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Maxim 7219 driving larger loads — Parallax Forums

Maxim 7219 driving larger loads

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2000-05-01 14:08 in General Discussion
Hello Everyone,

Believe or not I am still stumped in trying to drive large 4" seven segment
displays with the Maxim 7219... Today I even fried a stamp and I think I
killed the 7219 as well...

In any case, this where I am so far but I will have to wait until the new
Maxim chip arrives to try it again: (I am omitting the grounds, capacitors,
clock, data in, and load and their respective resistors for the sake of
clarity)

5V
|
__|_
d| M |s
i| A |e
g| X |g
i| I |m
t| M |e
o----s| |n
| | |t
| |____|s (a)
o
| |
| |
\ \
/ 10K / 10K
\ \
/ /
MPS2222A MPS2222A
(NPN) (NPN)
| | | |
grnd --o | grnd --o |
| |
| 2N3906
| (PNP)
| | |
| +12V--o |
| |
| ___ |
| | | |
o--common-- |___|(a)
o
cathode | | |
|___| |
|
___ |
| | |
|___|(a)
o
| | |
|___| etc

Problems:
1) I get some over heating on the transistors
2) As I blew both my stamp and 7219 (I think due to a different problem) I
am not sure this works
3) I am having a hard time determining the correct value for the resistors.
4) In this instance, could I run the Maxim from the stamp's VDD?

Thanks in advance (particularly to Eprema for his constant support)

Paul RJ

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-05-01 01:45
    I am surprised you did blow the displays as well. In series with each
    segment of the display put a resistor that limits the current to not
    more than .05 amps. R=(Supply-.7)/.05. 12 volts - .7 = 11.3 volts
    divided by .05 equals 226 ohms. This value can be decreased slightly to
    improve brightness if necessary, because the lines are multiplexed.

    Hope this helps..


    Leroy

    Paul Ramirez Jonas wrote:
    >
    > Hello Everyone,
    >
    > Believe or not I am still stumped in trying to drive large 4" seven segment
    > displays with the Maxim 7219... Today I even fried a stamp and I think I
    > killed the 7219 as well...
    >
    > In any case, this where I am so far but I will have to wait until the new
    > Maxim chip arrives to try it again: (I am omitting the grounds, capacitors,
    > clock, data in, and load and their respective resistors for the sake of
    > clarity)
    >
    > 5V
    > |
    > __|_
    > d| M |s
    > i| A |e
    > g| X |g
    > i| I |m
    > t| M |e
    > o----s| |n
    > | | |t
    > | |____|s (a)
    o
    > | |
    > | |
    > \ \
    > / 10K / 10K
    > \ \
    > / /
    > MPS2222A MPS2222A
    > (NPN) (NPN)
    > | | | |
    > grnd --o | grnd --o |
    > | |
    > | 2N3906
    > | (PNP)
    > | | |
    > | +12V--o |
    > | |
    > | ___ |
    > | | | |
    > o--common-- |___|(a)
    o
    > cathode | | |
    > |___| |
    > |
    > ___ |
    > | | |
    > |___|(a)
    o
    > | | |
    > |___| etc
    >
    > Problems:
    > 1) I get some over heating on the transistors
    > 2) As I blew both my stamp and 7219 (I think due to a different problem) I
    > am not sure this works
    > 3) I am having a hard time determining the correct value for the resistors.
    > 4) In this instance, could I run the Maxim from the stamp's VDD?
    >
    > Thanks in advance (particularly to Eprema for his constant support)
    >
    > Paul RJ
    >

    --
    *******************************************************
    * \\|// *
    * ( @ @ ) *
    *----oOO--(_)--OOo
    *
    * Leroy Hall, Senior N8VRC *
    * Instructor / Trainer -- Computers & Electronics *
    * Email: leroy@f... *
    * Web Page: http://home.fuse.net/leroy/ *
    * Phone: (513) 697-7539 317 Cherokee Drive *
    * Pager: (513) 691-4361 Loveland, Ohio 45140-2404 *
    * Oooo. *
    * .oooO ( ) *
    * ( ) ) / *
    * \ ( (_/ *
    * \_) *
    *******************************************************
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-05-01 02:00
    Well, I have two ideas for you:

    1) First of all, you could have fried the voltage regulator on the
    stamp if you hooked the huge LED display up to it. If you need more
    than 50mA of current total, you'll need an external voltage
    regulator. They're fairly cheap and easy to use.

    2) How much current does this display use up? If each individual
    SEGMENT, not the whole thing, is less than 35mA, you may want to
    consider switching to using a 74HC595 shift register instead. I just
    figured out how to use them, and they're fairly simple. The whole
    thing takes 3 stamp IO's and you'll need one chip for each digit
    (about $0.50 ea) but you can daisy chain as many as you need together.

    Just a thought. I really don't know all that much about the LED
    driver your using.

    -Chris
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-05-01 07:44
    Message-ID: <20000501.004627.4070.2.premzee@j...>
    X-Mailer: Juno 1.49
    X-Juno-Line-Breaks: 0-7,9-10,12-47,49

    X-Status: Unsent

    >>>
    Meassage 24 Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 18:16:11 -0400
    From: "Paul Ramirez Jonas" <prjnyc@m...>
    ........
    Problems:
    1) I get some over heating on the transistors
    2) As I blew both my stamp and 7219 (I think due to a different problem)
    I
    am not sure this works
    3) I am having a hard time determining the correct value for the
    resistors.
    4) In this instance, could I run the Maxim from the stamp's VDD?

    <<<<

    Paul, I need to know you the characteristics of your LED -

    1. How many digits?

    2. What is the _static_ current _per segment_?

    3. What is the _static_ voltage _per segment_?

    4. What is the scan frequency? [noparse][[/noparse]I'm not directly familiar with the
    MAX 7219 but gather it's a multiplexed driver].

    What I suspect is happening is that your PEAK currents are exceeding
    the capabilities of the '3906 &/or '2222.

    The transistors should be driven to saturation by adequate base drive
    and perhaps in combination with current limiting by resistor in series
    with each segment.

    How to do this depends on the LED characteristics which I don't know.

    E.g. if you have an average duty cycle of 10% and current of 50ma then
    the peak current is about 500ma. That means that if you are driving the
    base of the transistor with .5 ma [noparse][[/noparse]10000 ohms 5 volts +/-] you'll
    need a DC HFE of 1000 to saturate the transistor - and that HFE is at
    500 ma not 50 ma!

    Yes, once you isolate the power parts from the signal parts you can
    use the Stamp Vdd for the 7219 - assuming you are not exceeding the
    Stamp supply current limits. This accomplished through high DC
    current gain between the MAX7219 and the LEDs...

    Hope this makes things clearer... or points in the right direction,
    premena

    ________________________________________________________________
    YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!
    Juno now offers FREE Internet Access!
    Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit:
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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-05-01 14:08
    Here is a follow up with more data:

    The large LEDs have data sheets at

    ftp://ftp.jameco.com/data_sheets-displays/105591p1.gif
    and
    ftp://ftp.jameco.com/data_sheets-displays/105591p2.gif

    The second page includes the information about the power requirements... I
    am not sure how to read it. I will have four of these.

    Depending on the supply voltage the Maxim chip scan frequency varies between
    1150Hz (at 4V) and 1350Hz at 6V.

    And to make things clear the Stamp and Maxim where blown not because of the
    set up but due to 'human error'. Hint: sometimes 12V looks just like 5V.

    Thanks,

    Paul

    >Paul, I need to know you the characteristics of your LED -
    >
    >1. How many digits?
    >
    >2. What is the _static_ current _per segment_?
    >
    >3. What is the _static_ voltage _per segment_?
    >
    >4. What is the scan frequency? [noparse][[/noparse]I'm not directly familiar with the
    > MAX 7219 but gather it's a multiplexed driver].
    >
    >What I suspect is happening is that your PEAK currents are exceeding
    >the capabilities of the '3906 &/or '2222.
    >
    >The transistors should be driven to saturation by adequate base drive
    >and perhaps in combination with current limiting by resistor in series
    >with each segment.
    >
    >How to do this depends on the LED characteristics which I don't know.
    >
    >E.g. if you have an average duty cycle of 10% and current of 50ma then
    >the peak current is about 500ma. That means that if you are driving the
    >base of the transistor with .5 ma [noparse][[/noparse]10000 ohms 5 volts +/-] you'll
    >need a DC HFE of 1000 to saturate the transistor - and that HFE is at
    >500 ma not 50 ma!
    >
    >Yes, once you isolate the power parts from the signal parts you can
    >use the Stamp Vdd for the 7219 - assuming you are not exceeding the
    >Stamp supply current limits. This accomplished through high DC
    >current gain between the MAX7219 and the LEDs...
    >
    >Hope this makes things clearer... or points in the right direction,
    >premena

    Original message

    Hello Everyone,

    Believe or not I am still stumped in trying to drive large 4" seven segment
    displays with the Maxim 7219... Today I even fried a stamp and I think I
    killed the 7219 as well...

    In any case, this where I am so far but I will have to wait until the new
    Maxim chip arrives to try it again: (I am omitting the grounds, capacitors,
    clock, data in, and load and their respective resistors for the sake of
    clarity)

    5V
    |
    __|_
    d| M |s
    i| A |e
    g| X |g
    i| I |m
    t| M |e
    o----s| |n
    | | |t
    | |____|s (a)
    o
    | |
    | |
    \ \
    / 10K / 10K
    \ \
    / /
    MPS2222A MPS2222A
    (NPN) (NPN)
    | | | |
    grnd --o | grnd --o |
    | |
    | 2N3906
    | (PNP)
    | | |
    | +12V--o |
    | |
    | ___ |
    | | | |
    o--common-- |___|(a)
    o
    cathode | | |
    |___| |
    |
    ___ |
    | | |
    |___|(a)
    o
    | | |
    |___| etc

    Problems:
    1) I get some over heating on the transistors
    2) As I blew both my stamp and 7219 (I think due to a different problem) I
    am not sure this works
    3) I am having a hard time determining the correct value for the resistors.
    4) In this instance, could I run the Maxim from the stamp's VDD?

    Thanks in advance (particularly to Eprema for his constant support)

    Paul RJ
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