MPGuino release one workspace

[Peale]

First time poster here. This is a great sounding project. I love that it aims to be compatible with all cars and open source.

Is there a plan to make it so you *can* hook it up to OBDII?

[dcb]

aWillard, so you are just running on the bench, no "nasty automotive" environment. Curious, and I've got one with a missing column, but otherwise runs 24x7 in the wifes car.

[awillard69]

Yes, just on the bench. No automotive interference.

You think I should maybe check with NKC like you did and see if they may replace it as possibly faulty?

My power supply is a 130w power supply from an old PC, so it should be nice and clean. I put some taps on the front for the 5v and 12v and it works just fine. A good cheap trick for an already engineered power supply with multiple voltages!

You say 24x7, but what is the longest you've continuously run the Guino: 1) in the car, 2) on the bench?

[dcb]

I'd definately let them know about the failure, they like to know these things, and ask if they have some figures about the failure rate of these devices.

The original guino pictured in post one has been installed in a saturn for about a month now. It's had a couple 10 minute breaks for reflashing but that's it.

I've got a different lcd on the bench (4x20), it is always on too via usb, except for reflashing it is been plugged in for most a month also. I'll have to swap in the 2x16 when it shows up and see if it goes south.

[awillard69]

You say "a couple 10 minute breaks", but is that connected, or active and running, ie displaying data?

Same with the USB 4x20 on the bench, is it running continuously or just "attached"?

I sent off an inquiry to NKC. I'll let you know what they respond.

[dcb]

Heh, I have to unplug it from the car (it is just connected with a few header pins these days), bring it in the house, and load the latest from post 1 on it. Maybe once a week I do that. It is connected to battery power the rest of the time.

The one on the bench is constantly powered, and has the signal generator running too.

[cmags]

Has anyone seen an issue where the LCD stops displaying data and starts displaying a scrolling single line of garbage? Looks like "00_/?█/0_/?00_/█" etc. The █ characters are the full block for the big chars in v0.62. They were showing up as the IN custom characters in v0.61.

This happens after anywhere from half a minute to 8 minutes (longest I've gotten it to run) on the bench with no inputs. I can force the issue to occur by cutting power to the LCD then re-applying so I'm not yet sure if its a power issue, but when I tried to run the LCD from pin 15, it wouldn't power up.

Writing this now makes me really suspect power and I'll try powering the LCD from an isolated 5V source, but it'll be good reference here for future debug.

Input still welcome.

[awillard69]

My first thought would be that if you have reset the LCD only, the initialization routines from the Guino software must be run again to put the LCD into a usable state. You should be able to just reset the Freeduino board after you've reset the LCD. My pov anyway.

[cmags]

Yes, hitting the reset on the 'duino brings it back up but resets everything it seems. Then again, I haven't run any data to the thing, just wanted to see it.

Also, on one or two occassions, its reset itself, but usually its just stuck by that point and I have to force the reset.

[awillard69]

Check out the Signal Generator thread topic. DCB is using a directly wired ATMEGA168, I'm using a second Freeduino board.

It actually shows what it does and you can see it operate. Rewarding in that regard.

I wonder if your inputs being open, ie not connected, are generating some "unexpected" input values that are causing the behavior you are seeing.