-
USER
MANUAL
www.motoplat.nl
VC-15W
The VC-15W alternator tester is a handheld, very useful and
easy to use device, used by car garages, diagnostic
stations,
authorised service stations and rebuilders.
The VC-15W allows you to diagnose an alternator that is
communicating with the ECU of the car, even when it’s still
mounted or to be used in combination with
all conventional test benches. These “modern” alternators
can’t be diagnosed by using a regular voltage meter.
The ECU communication systems are found on cars starting
from 2002 and up, and are known as LIN (Local Interconnect
Network) and BSS(Bit Synchronous Single-wire) systems, and
even earlier as Ford or GM’s PWM(Pulse Width Modulation)
systems.
Handheld Tester
ENGLISH VERSION 2020
-
Motoplat ®
Page 2
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Safety Warning
Electrical devices should be installed and operated in such a
way that all applicable safety requirements are met. It is your
responsibility as an installer to ensure that you identify the
relevant safety standards and comply with them. Failure to do so
may result in damage to equipment and personal injury. In
particular, you should study the contents of this guide carefully
before installing or operating the equipment.
People who start using this product should review carefully this
instruction manual, or have had a training from a qualified
person.
The use of electrical equipment is entirely at your own risk and
Motoplat® is under no circumstances re-sponsible for any
incidental, consequential or special damages of any kind
whatsoever, including but not limited to lost profits arising from
or in any way connected with the use of the automated test
equipment or this manual.
The tester should be connected to a properly grounded outlet.If
the power cable is damaged, you must have it be replaced by the
supplier or by another qualified person in order to avoid dangerous
situations.
Since this tester only operates in conjunction with other test
equipment, you should also be aware of the installation, operation
and safety requirements of the other equipment.
- Motoplat® -
Environment
The tester should be installed in a weather protected area where
heat, humidity or any other climate situation can not damage the
tester. The tester should be installed on a level surface that is
clear of debris and obstructions.
-
Motoplat ®
Page 3
1 General Information 1.0 General information about the Motoplat
VC-15W alternator tester 4
2 Installation 2.0 Installation of the Motoplat VC-15W
alternator tester 5 2.1 Connect alternator to the Motoplat VC-15W
alternator tester 6
3 Instructions 3.0 Plug descriptions 7 3.1 Button descriptions
8
4 Systems 4.0 COM LIN 9 4.1 COM BSS 10 4.2 Voltage Meter 11 4.3
PWM (Ford/Landrover) 12 4.4 PWM (GM) 13 4.5 C 14 4.6 PD Drive 15
4.7 RLO (Toyota) 16 4.8 A. DFM Negative 17 B. DFM Positive 18
Index
-
Motoplat ®
Page 4
Section 1 – General information
1.0 General information about Motoplat VC-15W alternator
tester:
The Motoplat VC-15W tester is an addition to your current test
equipment, that allows you to check and test the alternators that
are fitted on the latest cars, such as: BMW, Mercedes Benz,
Volkswagen, Audi and more. These alternators are controlled by:
COM (LIN / Start-Stop) PSA / Mercedes Benz / Chrysler / Volks
Wagen / BMW / Audi / Skoda /Seat / Honda / Toyota / Porsche /
Renault / Fiat / Volvo / Ford / Landrover
COM (BSS 1,2,3) BMW / Rolls Royce / Renault / Mini / Audi /
Volks Wagen / Mercedes Benz (old types)
PWM Ford Group / Mazda / Landrover / GM / ScaniaPD Drive
MazdaRLO Toyota (sense)C Hyundai / Kia / Nissan (from 2005) /
HondaDFM (Positive / Negative) Mercedes Benz / Volkswagen / Audi /
PSA / Honda
/ Toyota
The VC-15W alternator tester only takes a few seconds to
automatically identify the type of regulator used on the alternator
that needs to be tested (LIN/BSS). There is even the possibility to
identify the type of regulator without the alternator itself (+B,
0v socket).
While the tester is checking the PWM and PD, the monitor will
also display information about the DFM signal.
Initial setting of the VC-15W voltage is 14.5V, but it can be
changed by pressing the buttons ‘15.5V’, ‘13.5V’, ‘12.5V’ or the
‘OFF’ button. This duplicates the actual situation in the car
during charging.
The DFM signal is displayed in percentage (%), which allows you
to evaluate the performance during charg-ing at a specific
moment.
An additional function of the VC-15W alternator tester is a
Voltage Meter.
-
Motoplat ®
Page 5
2.0 Installation of Motoplat VC-15W alternator tester:
The Motoplat VC-15W is an addition and is only working in
combination with other test equipment or the car electronics. That
is why it is necessary to connect the VC-15W by using the cables +B
and GND.
• Attach the red +B cable to the 12V socket of your current
tester or the car battery.• Attach the black GND cable to the
Ground of your current tester or the car battery.
(Note: The VC-15W needs to be connected to the same power source
as the alternator!)
Section 2 – Installation
+B
GND
-
Motoplat ®
Page 6
2.1 Connect alternator to Motoplat VC-15W tester:
To test an alternator, you should first connect the alternator
to your current tester the usual way. (Please consult the
instruction manual of your current tester).
When you want to test the alternator when it is still mounted to
the car, you only disconnect the plug cable of the car.
After this is done, you can start to connect the alternator to
the VC-15W tester.When the tester is connected, it will turn on
automatically
-
Motoplat ®
Page 7
Section 3 – Instructions
3.0 Plug descriptions:
COM Communication with the alternator (BSS or LIN)DFM-
Measurement input signal DFM (Pos./Neg.)DFM+ Measurement input
signal DFM (Pos./Neg.)Pdrive Alternator control output (PD type
regulator)PWM Pulse Width ModulationC “C” control outputRLO “RLO”
output alternator control (Toyota)Vmeter Voltage measure input (max
20V)
+ actual voltage COM regulator
-
Motoplat ®
Page 8
3.1 Button descriptions
OFF Voltage set point button12,5V Voltage set point button13,5V
Voltage set point button15,5V Voltage set point buttonMODE Manual
selection button of functions =>
0. COM 1. Vmeter 2. PWM (Ford / Landrover)3. PWM (Opel / GM)4. C
5. PD DRIVE (Mazda)6. RLO (Toyota)
7. A. DFM Negative B. DFM Positive
RESET Processor restart (if tester freezes) or identifica-tion
of LIN/BSS regulators
-
Motoplat ®
Page 9
Section 4 – Systems
4.0 COM LIN
Mode Tester automatically begins to identify the alternator
control system1. System COM LIN2. Connection COM3. Field duty cycle
Increase load as high as possible with your current tester4.
Voltage output Pass when it’s close to the set voltage5. Voltage
set-point Voltage can be changed by pressing buttons 12,5V / 13,5V
/ 15,5V / OFF6. Pass/Error message (During Charging)
Pass = No message / If you can change VSPError = Mechanical /
Electrical / Temperature
7. ID Code C
2.
1.3.4.
5.
6.7.
-
Motoplat ®
Page 10
4.1 COM BSS
Mode Tester automatically begins to identify the alternator
control system1. System COM BSS2. Connection COM 3. Field duty
cycle Increase load as high as possible with your current tester4.
Voltage output Pass when it’s close to the set voltage5. Voltage
set-point Voltage can be changed by pressing buttons 12,5V / 13,5V
/ 15,5V / OFF6. Pass/Error message (During Charging)
Pass = No message / If you can change VSPError = Mechanical /
Electrical / Temperature
7. ID Code Regulator identification code
2.
1.3.4.
5.
6.7.
-
Motoplat ®
Page 11
4.2 Voltage meter
Mode Press 1 time on the Mode button1. System Vmeter2.
Connection Vmeter / GND (GND is not required)3. Field duty cycle
Non applicable4. Voltage output Only voltage output is displayed
(Max. 20 Volts!!!)5. Voltage set-point Non applicable6. Pass/Error
message (During Charging)
Non applicable
* Software version:If you want to check which software version
is running on the VC-15W, please put the tester on the Vmeter mode
and press the buttons “13,5V” + “15,5V” simultaneously.
2.
1.
4.
-
Motoplat ®
Page 12
4.3 PWM (Ford / Landrover)
Mode Press 2 times on the Mode button1. System PWM (Ford /
Landrover)2. Connection PWM / DFM+3. Field duty cycle Increase load
as high as possible with your current tester4. Voltage output Pass
when it’s close to the set voltage5. Voltage set-point Voltage can
be changed by pressing buttons 12,5V / 13,5V / 15,5V / OFF6.
Pass/Error message (During Charging)
Pass = DFM OK / If you can change VSPFail = No control of
regulator
2.
1.3.4.
5.
6. 7.
2.
-
Motoplat ®
Page 13
4.4 PWM (GM)
Mode Press 3 times on the Mode button1. System PWM (GM) (Opel)2.
Connection PWM / DFM+3. Field duty cycle Increase load as high as
possible with your current tester4. Voltage output Pass when it’s
close to the set voltage5. Voltage set-point Voltage can be changed
by pressing buttons 12,5V / 13,5V / 15,5V / OFF6. Pass/Error
message (During Charging)
Pass = DFM OK / If you can change VSPFail = No control of
regulator
2.
1.3.4.
5.
6. 7.
2.
8.
-
Motoplat ®
Page 14
4.5 C (Hyundai)
Mode Press 4 times on the Mode button1. System C (Kia,
Hyundai)2. Connection C3. Field duty cycle Non applicable4. Voltage
output Pass when it’s close to the set voltage5. Voltage set-point
Voltage can be changed by pressing buttons 12,5V / 13,5V / 15,5V /
OFF6. Pass/Error message (During Charging)
Pass = If you can change VSP / Fail = No control of
regulator
1.
4.
5.
2.
-
Motoplat ®
Page 15
4.6 PD Drive
Mode Press 5 times on the Mode button1. System PD DRIVE
(Mazda)2. Connection PDrive 3. Field duty cycle Increase load as
high as possible with your current tester4. Voltage output Pass
when it’s close to the set voltage5. Voltage set-point Voltage can
be changed by pressing buttons 12,5V / 13,5V / 15,5V / OFF6.
Pass/Error message (During Charging)
Pass = If you can change VSP / Error = Phase Error / VSP doesn’t
change
1.
4.
5.
2.
3.6.
-
Motoplat ®
Page 16
4.7 RLO
Mode Press 6 times on the Mode button1. System RLO (Toyota sense
terminal)2. Connection RLO3. Field duty cycle Non applicable4.
Voltage output Pass when it’s close to the set voltage5. Voltage
set-point Voltage can be changed by pressing buttons 12,5V / 13,5V
/ OFF6. Pass/Error message (During Charging)
Pass = If you can change VSP / Fail = No control of regulator /
VSP doesn’t change
1.
4.
5.
2.
6.
-
Motoplat ®
Page 17
4.8.A DFM (Negative)
Mode Press 7 times on the Mode button1. System DFM Negative
(from 99% to 0%)2. Connection DFM-3. Field duty cycle Increase load
as high as possible with your current tester4. Voltage output
Standard5. Voltage set-point Non applicable6. Pass/Error message
(During Charging)
Pass = Duty cycle will change depending on loadFail = Duty cycle
will not change depending on load
* An example of an oscilloscope diagram can be found on page
21
1.
4.
5.2.
3.6.7.
-
Motoplat ®
Page 18
4.8.B DFM (Positive)
Mode Press 7 times on the Mode button + OFF for Positive1.
System DFM Positive (from 0% to 99%)2. Connection DFM+3. Field duty
cycle Increase load as high as possible with your current tester4.
Voltage output Standard5. Voltage set-point Non applicable6.
Pass/Error message (During Charging)
Pass = Duty cycle will change depending on loadFail = Duty cycle
will not change depending on load
* An example of an oscilloscope diagram can be found on page
21
1.
4.
5.
2.
3.6.7.
-
www.motoplat.nl
Stichtse Kade 47c
1244NV ‘s-Graveland, The Netherlands
+ 31 (0)35 656 3180
[email protected]
www.motoplat.nl
MOTOPLAT CV
Contact Information