<p>Problem is solved, though I still don't know how to test the BLTouch.</p>
<p>I had reversed the power connection (black and white wires) at the connection to the extension cable. Swapping that connector back around restored expected behavior.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-03T14:55:35.533Z
2020-09-03T14:55:35.533Z
fectin
<p>MY new BLTouch doesn't seem to be actually sensing anything, and I'm not sure how to test it.</p>
<p>Quick background: I have a bit under a decade of experience with printing generally, but essentially none with firmware or any of the specific hardware. I recently got a new Ender 3 Pro, and successfully printed with it for a month.</p>
<p>I recently decided to upgrade my Ender 3 pro motherboard and add a BLTouch. I installed an SKR Mini E3 v2.0, tested briefly (long enough to satisfy myself that it worked as expected, but nothing extensive). I bolted on a BLTouch (not sure if 3.0 or 3.1), built and installed a cable to the dedicated &quot;Z-Probe&quot; port (same pinout as the BLTouch: brown, red, yellow, black, white), and updated the firmware with the <a href="https://github.com/bigtreetech/BIGTREETECH-SKR-mini-E3/blob/master/firmware/V2.0/firmware-bltouch.bin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">binary firmware file from the controller board manufacturer</a>. I have no other mods to electronics.</p>
<p>Right now, I have the following behavior:</p>
<ul>
<li>During startup: BLTouch extends and retracts several times</li>
<li>In the LCD menu for BLTouch; select <code>CMD:Self Test</code>: BLTouch turns red, extends and retracts several times.</li>
<li>In the LCD menu for BLTouch; select <code>CMD:Extend</code>: BLTouch extends.</li>
<li>In the LCD menu for BLTouch; select <code>CMD:Retract</code>: BLTouch retracts.</li>
<li>In the LCD menu, select <code>Auto Home</code>: behaves as expected (moves the axes until they hit endstops).</li>
</ul>
<p>So far so good, but then this:</p>
<ul>
<li>In the LCD menu, select <code>Bed Level</code>: performs Auto Home procedure (as above), moves the BLTouch over the corner of the bed, extends the probe, lowers the Z axis until it hits the endstop. BLTouch probe moves back in. On the way down it turns solid red, then flashing red, then eventually retracts, then the carriage hits the endstop. Process ends.</li>
</ul>
<p>So, What next? I'd like to check that the BLTouch is actually sending a signal to the board, but I'm not sure how. I've reviewed a bunch of online tutorials and the documentation for the mainboard and the BLTouch, without finding an answer.</p>
<p>Available tools: I have a multimeter and a very cheap oscilloscope. I haven't gotten the maple console installed, but do have a (probably?) functional alternative through the Pango slicer.</p>

<creality-ender-3><bltouch>
How can I tell if BLTouch is triggering?
fectin
# How can I tell if BLTouch is triggering?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-09-01)

MY new BLTouch doesn't seem to be actually sensing anything, and I'm not sure how to test it.

Quick background: I have a bit under a decade of experience with printing generally, but essentially none with firmware or any of the specific hardware. I recently got a new Ender 3 Pro, and successfully printed with it for a month.

I recently decided to upgrade my Ender 3 pro motherboard and add a BLTouch. I installed an SKR Mini E3 v2.0, tested briefly (long enough to satisfy myself that it worked as expected, but nothing extensive). I bolted on a BLTouch (not sure if 3.0 or 3.1), built and installed a cable to the dedicated "Z-Probe" port (same pinout as the BLTouch: brown, red, yellow, black, white), and updated the firmware with the [binary firmware file from the controller board manufacturer](https://github.com/bigtreetech/BIGTREETECH-SKR-mini-E3/blob/master/firmware/V2.0/firmware-bltouch.bin). I have no other mods to electronics.

Right now, I have the following behavior:

* During startup: BLTouch extends and retracts several times
* In the LCD menu for BLTouch; select `CMD:Self Test`: BLTouch turns red, extends and retracts several times.
* In the LCD menu for BLTouch; select `CMD:Extend`: BLTouch extends.
* In the LCD menu for BLTouch; select `CMD:Retract`: BLTouch retracts.
* In the LCD menu, select `Auto Home`: behaves as expected (moves the axes until they hit endstops).

So far so good, but then this:

* In the LCD menu, select `Bed Level`: performs Auto Home procedure (as above), moves the BLTouch over the corner of the bed, extends the probe, lowers the Z axis until it hits the endstop. BLTouch probe moves back in. On the way down it turns solid red, then flashing red, then eventually retracts, then the carriage hits the endstop. Process ends.

So, What next? I'd like to check that the BLTouch is actually sending a signal to the board, but I'm not sure how. I've reviewed a bunch of online tutorials and the documentation for the mainboard and the BLTouch, without finding an answer.

Available tools: I have a multimeter and a very cheap oscilloscope. I haven't gotten the maple console installed, but do have a (probably?) functional alternative through the Pango slicer.

**Tags:** creality-ender-3, bltouch


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2020-09-03. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Problem is solved, though I still don't know how to test the BLTouch.

I had reversed the power connection (black and white wires) at the connection to the extension cable. Swapping that connector back around restored expected behavior.


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