Camera Controller Circuit and Code need help, pls
UDC
Posts: 11
Attached are my schematic and code for a Camera Controller, both of which were developed with the help of many on these forums. (BTW, Many Thanks). The ON switch to a digital camera is held down mechanically. The circuit applies power via a relay. The camera is allowed 30 seconds to warm up, another relay momentarily closes the shutter, power is left on for another 20 seconds to allow for file writing and power is removed until the next reset.
As a prelude, I don't wish to get into why·I do it this way. I'll be happy to open another post·on that subject or communicate directly with anyone. Here I'd like to find out why this circuit stopped working.
I ran this circuit and program successfully for 2 months (well almost successfully, had some power issues, but the circuit worked and pics were taken on time). Then had to set it aside, I just came back to it, to start working out the power issues and learn the DS1302 to use as my timer. But the circuit doesn't work properly anymore.
The main program attached here, doesn't run past the first try at turning on power. It momentarily turns on the power relay then shuts off and just stops. I have a smaller program for bench testing that uses the ShortAstable, for faster cycles and it works correctly for exactly 4 cycles then reacts the same, a short blip on the power relay then stops, though with this program the alarm keeps running and retries at the correct interval.·Though with the same result.
Can anyone see a fatal flaw? I am stumped. I have reworked all the solder joints, tightened up the board and have to admit I've hit a wall. Any help greatly appreciated.
Jonathan
As a prelude, I don't wish to get into why·I do it this way. I'll be happy to open another post·on that subject or communicate directly with anyone. Here I'd like to find out why this circuit stopped working.
I ran this circuit and program successfully for 2 months (well almost successfully, had some power issues, but the circuit worked and pics were taken on time). Then had to set it aside, I just came back to it, to start working out the power issues and learn the DS1302 to use as my timer. But the circuit doesn't work properly anymore.
The main program attached here, doesn't run past the first try at turning on power. It momentarily turns on the power relay then shuts off and just stops. I have a smaller program for bench testing that uses the ShortAstable, for faster cycles and it works correctly for exactly 4 cycles then reacts the same, a short blip on the power relay then stops, though with this program the alarm keeps running and retries at the correct interval.·Though with the same result.
Can anyone see a fatal flaw? I am stumped. I have reworked all the solder joints, tightened up the board and have to admit I've hit a wall. Any help greatly appreciated.
Jonathan
Comments
Try running the Stamp off a separate power supply and see what happens (make sure the grounds are connected).
Here, I am using a 0-30V, 10A power supply at 9V and Max I and I don't see any draws out of expected range or drops.
Cheers
One thing that come to mind is how are powering the Basic Stamp and your
relays are you using a batterys or are you using a power supply
The reason i ask is that i have found that some power supplys do not have
good filtering caps on them· or your power supply dose not have enought ouput in milamps to run all of what you want to run
I·have had add to some CAPS......··If you are using the The Basic Stamp OME ones that you built your self
I hope this Help you in what you are doing
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Sam