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Just lost two controllers... can't upload firmware |
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LightsOnLogan 
Admin Group 
Joined: 11 Oct 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3187 |
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 Topic: Just lost two controllers... can't upload firmwarePosted: 27 Dec 2009 at 7:47pm |
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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.
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LightsOnLogan
Admin Group
Joined: 11 Oct 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3187 |
Quote Reply
Posted: 27 Dec 2009 at 11:55am |
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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! |
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LightsOnLogan
Admin Group
Joined: 11 Oct 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3187 |
Quote Reply
Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 9:02pm |
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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. |
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deweycooter
Development
Joined: 14 Oct 2007 Location: League City, TX Online Status: Offline Posts: 674 |
Quote Reply
Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 8:50pm |
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That's interesting - I'm interested in seeing if I can resurrect my ACx16 too...
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LightsOnLogan
Admin Group
Joined: 11 Oct 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3187 |
Quote Reply
Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 4:18pm |
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!
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LightsOnLogan
Admin Group
Joined: 11 Oct 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3187 |
Quote Reply
Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 3:33pm |
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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 |
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LightChristmas
Beta Testers 
Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Location: Equality, IL Online Status: Offline Posts: 993 |
Quote Reply
Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 1:02pm |
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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?
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Jonathan
Beta Testers
Joined: 07 Sep 2008 Location: SoCal Online Status: Offline Posts: 1237 |
Quote Reply
Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 11:16am |
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. |
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~Jonathan
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deweycooter
Development
Joined: 14 Oct 2007 Location: League City, TX Online Status: Offline Posts: 674 |
Quote Reply
Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 10:11am |
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Mine happened on a new ACx16 - purchased this season.
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ChrisL1976
Beta Testers
Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Location: Kankakee, Ill Online Status: Offline Posts: 1341 |
Quote Reply
Posted: 26 Dec 2009 at 6:19am |
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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.
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Chris
www.lightsonsixth.com |
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