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FRC roboRIO Light is Red

Updated Dec 2, 2022

Reported In

Hardware

  • roboRIO-FRC

Issue Details

One of the lights on my roboRIO is red, but I'm not sure which one. I'm using the roboRIO for the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). What does it mean and how do I resolve it?

Solution

There are 6 lights on your roboRIO and only 3 of them are programmed to turn on Red in certain conditions: the Power, Comm, and Mode LED lights. Follow the next steps to understand and fix the behavior:
  1. Refer to the NI roboRIO 2.0 Embedded Controller for FRC User Manual for more information about the LED status lights and their meaning.
  2. Review the next table for roboRIO's red LEDs meaning and potential solutions:
 
roboRIO red LED lights
LEDMeaningPotential solutions
Power

Solid: Fault condition detected. One or more user voltage rails are in short-circuit or overcurrent condition
 

Blinking: The input voltage is too high (greater than 16 V) and all outputs, including the RSL output, are disabled.

Solid: These are generally caused by metal shavings falling inside the case. You can clear this by trying any of the following steps:

  1. Turning the roboRIO upside down and shaking it vigorously.
  2. Vacuuming out the ports on the roboRIO.
  3. Use canned air or compressed air to clear the hardware pinouts.
  4. Check with a flashlight for material making contact in the port pinouts.
 

Blinking: The power supply is incorrect. Check your roboRIO power connection. For the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) it should be wired to the dedicated output in the Power Distribution Panel (PDP). Follow this guide for connection guidance: How to Wire an FRC Robot

Comm

Solid: No code. The protocol indicates that no user code has been loaded.
 

Blinking: E-Stop. The protocol indicates that the driver station has E-Stopped the robot.

Solid: Deploy your code again. If using LabVIEW, make sure you select Run as Startup when deploying code for competition use. Refer to the next document for more information: Creating, Building and Loading your Benchtop Test Program

Note: LabVIEW code can take up to 1 minute to show up (turn the Comm LED green) after booting up.
 

Blinking: Reset the roboRIO by clicking the Reset button or doing a power cycle.

Mode

Outputs unknown, undetermined, or in test mode.

The Drivers Station has started a Test Match on the roboRIO. Disable the roboRIO in the Driver Station and the light should clear.

  

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