{"id":3942,"date":"2019-04-10T21:43:15","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T04:43:15","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-05-22T10:17:49","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T17:17:49","slug":"3942","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/3942","title":{"rendered":"Go Direct 3-Axis Magnetic Field Sensor Troubleshooting and FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-3-axis-magnetic-field-sensor\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> 3-Axis Magnetic Field Sensor<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-3MG<\/nobr>)<\/h3>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"\/manuals\/GDX-3MG\">Specifications and User Guide<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/product.gdx-3mg._hero.001-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Primary Test: <\/strong>Press the power button on the sensor to turn it on. Connect your sensor as described in the <a href=\"\/til\/get-started\/go-direct\">Getting Started instructions for your device<\/a>. (The green LED will flash to indicate the sensor is connected.)<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Move the sensor near a permanent magnet and check for the magnetic field readings to change.<\/li>\n<li>Check both the \u00b15 mT and \u00b1130 mT sensors in all three dimensions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/3943\/\">When I hold the tip of the Go Direct 3-Axis Magnetic Field sensor next to the pole of a magnet, the sensor reads zero<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/3925\/\">Is the Go Direct 3-axis Magnetic Field Sensor submersible?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/4388\/\">How do you calibrate the GDX-3MG sensor?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/16529\/\">How can I more precisely measure a magnetic field using a Vernier magnetic field sensor?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/16315\/\">Channel Numbers for GDX Sensors in Python and other coding languages<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/4089\/\">What are the temperature limitations on the Go Direct 300 mAh battery?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/15786\/\">Go Direct sensor does not connect to LabQuest 2 via Bluetooth.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/15056\/\">How do I replace the battery in a Go Direct Wand-Style Sensor?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/6827\/\">Troubleshooting Bluetooth Connections with Go Direct Sensors<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/12943\/\">What can I do if a Go Direct sensor's Bluetooth LED flashes red and green when I try to connect to it and the connection fails?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/3857\/\">Will my device work with Go Direct Sensors via Bluetooth?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/3085\/\">How do I know if my LabQuest will work with Go Direct Sensors and Go Wireless devices?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Specifications<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Measurement ranges: \u00b15 mT and \u00b1130 mT<\/li>\n<li>Resolution: <br \/>\u26ac \u00b15 mT range: 0.00015 mT<br \/>\u26ac \u00b1130 mT range: 0.1 mT<\/li>\n<li>Operating temperature: \u201340\u00b0C to 85\u00b0C<\/li>\n<li>Maximum data-collection rate: 50 Hz<\/li>\n<li>Dimensions: 19 cm long, wand portion 12.2 cm long. <br \/>\u26ac Wand tapers from 0.8 cm square at handle to 0.7 cm square at tip. <br \/>\u26ac Designed to be placed inside a solenoid if needed.<\/li>\n<li>Sensor Location<br \/>\u26ac \u00b15 mT sensor: ~5 mm from the wand tip (indicated by the dot on the sensor tip)<br \/>\u26ac \u00b1130 mT sensor: ~10.5&nbsp;mm from the wand tip<\/li>\n<li>Connections:<br \/>\u26ac Wireless: Bluetooth<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> v4.2 (wireless range 30 m unobstructed) <br \/>\u26ac Wired: USB 2.0 full speed<\/li>\n<li>Battery: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vernier.com\/gdx-bat-300\">300 mA Li-Poly<\/a><br \/>\u26ac Battery Life (single, full charge): ~24 hours continuous data collection<br \/>\u26ac Battery Life (lifetime): 2 \u2013 5 years (typical)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Calibration<\/h3>\n<p>Calibrate? No. The sensor is set to the stored calibration before shipping. It is not practical to calibrate the Magnetic Field Sensor without reference to a known source of magnetic field. <\/p>\n<p>It is useful, however, to zero the Magnetic Field Sensor. Position the sensor, and zero it using the data-collection software. Then, move the magnetic field source (but not the sensor) to explore the spatial variations of the field.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Battery Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the sensor can be turned on when connected by USB but not when disconnected from USB, the battery either needs charging or has reached its end of life and can no longer hold a charge. <\/span><br \/>\u26ac <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, try charging the sensor for several hours. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the sensor still won\u2019t turn on when disconnected from USB, try swapping the battery with a working sensor to see if the problem follows the battery or stays with the sensor.<\/span><br \/>\u26ac If the problem stays with the sensor, the battery is probably not the issue.<br \/>\u26ac If the problem follows the battery, <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the battery has likely reached its end of life.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you intend to use this sensor wirelessly, its battery will need replacing<\/span>.<br \/><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-300-mah-replacement-battery\/\">Go Direct&reg; 300 mAh Replacement Battery<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-BAT-300<\/nobr>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li>See <a href=\"\/til\/15056\/\">How do I replace the battery in a Go Direct Wand-Style Sensor?<\/a> for more information.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Rechargeable batteries are covered by a one-year warranty.<\/strong><\/span><br \/>Batteries <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">should last two to five years in typical use. <\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Products<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/micro-usb-to-usb-c-cable\/\">Micro USB to USB-C Cable<\/a> (<nobr>CB-USB-C-MICRO<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-charge-station\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Charge Station<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-CRG<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/magnetic-field-sensor\/\">Magnetic Field Sensor<\/a> (<nobr>MG-BTA<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Replacement Parts<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-300-mah-replacement-battery\/\">Go Direct&reg; 300 mAh Replacement Battery<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-BAT-300<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/micro-usb-cable\/\">Micro USB Cable<\/a> (<nobr>CB-USB-MICRO<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Specifications and User Guide Troubleshooting Primary Test: Press the power button on the sensor to turn it on. Connect your sensor as described in the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43901,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[6619,6618,6597,6620,5982,720,6617],"class_list":["post-3942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tag-3-d-mag-field","tag-axes","tag-gdx-3mg","tag-gdx3mgmain-gdx-3mgmain","tag-magnet","tag-maintil","tag-three-axis"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3942","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43901"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3942"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3942\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3942"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3942"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3942"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}