DiyLightAnimation
Hardware => Lynx Smart String => Topic started by: PIC on September 02, 2014,
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I had an etherdongle working with a zeus8. Just hit in my power supply for an active hub. I mistakingly plugged the pixelnet car to one of the active hub ssc outputs. The active hub ps immediately turned off and that is where my problems started. Now my etherdongle Zeus will not work. Any ideas where to start? Did I damage the optoisolators on the etherdongle? Not sure???
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Go back to last working config. Etherdongle and Zeus. If you plug etherdongle into network jack does it get link light? If so that's half the problem gone. Next plug Zeus to pixelnet port and connect a single strand and see in rgb test mode of it works again.
Or if you have an LE or other device take out the active hub and see if you can get the etherdongle and active hub and LE to light up.
Hard to imagine why the active hub power supply shut off. Was it disconnected by yourself immediately or did it power off automatically?
You might need to spell out more clearly the config when it was working and when it stopped.
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I will check tonight. Thanks for quick response.
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did you plug the ca5 cable from the etherdongle output, into one of the 16 powered outputs of the active hub?
if so, you sent 12 volts through your etherdongle.
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You have probably caused damage to both the PS and the ETD. There are two issues there. The first is that you have causeda dead short across the PS terminals and even though there is a fuse there, unless the PS has protection against that (and some do) there is a good chance that part of the PS fried before the fuse had a chance to blow. The other issue is that as Chris said, you injected 12V into the ETD on its output.
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Was it the output of the ETD or the Network connection that you hooked up. I bet the Ethernet Magjack. This will indeed short on the power from the hub and it will fry the magjack on the ETD. I have replaced a few and it is very difficult to replace the magjack without damaging the pcb but it can be done. The Magjack is like $5.
RJ
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Thanks RJ. Still in late meetings. I will check on the lights when I get home.
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Setup. Etherdongle to net gear switch to zeus8. Network switch has blinking lights but etherdongle mag jack does not :(.
Tbone321. Appears the power supply turned itself off with built in protection. Fired it up and appears all voltages ok. Yay!
Sorry I am not sure if I plugged the active hub ssc output to the pixelnet on the Zeus or the network switch. This is what happens when ur desk is too messy, all cables are same and I did not label.
I will order a new mag jack. Anything else I should get just in case?
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You are getting me confused. The Zeus and the ETD are two different devices. Which one are you talking about? Which one of these devices did you plug into one of the hubs SSC outputs?
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Sorry for confusion. I know the etd. However, in my scramble to get it working Mixed up cables and connected Zeus pixelnet to the hub also. Bonehead move on my part. If u take worst case...any other recommendations on parts to order besides mag jack? Optoisolators? Serial driver chip?
I did check etd and Zeus pics and they were ok. Reflashed both just to make sure they were ok.
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The optos being hit would not cause the network to connection to fail. This is why I asked the question about which was hooked to which?
RJ
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Thanks RJ. Sorry for my lack of knowledge on the etherdongle. I am learning. Thanks again for all the advice. I will order mag jack today. Fingers crossed
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I am wondering how the optos failed. If they just opened up, then the rest of the ETD (including the magjack) should still be operating. If they failed by shorting, then it is possible that 12V got dumped onto the ETD's 5V rail and this can cause a lot of damage. It does appear that something did short which caused his PS to shutdown. He may want to do a few voltage measurements before ordering and attempting to install the new Magjack, especially if one or both of the pics are damaged.
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Let's make sure we have a clear understanding of what happened. First a normal hook up for EtD and Zues 8.
Network(switch/router or computer)---> Etherdongle MAG Jack - EtD Output -----> Active Hub (Pixelnet In)- Pixelnet out-->Zues 8 - Zues 8 output(s) -----> strings
Now you were saying you plugged both the Etd and the pixelnet out from your active hub into your network switch?
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No, what I believe that he is saying is that he plugged the chain into one of the active hubs controller outputs.
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Tbone321 you are correct. Ordered mag jack today.
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No, what I believe that he is saying is that he plugged the chain into one of the active hubs controller outputs.
That is why I posted, to have him explain EXACTLY what he did so he can get the proper advice he needs.....
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Parts arrived today. Wrong part shipped. A si-60002F. They are shipping the correct one Monday. Waiting again.
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Successful desoldering the old mag jack off the etd. Ready for new one. Hopefully get here by Wednesday. Thanks for all the advice. Hoping this works. I will keep you updated.
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Correct mag jack showed up installed. And BAM. Etherdongle blinking and talking to zeus. So I have etd to Zeus working. Thanks to all the great support on the site to correct my problem.
Now for the Next problem. I have an active hub that started the whole issue when i plugged it up wrong. So I have power supply connected. Etd to active hub pixelnet input using enet patch cable. Port1 to an sscv4 To a set of 16 nodes. EPROM on ssc chksum D8D3.
I go to ssc utility v1. Select channel1 with 16nodes. No Blinky flashy. Any ideas
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Do you know if that SSC is functional? If so, did you plug it into multiple ports of the hub to check for blown fuses?
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Get you meter out and check voltages on the incoming and outgoing side of the ssc to see if you see the 12v from the hub.
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First thanks for advice again. Not sure if ssc is functional. First time trying it. I did try multiple ports on the Hub. I will check fuses and voltages on both sides of ssc tonight when I get home.
More info...Zeus works straight from etd. I tried going etd to hub. Then pixelnet out to Zeus and it Zeus stopped working.
I will check more items tonight. Any other advice is appreciated.
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Looking at your last Active Hub picture it is missing the PIC24FJ32GA002 chip from the socket, that chip will need to be installed and the firmware loaded before the active hub will work, I believe.
Steve
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I thought I read I only needed chip if I used dmx out. (Or maybe i misread it). I can install and load firmware to try it out. Can I install and Use prog port on hub to download firmware with pickit? I will try that tonight also. Thanks for advice.
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Looking at your last Active Hub picture it is missing the PIC24FJ32GA002 chip from the socket, that chip will need to be installed and the firmware loaded before the active hub will work, I believe.
Steve
The PIC is only used for the PixelNet to DMX conversion and is not required for the hubs PixelNet outputs.
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Fuses ok. Checked voltages . 11.54V at ssc input ant output. Check lights they are ok with tester. Tried another ssc and same results. Should my Zeus work if I go from etd to hub in. And hub out to Zeus in. Because it does not. If I hook etd direct to Zeus ok. Any ideas on what to check? I did not program the pic on the active hub. I tried using the icsp port but would not write. Please help. Waiting to place my big order for lights until I get this going.
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It sounds like there may be an issue with the Pixelnet in port on the hub. Check the jack and the solder joints for any issues.
You might try one of the other universes (2, 3 or 4) to see if the problem is only on universe 1.
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Thanks I will. If I change universe...what do I set channel on ssc software and nutcracker. Sorry not versed in how to deal with anything but universe 1. I will start looking for info. Thanks for advise.
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Universe 2 starts at 4097 if you are using an ETD. You could also make a custom cable that would put the output of universe 1 on the pins for universe 2 but simply bumping up the start channel is the easiest way to do it.
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You don't have to change the start channel on the SSC.
In Nutcracker, just add the following value to whatever channel you have the SSC set to.
for universe 2 add 4096
for universe 3 add 8192
for universe 4 add 12288
Of course you will have to make sure you have nutcracker configured for those channels.
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Thanks for clarifying the universe setup. Tried changing the universe. Still no good. Looking at the board now for solder issues.
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I am looking at the pic that you posted of the hub and it looks like in that picture, your PixelNet jumpers are not set correctly. Both jumpers need to be on the same universe and an the universe that you want the hub to work with. From the picture (and I could be wrong) it appears that you have the first jumper set to universe 2 and the second one set to universe 1. It will never work if that is the setup. What I would suggest is that you set up your devices how you are testing them and then take and post a few pics so that we can see how you are testing.
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Etd blue to hub. Yellow to ssc. Both pixnet universes in 1. (The angle if the picture is deceiving they are both on1). Ssc utility v1.0 start channel 1. Node count 16. Voltage on both sides of ssc 11.6vdc. I unsoldered and resoldered the hub pixelnet in jack also. Any other ideas.
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These pics are too small for me to see what is going on on my notebooks screen, especially the SSC configuration screen. Could you possibly make them bigger. What would also help would be a screen shot of the Xlights screen that you are using to run the test and again, big enough for people like me looking at a notebook screen to be able to read it.
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Sorry about pics. Here are better ones. I will be out of town next couple days. I went ahead and order parts to build a new passive hub. Any other ideas or items to check would be appreciated.
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This pic I had the universes set to 2 to test. I used 4097 on ssc utility for that test. They are now back to one and one and ssc set to channel 1.
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Don't confuse the SCC utility channel number and the show channel number. A show channel number keeps climbing sequentially, regardless of universe limitations. On the hardware side, universe limitations do exist which is the reason that we have and use multiple universes. To test on universe 2, the beginning show channel number would be set to 4097, the hub jumpers set to universe 2, and the SSC would be set to a starting channel of 1.
I do however have a few questions for you. How are you setting the start channel of the SSC? If the hub is not working, by what method are you connecting to the SSC to set the start channel? What software are you using to run the test? Did you load the test firmware into the SSC to see if it is working at all?
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Never making it to the xlights setup. Just using the ssc utility to set start Channel and # of nodes. When I do the RGB lights do not flash to confirm ssc is programmed. I have not tried test firmware. Is this the one under v3 on wiki? After I dump to pic do I just plug up to the hub. What should happen with lights.
I did use 4097 as start address on ssc utility to program ssc on universe 2. So I can try the universe 2 (with corrected start #1 ) and try test firmware. I am out of town today and can try tomorrow evening. Thanks for advice on testing the ssc and correct universe setup. You guys are extremely helpful and patient. I will get this.
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The test firmware does not use a start channel. All that the SSC needs with the test firmware is power. It will then cycle a color pattern on the nodes by itself. This proves that the Pic and basic circuitry are working. If you are not getting the flash on the nodes, then the SSC is not taking any settings or is not functional at all. The test firmware can confirm at least the output functionality of the SSC. The fact that neither the SSC or PixelNet devices connected to the PixelNet outputs are working indicates that none of the 485's are working. I find it hard to believe that ALL or the signal buffers were cooked by your connecting the wrong device to one of the hubs controller outputs.
OTOH, the PS could be more damaged than you think. You need to check the PS and make sure that it is still putting out 5V. All of the chips except for the Pic run on 5V so if that rail of the PS was damaged or failed when the wrong device was connected to the controller output of the hub, then the hub would be pretty much disabled. Don't go by the power LED on the hub, because that could be getting its power from either the 12V or the 3.3V rails of the PS. You can measure for 5V from the PS connectors by measuring from the red wire on one of the 4 pin connectors to ground (black wire).
There could still be damage to the hub but we need to find and repair one thing at a time. Measuring for 5V on the PS is the easiest thing to do followed by loading the test firmware on the SSC. If this is a V3 SSC, then yes, the test firmware is located in the WIKI under the Ver3 SSC section.
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Checked power supply. 5.31vdc. Also checked each hub 485 chip voltage all 5.31vdc.
Tried universe2, 3, &, 4 with ssc start channel of 1. Nothing.
I have a ssc4. Used test firmware under ssc3 on wiki. The checksum does not match. Wiki=21F8, mine=1E3D. I download and plug back to hub. Nothing.
Ssc 485 chip has 5.01vdc between pin 5 & 8.
Ssc pic chip has 3.971vdc between pin 13 & 14
Ssc in and out main power is 11.52vdc.
Also checked two different ssc boards.
Any ideas???
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Shot of pickit3 screen when trying test 3 firmware. FYI all the other pics firmware matched the correct checksum. Just the test one does not match.
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If it a Ver4 SSC, then there currently is no test firmware for it so you can put the Ver4 standard firmware back on it. It appears that the hub may be far more damaged than I thought possible. I would go ahead and built the passive hub and see if that works. If so, then we can get back to working with the active hub but it looks like just about all of the 485's are toast.
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Thanks for feedback. Let u know when I get parts in for passive hub.
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Are you putting the jumper on the two pin program header when trying to program the start channel? If not, that is probably your not getting any flashing lights when trying to set the start channel.
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Went back to my junk box and found I bought a sscv2. Did not complete due to no 47ohm resister. I just now decided what could hut with using a resistor close (56ohm). Solders up. Dumped firmware for ssc2 and YES YES blinking lights!!!!!!
Tried universe 1 and 4 so far but both work.
So...my problem must be with the sscv4 boards. Any ideas on what to check?
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Glad to hear it but there still seems to be an issue with the hub not passing the PixelNet signal along on the PixelNet output ports. The First thing that I would do is reflash the PIC with the Ver4 firmware and make sure that the checksum matches. Then I would check the output wiring to make sure that it is working. There were some issues with the 3 pin waterproof connectors not making a connection. Just do a continuity test on the ends of each wire (red to red ....)to make sure that you are getting a connection across the connector. Also, ignore the wire color and make sure that the 12V+ on the controller is actually connected to the 12V+ on the string and the same for the Data connection and the ground. It seems that the color of the wire connected to each pin also tends to change without notice. Some incorrect connections can actually blow out the PIC as seen from another user but since the string appears to be working with the other controller, you are probably ok there.
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Ur right the pixelnet out on hub still not working. Pressing issue is why does the ssc 4 not work?
As far as ssc v4...confirmed pic chksum (see pict). Checked connector pins (used a test cable I have with alligator clips see pict). Checked continuity and They all look good. Went back to sscv2 ok. Sscv4 still no good.
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Got Blinky on sscv4. Soldered up a new passive hub and it worked. Also able to use output to Zeus and it worked. yay. Thanks to all for support. So must be problem with active hub. Next time I order from mouser I will get replacement ics. Maybe one of them fried. :(.