***Official Electronics Thread of Officialness (it starts off with lots of Nixie Tube Clock goodness

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Ah, I see. I haven't actually checked any values (port addresses or oscillator recommendations) but the circuit and program do look vaguely sane - but then it always is just one detail that breaks everything.

I was assuming you're using a current limiting resistor for the LED - as is often necessary - hence my confusion. With a PIC you can often get away without one so you should be fine (most PICs outputs are limited to 20mA anyway).

Do you have a voltmeter? If so, what is the voltage on RA1 with the LED disconnected?
 
frozennova said:
I was assuming I didnt need a resistor on the LED as I was supplying it with 3v
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Yeah, my bad when I read your original post - I must have skimmed over that part and assumed you were giving the PIC 5V (as that's what I've always given them). Either way you should be able to get away without the resistor.

So it's reasonable to assume that if the LED isn't lighting up that it's not a problem with the output section and is in fact with the program, i.e. although it will be worth checking with the Voltmeter when you have it to be sure, it probably is worth taking a second look at the program now.

I'd do this myself but I'm lazy/have my own projects to work on/you'll get more out of doing it:

Head over to the Microchip website and find the datasheets for the PIC you're using (if I remember rightly there are several per device). Then find the section that details the memory addresses of the IO ports, and look up the addresses of the output and tristate ports, just to confirm that the address you have in your program are correct.

Even if they are correct this will be invaluable in that you'll now know where to find pretty much anything you need to know about the chips.

That all said, I note that you do:
#include "p16f84.inc"
but as far as I can tell you don't actually use any of the alias it defines (it's a few years since I've done anything with PICs but as far as I can remember the includes will typically define aliases for the address of things like PORTA, so that instead of typing the literal address 05h you can instead just write PORTA. It'll be worth checking that include file as well to see what useful things it defines for you.

This is much less specific help, but if you want to see an example program and several other circuits and programs, you could probably do worse than flicking through the documentation for the project that I learnt what I know about PICs on - there's a brief post here and a fairly detailed write up including source code (the program I suggest looking at is listed starting on page 80) here.
 
Does anyone know how to reset an Arduino mega without using the IDE?

I messed up my last program, all it seems to is send "Hello" ;) over and over again over the com port, which I think is blocking any uploads.

I've tried uploading the Blink example but I'm only getting this error message:

avrdude: ser_send(): write error: sorry no info avail

I've had a google for it but can't find anything.

Help me OCUK, you're my only hope!
 
You can probably get something cheaper that doesn't include a potentially redundant LCD, but one answer is better than none, so how about this: http://www.techsupplies.co.uk/epage...ath=/Shops/Store.TechSupplies/Products/AXE033

This seems to be an evening of revisiting things from years ago - I haven't been on that site for longer than it is since doing the project described above. I might just have to have a look and see what neat parts you can get now. Must be careful.. I risk getting back into electronics.
 
2bit said:
Electronics thread?

***Official Electronics Thread of Officialness (it starts off with lots of Nixie Tube Clock goodness)***

Starts with nixie tubes - has nixie tubes in the middle - has nixie tubes at the end.

I suppose they're 'perrty' and look nice next to your framed Samuria swords from Argos.
Click to expand...

Don't like it then don't read it. Simple. Or you could even be constructive and actually contribute something to the thread.

I think my next build is going to be a nice easy one, a 7 decade resistance box. I have a load of 2w resistors I've inherited so I may as well do something useful with them :D

May be a bit of a struggle fitting them around the rotary switches when the soldering iron comes out, and they are serious overkill for the task but at least most of them will be used up.
 
Hey guys,
I'm looking for a power supply for driving individual high-power LEDs from mains, the PSU needs to accept 230v AC and output 3.3v DC, Ideally it also needs to be capable of regulating the output current to a max of about 3A

If you can't think of anything then I suppose one without current regulation would work if i coupled it with a standard flashlight driver circuit...

Anyway, link me up please :)
 
Wow that nixie clock looks great, needs a case. But then haven't read all of thread.

Can you etch double sided circuit boards at home?
 
My MakerBot Thing-o-Matic busy printing:


Had a couple of issues with the new firmware and ReplicatorG but it all seems to be back up an running for the moment.
 
Those 3D printers are awesome. I can think of a number of times where one would have come in useful.

I find that what I can design on a computer is often more ambitious than I'm capable of constructing! A machine like that would have no problem with some of the more complicated bits.
 
Yeah, yhey are great! Especially making stuff that just does not exist for sale anywhere. Even simple thingslike shower rings. Why buy a pack of 20 when you only need one? You can print one very easily.
I must get mine refurbed! I think it needs too many upgrades though! The z axis rodsare not straight, the extruder is flaky, needs the new version thats out, Its very noisy as well!
 
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