DiyLightAnimation
Hardware => Lynx Aether => Topic started by: Mickpat on November 24, 2010,
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I built 4 aethers and am having issues with 3 of them. :(
1. Works perfectly. Flashed. Channel set, tested with LSP using programmed channel.
2. Powers up, flashed, but cannot set channel using utility. I am using microchips softward and the fireware dated 11/22. Moving the prog/oper jumper does nothing. On the first Aether, the LEDS flashed.
3. No power. I have checked, double checked everything. Checked fuse, checked board is getting power.
4. Powers on, LEDs flash (blue/red), then RED stays on, then smoke near the contant power cirucit
Its been a long, long day trouble shooting. Any suggestions? Thanks guys.
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I built 4 aethers and am having issues with 3 of them. :(
1. Works perfectly. Flashed. Channel set, tested with LSP using programmed channel.
2. Powers up, flashed, but cannot set channel using utility. I am using microchips softward and the fireware dated 11/22. Moving the prog/oper jumper does nothing. On the first Aether, the LEDS flashed.
3. No power. I have checked, double checked everything. Checked fuse, checked board is getting power.
4. Powers on, LEDs flash (blue/red), then RED stays on, then smoke near the contant power cirucit
Its been a long, long day trouble shooting. Any suggestions? Thanks guys.
We will not be able to work on four at one time.
First thing to think about is this. What is different about these then the first?
I would plug the pickit into the 1st one that is working and read the pic. Then export it and upload it into the others to rule out firmware not issue. It's simple takes no time and rules out one issue.
#2 sounds like it is not getting DMX is the data light blinking with it plugged into the dongle and data being sent to it?
RJ
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Thanks RJ. I am going to try and focus on #2 first since it appears to be mostly working.
Yes, the data light is on and pulsing when I send data from the utility. I will try and read from the first and then write to the second.
On the first, when using the utility to set the channel, when I start, the LEDs turns on, then flash when I move from oper to program. On board #2, nothing happens when I start to program. I am just trying to understand what the expected behavior is.
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Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
I reflashed the #2 Aether with the program from the working #1. I also swapped to use the second DMX connector. I have touched up all of the connection points on the RJ45 sockets. Same issue. Both the red and green LEDs are on when the dongle is connected.
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Ok lets get some time scheduled to troubleshoot in Temspeak.
If you do not have it setup go ahead check out the how to in the Wiki on Teamspeak and get it setup.
I am kinda busy at the moment but get ready and let me know I will make some time avaliable to work with you on it.
RJ
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I took yesterday off and today spent some more time looking at the boards. I made some progress.
#1 - works ;D
#2 - unable to set channel or control using DMX. Green data light does flicker when using Express utility.
#3 - had a power issue, fixed it. Now it has the exact same issue as #2.
#4 - tested again. After the unit powers up, the RED LEDs stay on and the center constant power chip begins to smoke. I quickly removed power. Using an ohm meter, there is a reading between pin 1 and pin 2. On the two other identical chips left/right, it shows no connection. So, maybe there is a bridge, bad chip or I somehow damaged the chip.
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I took yesterday off and today spent some more time looking at the boards. I made some progress.
#1 - works ;D
#2 - unable to set channel or control using DMX. Green data light does flicker when using Express utility.
#3 - had a power issue, fixed it. Now it has the exact same issue as #2.
#4 - tested again. After the unit powers up, the RED LEDs stay on and the center constant power chip begins to smoke. I quickly removed power. Using an ohm meter, there is a reading between pin 1 and pin 2. On the two other identical chips left/right, it shows no connection. So, maybe there is a bridge, bad chip or I somehow damaged the chip.
#4 sounds like there is solder bridge under the chip.
#2 can you check the Cable / RX jumper is on the Cable side and it is solder well.
Then check that the middle pin of the Cable/ Rx jumper pins connect to the pin #17 of the pic chip
Then check that pin 15 of the pic is connected to pins 2 & 3 of the RS 485 chip.
RJ
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I checked the pinouts mentioned below and both boards check out okay. Is it possible I am flashing the PIC wrong? Are thier directions somewhere posted? I looked through the Express programming steps and those are the steps I am using. My one thought is this is related to the programmer vs. the board.
I haven't tested manual operation. I still need to connect a switch. Would that help tell me the PIC is programmed correctly?
On unit #4 I am still searching for the bridge. I know the red LED pin is grounded (Lower, right LED, R- on screened on the board. The other 5 LED don't show a ground connection. What is the best way to remove the chips? I was thinking of using a heat gun to remove the one chip but not sure how to replace the chip.
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If you programmed the first one successfully then sounds like you know how to program them.
Between everything else I am creating a diaognostic firmware to help. I believe some of the people with the issues have probems with the Temp sensor so this is one of the things it will check for us.
If the unit does not sense the temp sensor it will not function.
RJ
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I do not have any way to test this so I am working in the blind.
Can someone with a working Aether please load this firmware and tell me if it cycles through the three colors over and over.
If so then the ones with problems should try it and if it does this the leds and pic are working. If it turns RED on constant then the temp sensor is no working and this is your problem.
But we need it tested on a working Aether first.
RJ
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I tried it RJ, and I wouldn't do anything, won't program, the LED's don't light up in the program mode, only thing I get is the red power and green data LED's, and the initial white flash in both the programming and operation mode. Going to try reflashing the pic and see if it works again,
Bill
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I tried it too with the same results as Billy Bisquit.
Kyle
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Put everything back to normal, Aether works as advertised, tried the diagnostic hex file again and get the white flash on startup as well as the red power and green data LED's, but that's it, checksum was 7760, not sure if that's right, but got it both times I flashed the PIC.
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I just tried and get no activity from any of the LED's.
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How about this one guys?
RJ
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No can doey.... I get a white flash when I plug it the aether in with the last diag hex file, but no LEDs flashing
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Ok I will dig my Aether out and work on it tommorrow night.
RJ
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Same here, just the normal flash on power up but nothing else.
Bill
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Ok this will work. Load this firmware if you are having issues and it will cycle Red, Green, Blue to test the Pic , Leds, power and Drivers.
If it senses a Temp sensor showing out of range it will flash Red only quickly.
Let me know what you find.
RJ
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Works, just fine
Colors Cycle RED, GREEN, BLUE
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Looks good!
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I was able to test this on one of my Aethers where I cannot set the channel. The diag firmware works perfectly.
I then flashed it back to the original firmware. When I move the oper/prg jumper, the LED lights do not turn blue like the first one I built. Where does the middle pin of the oper/prg go? Maybe its an issue with these solder points?
Thanks RJ!
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I was able to test this on one of my Aethers where I cannot set the channel. The diag firmware works perfectly.
I then flashed it back to the original firmware. When I move the oper/prg jumper, the LED lights do not turn blue like the first one I built. Where does the middle pin of the oper/prg go? Maybe its an issue with these solder points?
Thanks RJ!
Ok so we know the pic, Leds, drivers and power is working now. We also ruled out the temp sensor so this diag software has been helpful.
The left pin should have 3.3 Volts on it. The right pin should be hooked to ground, and the middle connects to the pics pin # 14 which is the bottom, all the way to the right.
If yuo flash from the working one you remove this as you have it set as the same start address and same curves.
RJ
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Okay, I will try flashing from the first one again and see if it responds. I will also verify the pins. Thanks.
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I have had a little more time to examine the board. On the oper pins, left has 3.3 v, center goes to pin 14 and right is ground. I have retouched all of the solder points. I examined the working board with this one and all parts look right. Diag hex works fine. When I power the unit, LEDs flash, but nothing happens when I change the jumper from oper to prog. Odd.
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Swap your st485 chip from a good board. Check solder joints on the Rj45 jacks and st485 chip. You are running wired correct. Make sure you are jumpered to cable. makes sure the connections are good on that jumper.
RJ
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Cable jumper, check. Connector, check. Swapped chips, check. No joy. :(
On the working one, if I power the unit up with the prog jumper set, the LEDs stay light blue. I don't get this behavior with this #3 Aether.
I am thinking one of the pins of the pic isn't making contact, but I tested every pin by touching the top of the pin to copper on the board. If the pin wasn't soldered correctly, the meter shouldn't read. I am not sure I put enough paste on the pads before I baked the board.
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The pressure from the meter probe may be enough to temporarily make contact and fool the meter. If you think that there isn't enough solder, just add a bit more. The PIC is in a SOIC package; that's easy to hand solder with a fine tip on an iron and some thin solder.
/mike
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I retouched all of the pins on the pic and I believe it is working. :) I was able to set the channel using the utility and the LEDs flash like the first one does. I havent had a chance to test it with LSP yet, but looks promising.
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I was able to verify #2 is now working! Yea. Thanks RJ and Mike for your help. Now on to #3 which I believe has the same issue as #2.
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More good news. #3 is now working. I touched up the pins on the pic and its working.
Now onto number #4 which has a short somewhere.
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<pop..
RJ
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I finally had more time to look at my 4th Aether.
On the LED shown in the pic, Pin R- was going to ground.
On U2, Pins 1, 2, 3 where showing .06 ohm and pin 5,6 were going to ground.
I decided to remove the U2 chip. (I am pretty sure this is what was smoking when power is on.)
With U2 removed, LED pin R- no longer shows ground.
Also, pads for pins 1,2,3 all show no ground now. Pads 4 and 5 still go to ground which is consistent with the other two constant power circuits.
This leads me to believe the U2 chip is the cause of the problem and not the LED.
What else should I look for? I didn't see any shorts under U2 after removing the chip. Maybe the chip was damaged which is why pins 1,2,3 had a readout. I am going to order replacement U2, but maybe I should replace D1, the capacitors and resistors while I am at it. Thoughts?
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Well since they cost nothing I would say it is good insurance to replace them. Hope that fixes you up.
RJ
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Okay, parts are on order. What is the best way to solder the new SMC? Can I apply paste and heat with my soldering iron? Or just try and hand solder SMC?
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a very little flux from you pen and hand solder.
RJ
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I received the replacement parts today and replaced the caps, diode and LED driver.
Now when I power the unit on, I get all white without the smoke.
When I connect the pic programmer, the lights are pink. When I flash using the diag firmware, its white and flash green. Normally its just flashes green. After flashing, the lights stay all white.
Everything appears correct, but obviously something is wrong.
Of note the diode shipped is different than the other two. The LED driver is also different. Both were ordered straight from Mouser BOM listed on the wiki. All I did was tweak the qty. On the diode, I wasn't sure which direction but saw a vertical line and placed that to the left. The other two diode have a notch plus the line.
Looking at the photo, it appears the one cap needs to be retouched which I will try tomorrow.
Any suggestions? Thanks.
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I received the replacement parts today and replaced the caps, diode and LED driver.
Now when I power the unit on, I get all white without the smoke.
When I connect the pic programmer, the lights are pink. When I flash using the diag firmware, its white and flash green. Normally its just flashes green. After flashing, the lights stay all white.
Everything appears correct, but obviously something is wrong.
Of note the diode shipped is different than the other two. The LED driver is also different. Both were ordered straight from Mouser BOM listed on the wiki. All I did was tweak the qty. On the diode, I wasn't sure which direction but saw a vertical line and placed that to the right. The other two diode have a notch plus the line.
Looking at the photo, it appears the one cap needs to be retouched which I will try tomorrow.
Any suggestions? Thanks.
Please note that some co-op parts were subed due to Qty's that were available, so if compared to new parts, they may look different.
Just make sure that the parts you received match the BOM in the Wiki.
Bill
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I received the replacement parts today and replaced the caps, diode and LED driver.
Now when I power the unit on, I get all white without the smoke.
When I connect the pic programmer, the lights are pink. When I flash using the diag firmware, its white and flash green. Normally its just flashes green. After flashing, the lights stay all white.
Everything appears correct, but obviously something is wrong.
Of note the diode shipped is different than the other two. The LED driver is also different. Both were ordered straight from Mouser BOM listed on the wiki. All I did was tweak the qty. On the diode, I wasn't sure which direction but saw a vertical line and placed that to the left. The other two diode have a notch plus the line.
Looking at the photo, it appears the one cap needs to be retouched which I will try tomorrow.
Any suggestions? Thanks.
Best thing is to get with me on teamspeak so we can look at it. I am fighting the flu so it might be a few days yet before I am back on my feet.
RJ
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I went back and re-flashed the pic and the diag hex now works! Red, green, blue.
I have loaded the standard firmware and am now trying to set the channel. The LEDs do not flash when I press the transmit button, but the green data light is on. Two of my other Aether had a similar issue which I fixed so I need to do some more investigation. Making progress.
At this rate, I might be ready in time for November. :P
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4 for 4!
My last Aether had a few issues which I was able to resolve. I now have 4 working Aethers.
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Congrats I knew you could do it!
RJ