Timeout Protection
Timeout protection is the safety mechanism that stops the motor when a movement fails to complete within the expected time. It prevents the motor from running indefinitely if the leg spins free, the mechanism jams, or sensor feedback never arrives. On the KTS200 this check is performed at hardware level on the GRV485 control unit.
The logic is simple: an upper time limit is defined for every movement command. If the leg does not reach its target within that time, the driver shuts its output off and the condition is reported to the user. This also catches faults that stay below the current protection threshold but make no progress.
- Spinning free: if the screw or coupling has stripped, the motor turns easily, current stays low and the leg does not advance. Only timeout catches this.
- Slow travel: if battery voltage is low the motor cannot produce torque, so the movement continues but never completes.
- Very soft ground: as the leg sinks into the ground the contact signal is delayed.
When you get a timeout error, look for the cause instead of forcing the mechanism: measure battery voltage under load, look at the ground under the leg, and check whether there is visible jamming or a foreign object in the mechanism. Current protection and timeout complement each other; one sees excessive load, the other sees movement that is not progressing.
Context in which this term is used: Guide to automatic RV levelling