Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Released the magic smoke! — Parallax Forums

Released the magic smoke!

Jay B. HarlowJay B. Harlow Posts: 79
edited 2011-06-30 02:20 in Propeller 1
I managed to release the magic smoke on one of the chips I was learning how to use!

Oddly enough I was looking at a book about electronics earlier this week where the author felt you needed to do things like that as part of the learning process. I may get the book so I can release magic smoke properly! :-)

Hopefully the rest of my propeller professional development board is OK. I can replace the one chip, and the propeller if I need to. my concern is the voltage regulators. They and the propeller were notically hot!

I'll need to look at it later, after supper. Remove the offending chip and see if every thing else works...

On a brighter side I was learning how to use my prop scope to study the signal I was trying to create. The digal logic state analyzer looked right (although timing may have been off). The analog signal was all wrong. I made the mistake of hitting the wrong button on the power supply and poof! magic smoke...

Jay

Comments

  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2011-06-24 15:41
    On a brighter side I was learning how to use my prop scope to study the signal I was trying to create.

    If it was a smoke signal you were trying to create, well done! :)
  • Jay B. HarlowJay B. Harlow Posts: 79
    edited 2011-06-24 18:24
    Well the L293 is toast on my Propeller Professional board, as is the Propeller itself.

    I saw the smoke come out of the L293 and it "bleed", hey if I'm going to kill a chip I'm going to KILL the chip! ;-)

    Although the propeller will "limp" along, its hosed... When its socketed on the board in the voltage regulators become extremely hot, and the propeller becomes quite warm. Without the propeller the voltage regulators stay at room temperature. I'll probably dig out my multimeter later to check voltages...

    I'll need to verify my PropScope is OK, as I was watching the waveform on the oscilloscope and the control signals on the logic state analyzer (the DSO LSA tab).

    Guess I'll be putting in an order for another propeller chip or two, and 2 or 3 L293s. So if I fry another one ;-) My concern is an unforeseen problem with the board, I won't know until I get a replacement Propeller chip...

    How's that saying go: You need to break some eggs if your going to learn to make omlets. I definately could have fried eggs on a couple of chips tonight ;-)

    Jay
  • Jay B. HarlowJay B. Harlow Posts: 79
    edited 2011-06-29 14:51
    My new Propeller chip came today, plugged it into the Professional Development Board and turned it on. Neither the propeller nor the voltage regulators became. I've plugged in the new L293; working on some test programs now...

    Jay
  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2011-06-29 18:07
    Theres nothing like a happy ending.
  • Jay B. HarlowJay B. Harlow Posts: 79
    edited 2011-06-29 18:18
    Yep Happy Ending; professional development board happy, propeller happy, L293 happy. Jay happy! :-)

    I just need to compile my list of parts I need to build the board I want to drive from the propeller...

    Jay
  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2011-06-29 18:29
    Jay
    '
    Take a look at DipTrace if you haven't already; Great PCB layout software.
  • Jay B. HarlowJay B. Harlow Posts: 79
    edited 2011-06-29 18:36
    That reminds me: I downloaded it (DipTrace) in May, didn't get a chance to try it, its past its 30 trail; I need to register the free version...

    Jay
  • idbruceidbruce Posts: 6,197
    edited 2011-06-30 02:20
    @Jay - Ahhh the smell of the Magic Smoke, there is nothing else like it :) Of course inhalation can affect each person differently, and the Jekyl and Hyde Syndrome definitely comes into play. For some, the inhalation of the Magic Smoke causes disbelief, disappointment, panic, and nausea, and for others it causes ambition, curiousity, and a thirst for more knowledge. I am glad to hear that the Magic Smoke has had a positive affect on you, just remember to not overindulge in this practice. Too much of the Magic Smoke can have a very negative impact. Be proud, at least you were man enough to admit it. Clinton still denies an active participation with the Magic Smoke.
Sign In or Register to comment.