DiyLightAnimation

Hardware => Lynx Aether => Topic started by: therealbigjim on September 03, 2014,

Title: improperly assembled
Post by: therealbigjim on September 03, 2014,
Well its been a while since I assembled my first Aether, and it never worked. I started on the second one and found I swapped the 7812 and the 7805 regulators on my first build. The printing on the chips is faint and I needed two magnifying glasses to read it. Anyway after several hours I was able to remove the 7812 and the 7805 and put them in their right places. My question was this a waste of time. It still does not work. I get the brief flash of light when I plug it in but nothing else. If they are fried what other damage have I done? I need to make a Mouser order anyway just wondering if there is something else I need to check.
Title: Re: improperly assembled
Post by: tbone321 on September 03, 2014,
I would take a few voltage measurements first.  There is a good chance that you fried the 3V reg so I would take measurements on both.  I would also look into reflashing the PIC.  Which version is this?
Title: Re: improperly assembled
Post by: therealbigjim on September 07, 2014,
Besides the reversed chips I had a small short in the home made cable. Only about 3.3 volts were making it to the Aether. I fixed the short and the Aether came to life. The red flashes while I do the program channel setup. The Aether responds to x lights but it only flashes blue green and white. When I do the red slider I get a white only. I re-flashed the hex with the same result. I checked for solder bridges. I need a suggestion where to check next.
Title: Re: improperly assembled
Post by: tbone321 on September 07, 2014,
The Aether II uses a 4 color LED and it looks like you swapped out the red and white channels when you connected the LED. 
Title: Re: improperly assembled
Post by: therealbigjim on September 08, 2014,
The led is wired up properly The 4 channels are working BUT..... I get white not red. Again I know the red works because it flashes red when its in the program mode. I looked but cannot find a common point where I might have a bridge or something else crossed.
Title: Re: improperly assembled
Post by: twooly on September 08, 2014,
Most likely the channel setup is messed up.  I've seen that same where channel 1 is green,2 blue,3 white.  Try your channel setup again.
Title: Re: improperly assembled
Post by: therealbigjim on September 08, 2014,
Well another thing the only channel that are working are 1 2 3 4. I programmed the start channel as 408. and its still  channel 1 2 3 4. I get an error message when I select the comport. I select continue and transmit. I ill the flip the switch and get a white flash. and its still the same.
Title: Re: improperly assembled
Post by: therealbigjim on September 08, 2014,
Second Aether together and its also a fail. I am gonna back up and let them sit awhile.
Title: Re: improperly assembled
Post by: caretaker on September 09, 2014,
Programing the Aether II's can be tricky you have to hit it at the right time or it will not take. I know I had problems with mine but finally got them to take the new channel. Hang in there, your close!
Title: Re: improperly assembled
Post by: meman on September 10, 2014,
Don't give up Jim, we all had similar issues...they are very finicky to get set to the start channel, but work great once you get the hang of it. Don't know if you stumbled across this old post yet, but this works for me every time.

http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=6232.45;last_msg=98328

Also, make sure you are using the Lynx Address Utility, not the config utility.
http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2676.0;attach=2607

Good Luck,
Mike E.
Title: Re: improperly assembled
Post by: twooly on September 10, 2014,
There is a post somewhere on here about setting the start channel when you program it with the picit.  Ill see if I can dig it up.
Title: Re: improperly assembled
Post by: twooly on September 10, 2014,
This should help you with the start channel

http://www.diylightanimation.com/wiki/index.php?title=LynxManualChannel
Title: Re: improperly assembled
Post by: therealbigjim on September 10, 2014,
thanks for the encouragement and the advice I will revisit the mess tonight
Title: Re: improperly assembled
Post by: pete peters on September 12, 2014,
Check Out this link     http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=13827.0
  Look for RJ's comments on how to set the address manually.  I had to do this because the Lynx Address Utility would not allow me anything except address 1. I used  what RJ said and it worked fine. 
Title: Re: improperly assembled
Post by: therealbigjim on September 22, 2014,
I re-flashed Aether #1. Chip first then used the addressing utility.  The channel did not take but it was not channel #1 I did some checking and found it set its self to channel #255-258. It now its working and I am going to leave it be. Now to fix #2.
Title: Re: improperly assembled
Post by: therealbigjim on September 22, 2014,
With a little fiddling Aether #2 is working and addressed. The blue on was a solder bridge. When testing with X-Lights DONT use the RGB test. Use the single channel test (standard) 4 channels. Part of my problem was the RGB test...the other part is hammer fist. <fp.
Title: Re: improperly assembled
Post by: therealbigjim on September 29, 2014,
Aether #3 is now finished and addressed. thank you for for the assistance. I am glad my Aether odyssey is at an end.