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Prop Demo Board 555-32100 — Parallax Forums

Prop Demo Board 555-32100

Jim the HermitJim the Hermit Posts: 79
edited 2012-12-04 12:04 in Propeller 1
Prop Tool says there's no chip can be found- is that because I don't have an external 5V power supply to it? (I bought the Quickstart board and it didn't need one.) I don't have any that fit, do I have to buy one, or is it broken?

I downloaded the schematic pdf but there are no instructions to get it to work.

BTW, in order to intergrate these 3.3v boards with TTL logic, I'm going to have to create some kind of buffer, right? Drive a transistor into saturation to bring it up to 5v. Is that what other people do? I have an LCD and the Emic2 that I would like to test someday. Someday.

Comments

  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2012-07-14 15:59
    The Demo Board needs a DC power supply (6V to 9V).

    A 4.7K resistor will usually work when using the Prop with a 5V signal as input and most 5V devices see 3.3V as a logic high.

    I know I've used the Prop to drive many 5V devices without any problem, including the Emic II and serial LCD. I didn't use any buffer circuit when outputting to these devices. I used a 10K resistor between the Emic II's output pin and the Prop pin.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2012-07-14 16:02
    Jim the Hermit wrote: »
    Prop Tool says there's no chip can be found- is that because I don't have an external 5V power supply to it? (I bought the Quickstart board and it didn't need one.) I don't have any that fit, do I have to buy one, or is it broken?

    I downloaded the schematic pdf but there are no instructions to get it to work.

    BTW, in order to intergrate these 3.3v boards with TTL logic, I'm going to have to create some kind of buffer, right? Drive a transistor into saturation to bring it up to 5v. Is that what other people do? I have an LCD and the Emic2 that I would like to test someday. Someday.

    Parallax sells this adapter for a lot of their boards:

    http://www.parallax.com/StoreSearchResults/tabid/768/List/0/SortField/4/ProductID/73/Default.aspx?txtSearch=Power+supply

    o    r you can get something similar at Radio Shack. This is one of my favorites:

    http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3875403


    You will need this adaptaplug:

    http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=adaptaplug m&origkw=Adaptaplug+"M"&sr=1


    Jim
  • Jim the HermitJim the Hermit Posts: 79
    edited 2012-07-14 16:04
    Duane Degn wrote: »
    most 5V devices see 3.3V as a logic high.

    I know I've used the Prop to drive many 5V devices without any problem, including the Emic II and serial LCD. I didn't use any buffer circuit when outputting to these devices. I used a 10K resistor between the Emic II's output pin and the Prop pin.

    well, that's a relief
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2012-07-14 16:12
    Check the Propeller Stickies for a wealth of information, ( including interfacing 3.3-5V)

    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?111166-Propeller-Resource-Index
  • Jim the HermitJim the Hermit Posts: 79
    edited 2012-07-14 16:15
    Publison wrote: »
    Parallax sells this adapter for a lot of their boards:

    http://www.parallax.com/StoreSearchResults/tabid/768/List/0/SortField/4/ProductID/73/Default.aspx?txtSearch=Power+supply
    Jim

    I would have ordered it with the demoboard if I knew it needed one. what's up with all the secrecy surrounding the prop boards? are you guys sure we're allowed to use these? it's bad enough digging through forums looking for scraps of information to learn spin
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2012-07-14 16:26
    Jim the Hermit wrote: »
    I would have ordered it with the demoboard if I knew it needed one. what's up with all the secrecy surrounding the prop boards? are you guys sure we're allowed to use these? it's bad enough digging through forums looking for scraps of information to learn spin

    They do list the power requirements on the Demo Board page, but in all honesty, they should have listed the Power Adapter in the list of "Related Items".

    5 Volt through USB is not going to get a lot of power to play with anyway on your new toy, (500ma max). Best to go to Radio Shack tomorrow and get Propping. :)

    PS: I use the above mentioned AC Adapter on all my Prop Boards, yes, it's allowed.
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2012-07-14 16:29
    It would be nice if the power transformers were listed in the related products section but the product page does say "Power requirements: 6-9 VDC, 2A regulator on board". I know I didn't order a power adapter with my Demo Board since I have a bunch of these wall-warts left over from old electronic devices.

    Post #3 of my index lists some resources for learning Spin and PASM. I learned Spin from the old Prop Manual (v1.1). The Prop Tool's "Help" section includes the PEK material which is also very useful.

    Plus there's always us on the forum to answer your questions. :smile:
  • jimwreyjimwrey Posts: 3
    edited 2012-12-02 14:59
    Quick related question.

    Does the Demo board work with USB only power?

    I thought it did, but mine does not. USB interface works to load programs but not to run the board. I have to supply power via 4 AA batteries via the N type connector.

    I do not get the green light without supplying external power.

    Any suggestions as to what maybe wrong?

    Jim
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,452
    edited 2012-12-02 15:37
    The ONLY Parallax Prop board that can be powered over USB is the QuickStart. ALL of the rest -- the PPDB, DemoBoard, and ProtoBoard, as well as the newer ones -- require separate power. The flagship boards all use the same adapter or equivalent mentioned above.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2012-12-02 16:07
    jimwrey wrote: »
    I have to supply power via 4 AA batteries via the N type connector.

    The correct Radio Shack adapter is actually an "M": (O.D.: 5.5mm, I.D.: 2.1mm used on most Parallax boards)

    http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3807939

    or http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103614

    I like to use this Power Adapter because it has muliple outputs, and is rated for 2 AMPS:

    http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3875410#
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2012-12-02 16:38
    localroger wrote: »
    The ONLY Parallax Prop board that can be powered over USB is the QuickStart. ALL of the rest -- the PPDB, DemoBoard, and ProtoBoard, as well as the newer ones -- require separate power. The flagship boards all use the same adapter or equivalent mentioned above.

    The Propeller Board of Education can also run on USB power.

    From the product page:
    Automatically selects between USB and external power sources and provides USB over-current protection
  • jimwreyjimwrey Posts: 3
    edited 2012-12-02 19:46
    Thanks to you all. I appreciate the quick responses. I am doing different project (playing with) a demo board and Quickstart guess that was what caused (part of) my confusion.
  • cavelambcavelamb Posts: 720
    edited 2012-12-03 16:11
    Jim the Hermit wrote: »
    I would have ordered it with the demoboard if I knew it needed one. what's up with all the secrecy surrounding the prop boards? are you guys sure we're allowed to use these? it's bad enough digging through forums looking for scraps of information to learn spin

    These guys are technically brilliant.
    But don't have a clue about marketing...
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,452
    edited 2012-12-03 17:01
    OK Duane the PropBOE is a relatively recent product so I wasn't aware of that. I guess I should go read some documentation.
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2012-12-03 20:52
    localroger wrote: »
    OK Duane the PropBOE is a relatively recent product so I wasn't aware of that. I guess I should go read some documentation.

    And be more careful about using "ONLY" and "ALL". (Those are dangerous words (especially when capitalized).) :smile:
  • Ding-BattyDing-Batty Posts: 302
    edited 2012-12-04 12:04
    The C3 board can also be powered from the USB port.
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