the continuous flashing, please contact National Instruments Technical Support by going to ni.com/support.

Attachments:

Report Date: 04/06/2005
Last Updated: 03/31/2015
Document ID: 3K5CTHQX

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