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Where to start. — Parallax Forums

Where to start.

Rocket468Rocket468 Posts: 10
edited 2006-02-07 22:45 in General Discussion
Hello, My name is chance. I am the co owner of a company that sells speed parts for cars. We had someone develop our pwm controlller and evey time we want a change to it takes forever. We handed a new project to him. Something similar to what we have but added an lcd and some more adjustments and have the unit be able to moniture afew inputs.

Well its be 9 months and he still apartenty has not started. So I guess I will try to figure it out myself. If anything just so i will have a better understanding on how it works. Can anyone point me to some good reading matieral. Maybe even a simple pwm devise I can make to get me of an idea what direction to go.

Thanks.

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Comments

  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2006-02-07 15:51
    Chance,

    What controller are you using in the device ? Basic stamp ? SX ?

    Just a warning that the PWM generated by the Basic stamp and the SX/B PWM instruction is not really what you want for motor control. Because it is NOT a simple "on/off" type of PWM. It is a series of pulses that AVERAGE out to the desired PWM voltage.

    I hope you have the source code, schematics, and board layout files. If not then your stuck reinventing the whole thing.
    [noparse][[/noparse]edit]
    Here is a link to a project I submitted that generates 16 channels of "motor" PWM. It's complicated, but might be worth a look. http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=536244

    Bean.

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    "SX-Video·Module" Now available from Parallax for only $28.95

    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30012

    "SX-Video OSD module" Now available from Parallax for only·$49.95
    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30015

    Product web site: www.sxvm.com

    "Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there."


    Post Edited (Bean (Hitt Consulting)) : 2/7/2006 3:54:16 PM GMT
  • Rocket468Rocket468 Posts: 10
    edited 2006-02-07 18:00
    I have no idea what controller is on the board. If its one of them 2 or somthing else. I think my partner has the orginal source but he is stuck on an aircraft carrier and I can't get ahold of him easly. And its probley on his Home computer.

    I am just wanting to make somthing better than what i have now with alot more function. I am not quite at the stage where i want to find someone and pay them mess with it since this guy is so busy. But i have thought about it. I kinda what to know more about how they work so I can see if some of the other ideas i have I want to get made up will work. Thanks for helping me.

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  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2006-02-07 18:09
    Call your local radio shack and ask if they have item 276-625.
    This is the "What's A Microcontroller" kit. It'll be the best $79.95 you ever spent.
    P.S. You'll need a PC with a serial port.

    Bean.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    "SX-Video·Module" Now available from Parallax for only $28.95

    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30012

    "SX-Video OSD module" Now available from Parallax for only·$49.95
    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30015

    Product web site: www.sxvm.com

    "Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there."
    ·
  • Rocket468Rocket468 Posts: 10
    edited 2006-02-07 18:12
    I will stop buy on my why home from work. There is a good size radio shack right by my house. Anything else I might need other than wire, soder, iron, flux?

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    Devilsown Alcohol Injection
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2006-02-07 18:15
    No it's a pretty complete kit. No soldering. You might want to get some "solid" 22-gauge wire to connect other things to the breadboard. And a supply of 9V batteries [noparse];)[/noparse]

    And of course keep lurking on the forums.
    [noparse][[/noparse]edit] Here is a link to it: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2117994&cp=&kw=parallax&parentPage=search
    Bean.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    "SX-Video·Module" Now available from Parallax for only $28.95

    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30012

    "SX-Video OSD module" Now available from Parallax for only·$49.95
    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30015

    Product web site: www.sxvm.com

    "Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there."
    ·
  • Rocket468Rocket468 Posts: 10
    edited 2006-02-07 18:27
    Thanks I will get cracken on this tonight.

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    Devilsown Alcohol Injection
  • John R.John R. Posts: 1,376
    edited 2006-02-07 18:50
    Don't let the friendly folks at Radio Shack talk you into one of the "other" kits out there. Some of the other products they carry apparently receive more internal marketing hype and/or profit for RS, but are targeted at a different audiance. They will not get you learning the things you want to learn...

    This may be less the case with WAM kit as some of the robotic stuff.

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    John R.

    8 + 8 = 10
  • Rocket468Rocket468 Posts: 10
    edited 2006-02-07 22:45
    Yea, i have noticed that they try to push some stuff over other stuff.

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    Devilsown Alcohol Injection
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