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PING))) Problems — Parallax Forums

PING))) Problems

Chris CChris C Posts: 50
edited 2008-03-26 22:46 in BASIC Stamp
I can't access the PING no matter what I do.· I wired it according to the directions, turn on the BS1 Project board, and all of the PING's lights stay on solid.

I would imagine all the lights staying on means something isn't working, since I know LAN port lights only blink when actively transferring.

Ideas?· Help!

Comments

  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2008-03-21 18:20
    Recheck your wiring. The light on the PING should only go on when you trigger it.
  • Chris CChris C Posts: 50
    edited 2008-03-21 19:14
    Mike, is it possible that it's not getting enough power?

    I hooked up the Ping's VDD to a VDD on the BS1 Pro Board, the VSS to a VSS on the Project, and the RX/TX ports to P3 and 5.

    Reading the manual, it says a 9V battery is not enough and that's all I have. Maybe a wall brick would do the trick?
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2008-03-21 19:39
    The PING has only 3 connections: Vdd, Vss, and a control line which goes to an I/O pin.

    The PING only draws around 30mA and a BS1 will draw maybe 3mA.
    A 9V alkaline battery will last maybe 15 hours at that rate of drain.
    What else do you have connected to the board?
  • Chris CChris C Posts: 50
    edited 2008-03-21 19:51
    Nothing else is connected right now. Since this is going to stay in one place, using a brick isn't a problem. Battery for wireless isn't necessary.

    It will have an AppBee and the PINK connected though, so I doubt 9V will be an option.

    Off-topic, can I wire a AA case to the 9V terminals? I was thinking of running 3 or 4 AAs in serial rather than the 9V. I wanted to hopefully wire up a solar cell to rechargable batteries later on.
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2008-03-21 20:15
    Ah ... You're talking about a PINK, not a PING. The PINK is a power hog and a 9V battery certainly can't supply enough current to feed it.
    The Project Board's regulator can't supply the PINK either since it can only supply about 40mA. You'll need a separate regulator.

    You can wire an AA case to the 9V terminals. RadioShack sells a package of the battery clips. You have to remember that the color code is backwards because the clips are intended for use with a current using device, not a power supply. You'll need 4 cells if you use alkaline batteries or 5 AA cells if you use rechargables. 4 rechargables won't supply enough voltage (only 4.8V).
  • Chris CChris C Posts: 50
    edited 2008-03-21 20:44
    Wow, I can't believe I named the topic PING, even with the brackets! I am a tard...

    So there's actually no way to do this then, I need to wire a seperate power supply for the PINK, which adds a whole other level of complication to the matter. Not good, but at least now I know. =(

    Edit:· USB connectors use the outer pins for power, 5V and ground, up to 500mA.· I'm thinking, if I have a sacrificial USB cable, how bout I splice some connectors on it and power it through USB?· It would be ideal, since I initially wanted to power the PINK and Stamp as close as possible to a computer.

    Post Edited (Chris C) : 3/21/2008 9:04:11 PM GMT
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2008-03-26 22:46
    Bump messages are deleted as they are considered off topic and not a follow up. As for drawing 500mA from the USB Port that is not possible with just a cable. Devices connecting to the USB port are only allowed 100mA until they are enumerated and request the 500mA from the port. This may or may not be the case on an external hub which is powered, but the on-board ports follow this rule.

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    Chris Savage
    Parallax Tech Support
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