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Problem programming USB Demoboard — Parallax Forums

Problem programming USB Demoboard

Michael PetryMichael Petry Posts: 11
edited 2009-04-29 10:48 in Propeller 1
I've just purchased a USB demoboard.· We've installed the propeller tool, and the USB driver.· Upon connecting the demoboard via USB, windows detects the hardware and says it's ready to use.· Windows assigns COM4 to the board.·· When we try "identify hardware"·the propeller tool cannot find a propeller chip.· We've found a troubleshooting guide on the parallax website, pertaining to USB latency, however that did not help.· I've tried two different computers.·

Does anyone have a suggestion?

Comments

  • Michael PetryMichael Petry Posts: 11
    edited 2009-04-28 22:46
    BTW, I'm new here!

    About myself:
    I'm a 30-something year old electrical engineer, who bought a propeller chip for his 10 year old son.· He has already·programmed a PLC from AutomationDirect, and has used Scratch (a drag-n-drop programming language aimed at kids).·· I wanted to get him something smaller for robot building.

    Our first attempt isn't going very well.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2009-04-28 23:13
    Have you supplied the board with 9V and put the supply slide switch in the central position?

    Leon

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  • CassLanCassLan Posts: 586
    edited 2009-04-28 23:26
    Hi YellowHammer and welcome!

    I agree with Leon, does the Prop have power?

    Rick
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,452
    edited 2009-04-28 23:50
    I recently had a similar problem with my Demo board -- PropTool would only "see" it for a few seconds and would often lose contact in the middle of downloading. Cleaning and reseating the power connector solved it. Note that the USB light will flash even if the board doesn't have power; the USB circuitry is powered but the Demoboard itself is not powered from the USB cable. If the board has power a bright green LED will be lit near the power switch.
  • Michael PetryMichael Petry Posts: 11
    edited 2009-04-29 02:28
    Thanks for the help guys. This electrical engineer has mud on his face. I had the power supply polarity·reversed!

    I also found that the 9V supply we were using was supplying 19V with no load. I'm surprised I didn't pop the onboard 5V regulator. I've already found another used power supply, and everything works great. Thanks again.

    It's late, and I'm tired from a baseball game.· Sorry for the grammar (I've already fixed two mistakes).
  • QuattroRS4QuattroRS4 Posts: 916
    edited 2009-04-29 08:27
    Yellowhammer,
    "This electrical engineer has mud on his face." - Silly things like this happen to everyone - whether some would be willing to admit it or not ! Welcome to all things Propeller !

    Regards,
    John

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    'Necessity is the mother of invention'

    Those who can, do.Those who can’t, teach.
  • TubularTubular Posts: 4,740
    edited 2009-04-29 10:48
    YH,

    Welcome! And thanks for pointing out that Scratch thing - I was wondering what to get my Kids onto once they're too old for Tux paint. Looks like a great 'upgrade path'. Thanks!

    tubular
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