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Will work for propellers — Parallax Forums

Will work for propellers

MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
edited 2011-02-23 19:32 in Propeller 1
My current project has cost me too many Propellers. I was tired of all the wires getting in the way when I took the lid off so I put in a terminal block to distribute the power. Bad idea. Now 1 dead and 2 damaged Propellers later I'm starting to regret the decision of putting in the power terminal. The PLL is burnt out of 2, so they are worthless for anything but blinking LEDs. Now I think I finally have the circuit right, but if this prop fries I'm dumping the current board and starting over.

So ANYWAY, I'll work (the preferred option), or trade, for Propeller Chips, boards, peripherals, etc. because I can't afford to buy new Propeller chips constantly.

Thanks,
Microcontrolled

Comments

  • wmosscropwmosscrop Posts: 409
    edited 2011-02-22 09:53
    A prop with the PLL burned out is limited, but still useful.

    I have one in my car as a GPS logger--input is at 4800 baud and writing to a microSD card.

    (I made the mistake of connecting it directly to 9v)

    My point is that it's not completely worthless. Just slow.

    Walter
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2011-02-22 10:17
    It can communicate at 4800 baud, and write to an SD card? What modifications have to be made to the code to allow this?
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-02-22 10:19
    How many Propellers per hour are you worth?
    Would you consider a number of Propellers per task?

    Just curious.
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2011-02-22 11:56
    LOL!!

    I think that's a fun metric. Reading with interest. :)
  • MagIO2MagIO2 Posts: 2,243
    edited 2011-02-22 12:13
    @jazzed:
    You should simply fix a price, he seems to be in a real need and would propellerably do a job for 1/2 a prop per hour ;o)
  • MagIO2MagIO2 Posts: 2,243
    edited 2011-02-22 12:17
    Maybe you could even go down with the price, as you know the reputation - 3 broken propellers. ;o)
  • ctwardellctwardell Posts: 1,716
    edited 2011-02-22 12:17
    How about a cog per hour, that makes a nice complete prop for an 8 hour day.
  • wmosscropwmosscrop Posts: 409
    edited 2011-02-22 13:16
    Microcontrolled wrote: »
    It can communicate at 4800 baud, and write to an SD card? What modifications have to be made to the code to allow this?

    The SD card doesn't require specific timing, as long as you don't go too fast... so no changes were necessary to that code.

    For the baud rate, I have an external 32kHz time source. I use a counter with edge detection to count the pulses from the time source (until 32,768 have occurred) and calculate the number of clock ticks that elapsed during the time it took to get to the limit.

    Once I have that number (which is the number of ticks per second) I then divide that value by 4800 to determine the number of ticks per bit. A modified serial object uses that value rather than the value based on a 80mHz clock.

    It works well, even with the variations in clock speed that occur due to temperature or other (voltage?) factors.

    Serial receive communications that use a start/end bit are forgiving on timing. You only have to maintain the timebase for 1 byte (10 bits w/start & stop) at a time. The serial routines aim for the "middle" of a received bit, so any inaccuracy in timing would have to end up being equivalent to about 1/9600 second (1/2 of a 4800 baud bit) over the receiving of the byte. The timing resets with the receipt of the following character's start bit.

    Note: for TRANSMITTING serial data... I don't know if this method would be accurate enough. Obviously it would depend on the device receiving the data... but I think it would work for 4800 baud or below.

    Even if you don't have an external time source... the variations that I saw were not that significant. If you have a way to determine the clock frequency for the chip, then that value should be close enough* to use for the above in most situations.

    Walter

    *Not verified or tested. Your mileage may vary. Cash value 1/20 of a peso.
  • idbruceidbruce Posts: 6,197
    edited 2011-02-22 14:02
    Microcontrolled

    You have won 1ST PLACE in the funniest forum post contest.

    For your winning entry, you will receive (1) - P8X32A-D40 (Propeller Chip - 40-Pin DIP Chip).

    Please send your mailing details in a private message to the Prize Disbursement Chairman (Me), to receive your valued prized.

    Bruce
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2011-02-22 19:05
    You guys act like I'm the first to EVER ask for jobs with payment in Propellers! :-)
    @MagIO2: Yea, you must be thinking I don't have a very good track record with Propeller chips.... In the last 4 years I've only fried 2. Now in 1 week I've gone through 3. The first one really wasn't my fault, the Xbee failed, shorted out, and fried everything connected to it. If Parallax tech support is merciful, I'll get a new Xbee, but that still leaves me with the broken Propellers.
    @jazzed: I will go by Propellers per task or Propellers an hour. I could also use a GPS module and an Xbee. Possibly a Protoboard? :-)

    I got my prizes in the mail today, a Stingray and a Propscope! I've been really wishing that the control was working, but I guess I'll have to wait. In the meantime I can work up an automatic cycle, though...

    I've noticed that when I asked for money payments in a previous post back in January, I got 2 replies, and haven't heard back from either one. But I post that I'm working for Propellers, and people seem to have plenty of those to use as currency... :-)
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2011-02-22 21:04
    I like the spirit!
    But I post that I'm working for Propellers, and people seem to have plenty of those to use as currency... :-)

    I did have lots of propellers, but Cluso has just borrowed all mine for an urgent project! So, propellerless as I am, and bearing in mind it would be a little silly for me to buy propellers, get them shipped from the US to Australia only to send them back again, I am wondering if you also would work for money?

    To that end, a very convenient way of sending money these days is with Paypal, so do you have a Paypal account?

    If so, how keen would you be on programming projects? I have a few ideas I'm testing out at the moment eg a Spin to Basic converter. Or a Spin to C converter. It could be written in any language - the aim is to take a text input file and produce a text output file. How are you with coding?
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2011-02-22 23:31
    Drac: And many thanks too. One already up and running :-) I normally don't use DIP props.
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
    edited 2011-02-23 00:46
    Micro: Sorry to hear about the wiring mishap, we have all been in a similar situation at one point or another. I'll be able to draft up the project we discussed this week, but I'll PM you more details now.
  • idbruceidbruce Posts: 6,197
    edited 2011-02-23 02:43
    Microcontrolled
    Sorry to hear about the wiring mishap, we have all been in a similar situation at one point or another.

    It is true, we have all been there before. As previously mentioned, if you send me your details, I will send you a chip. I was serious about that.

    Bruce
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2011-02-23 04:32
    @Idbruce: Oh, ok, I'll pm as soon as I'm on a computer.

    @Drac: I'm good at coding, but I am best at the propeller, aNd not so much the PC. I know some vb and have written several programs in it, but I don't know if I qualify for a project of this magnitude, unless it is propeller based. I can always give it a shot. I could do the basic to spin converter, but I don't know C enough to write a converter for it.

    Oh, and of COURSE I'll take payment! The propellers where just part of a deal, and a way to get some jobs for recognition. I also have a Paypal account.

    Thanks,
    Microcontrolled
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2011-02-23 04:44
    As you live in West Virginia, maybe you could get a snow-shovel and do some real work.
  • ctwardellctwardell Posts: 1,716
    edited 2011-02-23 06:53
    Don't say that PJ! Next thing he will be posting a project about a prop powered autonomous snow shoveling robot, and we don't need a bunch of those running loose!

    C.W.
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2011-02-23 07:04
    Snow shovel?!? It's like 60 degrees here! Wait... I wonder if I could attach a snow plow to the front of my stingray the next storm..... (evil grin)
  • Cole LoganCole Logan Posts: 196
    edited 2011-02-23 08:53
    You could always make something like this. Roboplow I figure it would be fairly easy with a prop.
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2011-02-23 15:06
    MagIO2 wrote: »
    @jazzed: You should simply fix a price, he seems to be in a real need and would propellerably do a job for 1/2 a prop per hour ;o)
    Careful, going to low will become a legal infraction below the minimum hourly prop rate. I'm interested more in how we can examine these compromised props and see how we can make some new uses.
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-02-23 15:21
    Federal minimum wage in the US is $7.25 per hour (applies in West Va. it seems) which is about a Propeller chip. Funny when I was a kid it was like $1.70 an hour.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-02-23 15:55
    Adult minimum wage in the UK is £5.93 per hour. That's $9.63!
  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2011-02-23 16:18
    Leon wrote: »
    Adult minimum wage in the UK is £5.93 per hour. That's $9.63!
    '
    How much Tax is on that $9.63 an hour?
    '
    I have some friends short on college money.They might do better going to college in the UK
  • TubularTubular Posts: 4,717
    edited 2011-02-23 19:32
    Micro you better get yourself over here. $15/hr is the federal minimum, which is very nearly 2 DIP props an hour

    That's 114 cogs a day!
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