Aurora Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Whatever Else > Off Topic
  Active Topics Active Topics
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Just lost two controllers... can't upload firmware

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123>
Author
Message Reverse Sort Order
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
LightsOnLogan View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group


Joined: 11 Oct 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3187
  Quote LightsOnLogan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Just lost two controllers... can't upload firmware
    Posted: 27 Dec 2009 at 7:47pm
As I noted in the D-Light forums, it seems that replacing the RS-485 transceiver chips stopped the EEPROM corruption. 
 
I hope that was it anyway... no falures for seven and a half hours.
 
If you are having issues, you might want to check your transceiver chips.
 
Back to Top
LightsOnLogan View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group


Joined: 11 Oct 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3187
  Quote LightsOnLogan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Dec 2009 at 11:55am
The problem DID NOT follow the PIC microcontroller!  #40 and #43 still decided to lose it even after PIC replacement.

I'm now moving around RS-485 COM chips to see what happens.  I did notice that they were the old Intersil ones that some have reported problems with instead of the Texas Instruments (now Maxim?) ones.

I need more lights on the mini trees... I can't see them in the daylight unless I'm right on top of them!
Back to Top
LightsOnLogan View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group


Joined: 11 Oct 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3187
  Quote LightsOnLogan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 9:02pm
Another possibility here... could the RS-485 chips be experiencing thermal issues leading to data corruption on those controllers (and subsequent crashes)?

I'm trying to isolate it now... I did some PIC swapping.  We'll see if it follows the PIC or not.


Back to Top
deweycooter View Drop Down
Development
Development


Joined: 14 Oct 2007
Location: League City, TX
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 674
  Quote deweycooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 8:50pm
That's interesting - I'm interested in seeing if I can resurrect my ACx16 too...
Back to Top
LightsOnLogan View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group


Joined: 11 Oct 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3187
  Quote LightsOnLogan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 4:18pm
Originally posted by LightChristmas

Is it possible that later versions of Aurora could be messing with them?
 
I can guarantee it is not Aurora.  I just repatched in the network and went to run a test show prior to restarting the schedule.  #40 had dropped out again during the time nothing was on or even plugged in to a network.  Once again, resending the baud rate brought it back to life.
 
I really wish I could get the firmware to flash... I would actually like to be able to leave the house and know things are going to keep running!
Back to Top
LightsOnLogan View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group


Joined: 11 Oct 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3187
  Quote LightsOnLogan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 3:33pm
Just got the ACx8s working even though they still will not accept firmware.  I isolated the controller and resent the baud rate (Auto) to the controller and it came to life.

This doesn't make sense...
1. The controller would respond to the "All" events (FF) even though it had a corrupted baud rate, yet it wouldn't respond to its own address until I resent the baud???  That's just plain bizarre!
2. The controller now discovers and responds again, but it will not take firmware (I wanted to reflash to be on the safe side but couldn't get it to take the firmware)

I did notice that if I power cycle an ACx8 while the show is running it does dump a bunch of garbage onto the RS-485 which freezes the show for over a second.



Edited by LightsOnLogan - 26 Dec 2009 at 3:33pm
Back to Top
LightChristmas View Drop Down
Beta Testers
Beta Testers
Avatar

Joined: 15 Oct 2007
Location: Equality, IL
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 993
  Quote LightChristmas Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 1:02pm
Have 8 ACx8s running V2.0, two Acx16 running 1.14 and two ACx16 running 1.15 under Aurora 1.0.68 since Thanksgiving with no problems. Is it possible that later versions of Aurora could be messing with them?

Back to Top
Jonathan View Drop Down
Beta Testers
Beta Testers


Joined: 07 Sep 2008
Location: SoCal
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1237
  Quote Jonathan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 11:16am
Originally posted by ChrisL1976

Jonathan...is this happening on non-upgraded acx16's as well or only ones that went to 1.17?    

Hard to say for sure.  All my controllers were running various beta firmware at one point in time and I didn't leave any controller untouched.  Currently I'm running a mix 0f 1.15Beta and 1.17, and the DCx16's are split between 1.11 and 2.0 because I can't get the strobe twinkle mode to engage on 2.0.
~Jonathan
Back to Top
deweycooter View Drop Down
Development
Development


Joined: 14 Oct 2007
Location: League City, TX
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 674
  Quote deweycooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 10:11am
Mine happened on a new ACx16 - purchased this season.
Back to Top
ChrisL1976 View Drop Down
Beta Testers
Beta Testers


Joined: 01 Sep 2008
Location: Kankakee, Ill
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1341
  Quote ChrisL1976 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 6:19am
Jonathan...is this happening on non-upgraded acx16's as well or only ones that went to 1.17?  That particular controllers has been 1.13 since last year since its never acted up, I didn't mess with it.    I've had controllers not get discovered occasionally, but that just took a few trys and they popped up.  Never one get discovered and not light up.    
Chris

www.lightsonsixth.com
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.06
Copyright ©2001-2007 Web Wiz

This page was generated in 0.110 seconds.