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need help with BOE ASAP! — Parallax Forums

need help with BOE ASAP!

Johnny-5Johnny-5 Posts: 34
edited 2007-10-31 03:44 in Robotics
I am working on a halloween costume so i need this to work asap. The problem is with powering the BOE. I needed a remote switch (long wire and switch) for this project so i went to radioshack and bought a on/off pushbutton switch, i wired it up to some speaker wire and a 9v. I have 2 servos one mini futaba and one standard hitec. The problem is when i turn this thing on, the mini futaba spins and thats it... the code doesn't execute without hitting the reset button which is difficult to get to (reason for remote switch). I put a debug print at the very beginning of the program to print "start"... when i power it on with my switch the servo moves but it never prints out... so its not running the code!!! I put a volt meter on the homemade switch and and noticed the switch has slow response or posible internal arch-ing, because it goes from 9v to 4v to 0v and same when switched on it goes 0v to 4v to 9v. Is the defect in the switch causeing this? its the only one i have and im running out of time... any ideas?

Comments

  • FranklinFranklin Posts: 4,747
    edited 2007-10-30 01:29
    Perhaps if you were to explain what you are trying to accomplish. Could you show us a schematic or drawing of your setup? You might have better luck with 4 1.5v alkeline batteries for power.

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    - Stephen
  • Johnny-5Johnny-5 Posts: 34
    edited 2007-10-30 01:36
    well it was just easier with a 9v as i had a connector laying around and i had to go buy the button... thats i i've got. This is for a halloween costume i am going to wear to work and i dont want it to run all the time but if someone walks up to me i want to beable to turn it on without them knowing, so i need the remote switch... i'm leaving the BOE power switch in the on position and i am using the 2mm plug that runs to the switch and battery. I have the servo jumper on Vdd...maybe it should be on Vin? I wasnt sure if the servos (1 is mini) could handle 9v.


    I dont get why its doing this, is it a surge that kills it? would a capacitor fix it?

    Post Edited (Johnny-5) : 10/30/2007 1:42:55 AM GMT
  • Johnny-5Johnny-5 Posts: 34
    edited 2007-10-30 02:10
    ok, it seem to be running the code now.. but it is starting in the middle of the progam!?!?

    btw, its a bs2sx
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2007-10-30 03:36
    Programs don't start in the middle unless you've written them to skip over the beginning.

    You really need to post a schematic or at least a careful, ordered description of exactly what you've connected up. Often, the process of doing this will, by itself, show you what's wrong.

    Servos will be damaged by using 9V to drive them. The maximum voltage you should use on them is 7.5V, preferably 6 to 7.2V.
  • dandreaedandreae Posts: 1,375
    edited 2007-10-30 15:18
    Can you also attach your code as a .bsx file?· This·may help us understand what is taking place.

    Dave

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    Dave Andreae

    Parallax Tech Support·
  • allanlane5allanlane5 Posts: 3,815
    edited 2007-10-30 15:22
    Note a 9-volt battery will quickly run out of power if used to drive a servo.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2007-10-30 16:37
    Try putting a one- or two-second PAUSE at the beginning of your program. I don't know what else you've got connected to your Stamp, but it sounds as if things aren't quite ready to go when your program starts up.

    Also, when the switch is on and the servos are running, what voltage do you read for Vin at the BOE end? I'm wondering if you've got voltage drop issues with the long power cable.

    -Phil
  • Johnny-5Johnny-5 Posts: 34
    edited 2007-10-31 03:44
    It seems to be working ok now... i don't know what the problem was... but i've checked the wire both voltage and ohms and its fine. I have pauses and use sleep as well i will only be turning it on when see it... i will take an extra 9v with me... I'll try to post some pics. This is for tomarrow and i need to go to bed now... it seems to be working now.
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