So this is for the hexaspider project I'm working on. Here's a rough timeline:
breadboarded circuit - bot works
make functioning circuit board - bot works
while working on gait programming - bot stops working
assuming my board is to blame, I etch another better one - bot still not working
put 08M2 on breadboard and route everything from circuit board to breadboard - bot works
plug 08M2 back into circuit board - bot stops working
I have a very simple "servo left, servo center, servo right, repeat" program loaded. In fact, it can be any program I have. All that happens is the servo will briefly pulse in one direction every second or so. The pauses between the servo pulses do not match the pauses in the programming, fwiw.
I just don't understand how it works when the uC is on the breadboard but not on the circuit board. And all this just happened after a program download. I've tried old programs, new chips, new boards, new batteries, and everything bulletpointed above. Anyone have advice for me? I'm stumped.
Pics of schematic and PCB if anyone is interested:
It was the power cable. A broken solder joint under shrink tube can be weird like that. But after i watched the video i suggest getting a magnifying glass and checking the ic socket. Wires are a lot larger then the pins and could be making contact when one of the pins is not.
Looks like it’s constantly resetting because of a power drop when the servos move or the serial input pin (leg 2) isn’t staying low. Try measuring voltages while it’s running .
The serial input leg will serve double duty as a tactile sensor pin as well. When it triggers it will go high so its tied to a pulldown 10K resistor normally. I doubt that is the issue but I will give your advice a go, especially the running voltages. Thanks Rick.
You’re advice was the key. I don’t know how it’s possible but there was a short or something between the left tactile feeler headers. When the lipo was plugged in the two pins showed continuity but not when unplugged. When tested while unplugged there was no continuity but I got a low reading like 80-90 on the multimeter (ohms I think?). The 10K pulldown resistor only read ~3K as well. So I applied the iron to the legs of the headers, let the solder paste boil a bit more, and plugged it in.
At risk of sounding boneheaded, how is it there is no continuity when the battery is unplugged but there is continuity when the battery is hooked up? Is the low ohm reading basically an almost-continuity condition?
Rick100, you should rename yourself to Rick1million You save me from project-ending-discouragement, thanks m8!
I’m happy to help and glad your making progress . I haven’t tried using the serial input as general IO yet , but I think you have to use the disconnect command so the processor doesn’t scan for a new program download . You’ll have to cycle power to download a new program . I’m not sure I understand the readings you were getting but if the circuit is under power (battery plugged in) you won’t get the correct resistance reading . Hope this helps .
You save me from project-ending-discouragement, thanks m8!