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Troubleshooting the Propeller chip — Parallax Forums

Troubleshooting the Propeller chip

VaatiVaati Posts: 712
edited 2009-05-07 16:39 in Propeller 1
I got my prop plug connected to the chip and EEPROM and peripherals, but it doesn't work.· Could it be my prop plug and not the chip?· I have a feeling it is the plug because I also put the chip and EEPROM on a breadboard and it didn't work...

Thanks.

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Post Edited (Vaati) : 5/1/2009 11:01:20 PM GMT
«1

Comments

  • QuattroRS4QuattroRS4 Posts: 916
    edited 2009-04-30 13:58
    Vaati,
    Can you post images of your setup .. What board are you using ?.. What is the error ?

    Regards,
    John

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    'Necessity is the mother of invention'

    Those who can, do.Those who can’t, teach.
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-04-30 14:11
    Okay, it's on the Boss Board (http://forums.parallax.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=59206) and attached is a picture of the circuit.· The problem is, when I hook up the power and the Prop Plug and then hit F7 on the Propeller tool to scan for the chip, it says, "No Propeller chip found on any serial port.· Scanned COM1.· Scanned COM4."· I believe the Prop Plug is on COM4.· Do you have any idea what could be wrong?

    Thanks.

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    86208998628034825342117067982148086513282306647093844609550582231725359.....
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  • QuattroRS4QuattroRS4 Posts: 916
    edited 2009-04-30 15:00
    Vaati,
    Under 'Device Manager' does the PropPlug show up under 'Ports' when the prop Plug is connected to the USB Cable ? Remove it and reattach it to see if it enumerates ..
    See attached Image.. Can you confirm the Wiring is as per attached simple example ?
    Can you confirm that the Propeller IC is functional ?
    ·- I assume the board·was powered when you 'Hit F7' !

    Regards,
    John

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    'Necessity is the mother of invention'

    Those who can, do.Those who can’t, teach.

    Post Edited (QuattroRS4) : 4/30/2009 3:12:09 PM GMT
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  • FrameShift.FrameShift. Posts: 35
    edited 2009-04-30 15:16
    is there a ground connected to the prop plug header? its hard to tell.
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-04-30 15:39
    The Prop plug is shown as USB serial port COM4, and it's shown as working properly in the properties.· What is it supposed to say exactly?

    Thanks.

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    86208998628034825342117067982148086513282306647093844609550582231725359.....
  • QuattroRS4QuattroRS4 Posts: 916
    edited 2009-04-30 15:57
    @ FrameShift - I think the link from Vss is connected to GND alright - that was my initial concern - but if you look closely I believe it is connected ok. - But it's hard to tell

    @Vaati - That should indicate that the Prop plug is found and the drivers are installed correctly - Is the Prop Chip Ok ?
    Can you review and confirm the suggestions outlined in my previous post.

    Regards,
    John

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    'Necessity is the mother of invention'

    Those who can, do.Those who can’t, teach.
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-04-30 16:06
    Well...· How exactly do I make sure that the chip works...?· I did put it in a breadboard as well as the EEPROM and tried my best to wire it correctly.· I didn't have the crystal or a 3.3v line on the breadboard though.· Only a 3v line.· With the prop plug in a spare 4-pin header connected where it needed to be, it still didn't work!· Do you know of any simple test to check the status of my Propeller chip?

    Also, I know that the propeller and EEPROM chips do NOT warm up.· It just seemed that way because my hands were cold.· yeah.gif


    Thanks.

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    3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209749445923078164062

    86208998628034825342117067982148086513282306647093844609550582231725359.....
  • QuattroRS4QuattroRS4 Posts: 916
    edited 2009-04-30 16:11
    Vaati,
    If you build the circuit on bread board as outlined in the attachment on my earlier post and leave out the 'optional' sections. This would be a 'bare bones' setup. Please ensure that you have good VSS and VDD connections - these are 'on both sides of the prop' not shown in the illustration !

    So leave out the EEprom and crystal .. when you are sure it is correct - try F7 to see if it finds the prop.



    Regards,
    John

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    'Necessity is the mother of invention'

    Those who can, do.Those who can’t, teach.

    Post Edited (QuattroRS4) : 4/30/2009 4:16:42 PM GMT
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-04-30 16:14
    Can I use two C batteries as the supply voltage? Then, I don't have to desolder my 3.3v regulator and use a 4.5 or more volt line....

    Thanks.

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    86208998628034825342117067982148086513282306647093844609550582231725359.....
  • QuattroRS4QuattroRS4 Posts: 916
    edited 2009-04-30 16:16
    You could run VSS and VDD from your Boss Board to the Bread Board..

    Incidentally when you said '..and tried my best to wire it correctly'· - am I to assume that there may have been a mishap at this point ?

    Also - Prior to connection to the prop can you confirm that you do actually have 3.3v·!

    Regards,
    John

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    'Necessity is the mother of invention'

    Those who can, do.Those who can’t, teach.

    Post Edited (QuattroRS4) : 4/30/2009 4:26:17 PM GMT
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-04-30 16:16
    Okay, sounds good. I will do that now and get back to you.


    Thanks.

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    86208998628034825342117067982148086513282306647093844609550582231725359.....
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-04-30 16:30
    When I said that I tried my best to wire it correctly, I meant that I got it exactly to the schematic to the best of my abilities, but the best of my abilities just might not cut it. =/ I am almost done wiring up the prop with the bare minimum on a breadboard. I hope it works...


    Thanks.

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    86208998628034825342117067982148086513282306647093844609550582231725359.....
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-04-30 16:49
    .... It STILL doesn't work! I have the ground and the 3.3v jumped to my breadboard, my header connected to the plug, and the correct wiring, and it says the same message about "No propeller found." Do you know what could possibly be wrong?

    Thanks.

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    86208998628034825342117067982148086513282306647093844609550582231725359.....
  • QuattroRS4QuattroRS4 Posts: 916
    edited 2009-04-30 16:52
    Assuming the Prop Plug is functioning correctly - according to your 'Device manager' all seems well with that - It seems to be pointing to a dead prop. from what I can figure out.

    What operating system are you using ? XP or vista 32/64 ?


    Regards,
    John

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    'Necessity is the mother of invention'

    Those who can, do.Those who can’t, teach.
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-04-30 16:54
    Awwww... Are there any other things I can do to check if the prop is dead? I don't want it to be a toasted propeller....

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    86208998628034825342117067982148086513282306647093844609550582231725359.....
  • QuattroRS4QuattroRS4 Posts: 916
    edited 2009-04-30 16:56
    I feel your pain .. The 'bare bones' setup as described is pretty much the best way to check it.. I edited my previous post and asked about operating system .. Can you confirm that ..

    Regards,
    John Twomey

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    'Necessity is the mother of invention'

    Those who can, do.Those who can’t, teach.
  • CassLanCassLan Posts: 586
    edited 2009-04-30 16:56
    Do you have both sides of the Prop powered and grounded?

    Rick
  • QuattroRS4QuattroRS4 Posts: 916
    edited 2009-04-30 16:57
    @Casslan - I did point that out referring to the bare bones setup - according to Vaati that has been done ..

    @Vaati - Can you post an image of your 'Bare Bones' set up ? Did you measure the 3.3v between VSS & VDD ?

    Regards,
    John

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    'Necessity is the mother of invention'

    Those who can, do.Those who can’t, teach.
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-04-30 16:59
    Yup. Just prodded it with my multimeter for the millionth time, just to be sure.


    Thanks.

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    3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209749445923078164062

    86208998628034825342117067982148086513282306647093844609550582231725359.....
  • QuattroRS4QuattroRS4 Posts: 916
    edited 2009-04-30 17:02
    .. What operating system are you using ?

    Regards,
    John Twomey

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    'Necessity is the mother of invention'

    Those who can, do.Those who can’t, teach.
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-04-30 17:03
    Windows XP on my desktop (the one I'm using now) and 2000 SP3 on my laptop.·· Why?


    Thanks.

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    86208998628034825342117067982148086513282306647093844609550582231725359.....
  • QuattroRS4QuattroRS4 Posts: 916
    edited 2009-04-30 17:07
    I had previously seen issues with FTDI drivers on different operating systems. But all seems well with your description of 'Device Manager' entry under 'ports'

    Regards,
    John

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    'Necessity is the mother of invention'

    Those who can, do.Those who can’t, teach.
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-04-30 17:09
    Do you think that the prop plug is the actual piece of toast, or the propeller chip?


    Thanks.

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    3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209749445923078164062

    86208998628034825342117067982148086513282306647093844609550582231725359.....
  • Brian FairchildBrian Fairchild Posts: 549
    edited 2009-04-30 17:11
    You can check the PropPlug itself if you short TX and RX with a short piece of wire. You can then go into Hyperterminal, or better still PST (download from the Parallax website), select the right COM port number and then any character you type should be echoed in both the TX and RX windows. This will prove if it's your PC/PropPlug or your board.
  • QuattroRS4QuattroRS4 Posts: 916
    edited 2009-04-30 17:11
    Looks like it's the Propeller from what you say .. but it's difficult to be 100%

    Can you post a pic of your bread board setup .. just as a last·shot at it·..

    Regards,
    John

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    'Necessity is the mother of invention'

    Those who can, do.Those who can’t, teach.
  • CassLanCassLan Posts: 586
    edited 2009-04-30 17:16
    Vaati,

    I've been following your troubles since your homebrew PropPlug thread, please post pics of your bread board setup as its much easier for some (like me) to spot check wiring on a breadboard rather than a pcb with a top/bottom. I have my own Prop setup in a breadboard, ready for comparison.

    I hope you get things going soon.

    Rick
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-04-30 17:27
    I attached the pics of the propeller on the breadboard.··The hat on the prop plug is facing the·Vdd slot, in case you couldn't tell.



    Thanks.

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    86208998628034825342117067982148086513282306647093844609550582231725359.....
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  • CassLanCassLan Posts: 586
    edited 2009-04-30 17:55
    Vaati,

    Thanks for the Pics, I was really hoping to see a wiring mistake, but I looked closely and I dont see one. If your hardware is all working you should def be able to hit f7 and identify the prop.

    Rick
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-04-30 17:57
    So, what exactly is it supposed to say when I hit F7...?

    Thanks.

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    3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209749445923078164062

    86208998628034825342117067982148086513282306647093844609550582231725359.....
  • QuattroRS4QuattroRS4 Posts: 916
    edited 2009-04-30 18:12
    Vaati,
    Like the attached image ... except the port no. will represent whatever port is assigned to your Prop Plug.


    Regards,
    John

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    'Necessity is the mother of invention'

    Those who can, do.Those who can’t, teach.
    PropFound.JPG
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