Servo lead won't fit with BOE rev B servo headers

jmaxton

Hello,

I'm very new to all of this, so please pardon my ignorance if/when it becomes apparent.

I hope someone here can point out my mistake. I'm trying to use the Parallax standard servo with a BS2/BOE (USB rev B I think), but the servo lead won't fit into the servo header. The lead has a small black tab on the white wire side which prevents it from fitting into the header properly (see attached pictures). Am I doing something wrong or do I have the wrong part?

In the text I'm reading (What's a Microcontroller?, by Andy Lindsay), it says that BOE rev B doesn't have a power source jumper between the servo headers. My board says rev B, but it has the vin/vdd jumper between the X4 and X5 headers. See attached pic for reference. Any idea what's going on there? Is that the difference between the USB and serial models?

If anyone could shed some light on this I would be very grateful.

Thanks in advance,
-Jeff

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

That little tab is what X-Acto knives are for. Just be careful not to slice your finger when you trim it off.

-Phil

D Faust

I had the same problem with the standard servo I got.· i just pushed it in, but you could just cut it off.· As for Rev B.· I am not 100% sure about this, I think Andy is refering the the rev B of the serial boe.· If your usb boe rev b has the jumper and you set it to vdd you should be set.· (no guarantees)

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Steph Lindsay

Hello Jmaxton,

Yes, D Faust is correct. the Rev B board in Andy's book is referring to the serial BOE.· The USB BOE rev B is what you have, and once you have it set up and communicating with your computer, just follow the directions in the book for the BOE rev C.· I am hoping there was a 5-page document about your USB BOE in your kit.· If not, please·read through·the latest version online here:

http://www.parallax.com/dl/docs/prod/boards/28850-BOE-USB-v1.4.pdf

One thing about working with the USB BOE -- be sure to close the Debug Terminal every time before disconnecting and reconnecting your board, and before downloading a new program.· Otherwise, disconnecting and reconnecting your board will be like closing and reopening the USB port, and it might cause your BASIC Stamp Editor to freeze up.· It this happens, you can Ctrl+ALT+Delete to close it, then reopen it.

We apologize about the little extra plastic tab on the servo lead.· We have specified to our servo manufacturer not to use those leads, but they did pop up occasionally.· I find that flush angle-cutters do a good job of clipping it off.· If you have any difficulties in doing that, please let me know. You can email me at editor@parallax.com.

I hope you are otherwise enjoying your kit.

-Stephanie Lindsay
Editor, Parallax Inc.

jmaxton

Thanks to Phil, D Faust and Steph.· I was able to use an exacto knife to cut off the extra tab and everything worked as planned from that point on.· You've all been a lot of help.

-Jeff