Parallax USB-Servo not working anymore

Dgephri

just trying to diagnose what might have changed since I last had it plugged in last week:

knows working servos (they were hooked up the Parallax before) don't move.
New micro (8g esky) servos don't move.
I MM'd the 5V input and my testing PSU is supplying 5.23V.
uninstalled the PSCI, removed the com3 port, etc.
restart, reinstall, no change.
I do have an LED-wiz now, but that wasn't plugged in yet.
When I plug the LED-wiz in it does NOT use the same Com3 port, I thought it might be grabbing the address.
I plugged a Flylight (5V EL wire) into a servo pin and it lights up, so there is voltage.

So, to eliminate other possibilities, what "should" my Com3 settings be?
9600,8, none, 1, none
driver is FTDI dated 5/19/2006, seems like a newer one out, but it worked last week.
anything else to try?
is there a way to diagnose signal issues?

EDIT: tried it on another XP-SP2 system, and it returns the Version number now...must be something with·the LED-wiz install,·queried their tech support to clarity it enumeration, and will report·back for future users.

Post Edited (Dgephri) : 3/28/2008 6:04:42 PM GMT

ST

What's the status? Were you able to figure out what the problem was. I'm noticing a similar problem with my PSC (USB Version). Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. When I toggle the Baud Rate (2400 - 38400) it tends to work again.

I'm using XP-SP2 Laptop with Visual Studio 2005 C#.

Chris Savage

ST,

How are you powering the PSC logic?

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Chris Savage
Parallax Tech Support

ST

The PSC logic is powered by the USB Port.

As for the Servo power - that is provided from 4 AA batteries (alkaline type).

Chris Savage

Weird…I asked about the power source because the module resetting could cause the baud rate to be reset to 2400…I was wondering if it was dropping out on you.

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Chris Savage
Parallax Tech Support

ST

I figured that I might have an issue with ground - since the the PSC is powered by the computer's USB port and the servo is powered by a standalone battery. In my next step of progression - Both the computer, PSC, HB-25 and motor would share a common ground. I'm hoping some of the problems I'm seeing now would be cleared at that point.

FireHopper

I thought that the speed of the PSC usb was 2400 8,n,2




I use a program I wrote for the mac for my psc usb to help me find endpoints for my costume
·

ST

FireHopper said...
(I thought that the speed of the PSC usb was 2400 8,n,2)

Yep - you got it.· That's the default setting ...2400BAUD.· It also support 38400BAUD.· But unfortunately it does not support any other values in between - 9600BAUD would be perfect.

ST

·h Boy you've gotta love progress.· I figured out my 38400 BAUD problem with the PSC - it wasn't grounding - it was my code.· This was the reason why when I toggled the Baud rate between 38400 and 2400 everything worked fine, but starting up at 38400 was problematic - I neglected to set the PC and PSC to the same BAUD rate at 38400.· Spent a day tracking down this problem.....

Thanks Parallax for delivering such robust hardware - now only if you can help me with my programming skills.....

FireHopper

cool [noparse]:)[/noparse]
I wish my other servo controller worked.. I think I burned out the input pin..
and I dont think it can be fixed
·

Dgephri

the end result of my issue was USB population on my PC.

Once I moved the physical USB plugs around, it works fine in conjunction will all my other devices.

So for any others having issues hooked to a complicated PC with numerous USB devices and motherboard plugins, try moving each device around to a different physical port...bandwidth and power requirements can get reorganized and get it working. [noparse]:)[/noparse]