Houston, we have a major problem!

roboman01

I am currently working on my seventh grade science project involving a Basic Stamp 2. Basically, I am testing which sensor (infrared or contact) allows a small mobile robot to navigate a maze the fastest. I have made a PCB carrier board for the stamp, and it works. I have tested my programs on a BOE-Bot and they work perfectly. However, when I go to program the BS2, an error pops up saying, "Basic Stamp 2 detected but not responding. Check power." I have a 6-volt battery pack plugged into the BOE, and the Stamp was working perfectly until I moved it to the carrier board. It didn't work when I plugged it in, so I moved it back to the BOE to try to troubleshoot it. However, it still didn't work (this is when I got the error message). There is a lifted trace at the very front edge of the BS2, and I do have a Homework Board as a last resort. This project is due in about two weeks. What should I do?

Note: I am a MacBS2 user.

edit: please reply soon!

Post Edited (roboman01) : 3/20/2008 2:50:31 AM GMT

Mike Green

It's difficult to tell what's wrong other than that the BS2 doesn't work anymore. You didn't say anything about the carrier board and how it's wired. It's suspicious that the Stamp didn't work once it was transferred to the carrier board. A lifted trace is not a good sign. You should plan on using the Homework Board, particularly with your due date in two weeks.

roboman01

OK, thanks. That is what I thought you might say. This is my first "involved" Stamp project, and also my first time actually taking the stamp out of its socket (I used unlocked hemostats). Basically, the carrier board is wired similarly to a schematic posted on the Parallax web site, and when I took it to my local electronics store (JK Electronics) they okayed the foil and the schematic.

Bruce Bates

roboman01 -

In your initial message, you don't mention what kind of carrier board you are using? I suspect it's a BS-2 Carrier Board, but it might be the Professional Development Board, or the Super Carrier Board. Which one are you using, if any?

I second Mike's suggestion to use the Homeword Board you have, with such a short time frame. Is the lifted trace that you mention on the BS-2 Stamp itself, or on a carrier board. That's not real clear.

Any carrier board should be wired exactly, not similarly, as indicated on the Parallax web site, unless you have some specific reason for doing otherwise.

Regards,

Bruce Bates

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Involvement and committment can be best understood by looking at a plate of ham and eggs. The chicken was involved, but the pig was committed. ANON

Chris Savage

I noticed in your message you put, “Please reply soon!” But with a subject that doesn’t tell anyone what kind of problem you’re having it may limit responses. You should always use a descriptive subject line when posting a message.

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Chris Savage
Parallax Tech Support