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HELP- DIY Kit built... now what


randallfoster

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Well, I must say- I ordered the DIY kit having never soldered before in my life and when it arrived I was pretty intimidated. I took my time, put it together, added the power cords and got ready to plug it in for a test... and voila! The red led began blinking!!!


So naturally, I install my USB485B drivers from the web (as I dont have a disc drive on this netbook I am using), attach the USB run all the cables to the unit and attempt to run the hardware utility. I found that only one port (port 3) was showing up so I selected it and attempted to run auto configure.

It gives me "Unable to locate the Light-O-Rama port. Check that controller is connected and that it is powered on."

Then I figure, what the heck- I'll just set the unit id. I select new unit id 1 and it gives me "Unable to locate unit to change address. Check connections and power"

So I look around the boards and a few guys suggested setting the Change existing ID to "Any Unit" so I do this and I get the same error.

Obviously I am doing something wrong here. Is it possible that I screwed something up when building the controller? It lights up and there is no smoke filling the room... Help me out guys... I am a newbie and am starting to pull my hair out here.


Thanks in advance!

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Don't fret; it doesn't sound like the controller is the problem. What port has your computer assigned to the USB 485 adapter? Sounds like a problem with the computer communicating with the adapter.

Edit to Add: There is a similar discussion at http://forums.lightorama.com/forum25/28009.html regarding multiple networks that may help you. Also, in the back of my mind, I seem to recall that if your computer assigns a port higher than 10(?) the UB485 adapter won't recoginize it and you have to manually assign a lower port number. I think this may have changed in later revisions to the LOR software, but I believe there is still a maximum high number for the comm port. Also, check this link:
http://www.lightorama.com/Documents/RS485_Adapter_Troubleshooting.pdf

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also, check to be sure that no other LOR program is running. (lor control panel, etc in background) can mess up. Also, check your cat wire, I hear over and over again, me including, that a bad Cat wire will cause this.

Chuck

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Ok, I went through the device manager and learned that the device is on port 3.

I am going to try another cat wire tomorrow and hopefully rule that out.

I am still at a loss.

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Check that com3 dissappears when you unplug the USB adapter. Some systems still have modems or other appliances built in on com3.

If it does not dissappear from the control pannel com port utility when you unplug it, you don't have the right port.

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I've read a lot of posts from those downloading RS485 adapter drivers from the web, and it always seems to create confusion as to whether the right driver is installed.

Can you transfer the CD contents to your laptop in some other way? That ensures the correct drivers are installed.

Or...another computer where you can install from the CD? At least to test and verify where you problem may lie.

Better to do that before even beginning to wonder if you have a problem with the board.

I don't believe the converter/adapter software is available anywhere on the LOR website, have never seen it, but if it is, I'm sure someone will jump in and say so.

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Ok, I dropped the drivers onto a thumbdrive and loaded them... still nothin. Any other hints? Still using Com3. Still getting the same error messages as in the original post.

FML

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Few thoughts..

Just to confirm, the new drivers you loaded from the jump drive were off the LOR CD?

If so, I feel better that you have the right drivers and all is good there..:D

1. do a reset of the board, then retry with the HU.

To reset:

unplug controller
remove jumper JO
plug controller back in
unplug controller
replace jumper

If still having problems:

2. do take the time to go thru and check the basics on the board...all components in the right place, IC chips in sockets are oriented correctly and all pins in the socket, no solder bridges or cold joints, etc. The fact the LED is flashing is good.

3. make sure nothing else is open from a LOR software standpoint...hardware utility, thats it.

Don't fret..you'll get plenty of help and ideas...troubleshooting one via the forum tends to be an "eliminate the most typical possibilities" kind of process.

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Randall,

You stated that you reloaded the drivers for Com3. I don't know what version of Windows that you are running, but are you sure that the new LOR drivers you loaded are the ones actually being used by Com3? If not sure, go into Windows Device Manager, select Com3, and then Update Driver and point to the new drivers you loaded from your Jump Drive.

Everything is a moot issue until we know that you have good communications with the LOR system.

Randy

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Ok I did the reset. Then tried again... same errors.

The drivers appear to be working. I opened the Com3 properties and it says:

Device Type: Ports
Manufacturer: FTDI
Location: Location 0

Should the driver say something about light o rama???

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The driver will not mention LOR. FTDI makes the USB chips that Light-O-Rama uses in the interfaces. It looks like your Com3 driver is correct.

Hopefully some other people will chime in with more suggestions regarding the LOR board. I haven't experienced the difficulties you are encountering but maybe someone else has or they know what the problem is.

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Randy's advice re making sure you are ok with com port and driver is spot on..I think you are ok there.

I'm just building my first PC series controller as we speak...the other 7 have been the D/K series, where ID is set on-board. Need someone to chime in on any nuances re setting PC controller board IDs.

The red LED flashes at the same rate when connected, not connected, etc?

I'm assuming you've done a good visual of the board and have confirmed all parts in the right place, no bad solder connections, etc?

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I am running 15 of the PC DIY kits. It seems to me that when I initially flashed the unit numbers in them I had some minor difficulty with the hardware utility finding them. I remember that I ended up using a short (3') Cat-5 between my laptop and the LOR box without any lights plugged in, and it found the unit right away. After setting the ID number, I no longer had any problems with the longer cable runs or loads plugged into the box.

I have no idea what the problem was and that was several versions of code ago. Dan has made many, many software revisions since and I have no idea if my experience several years ago was software, hardware, phase of the moon, or my imagination.

If a short cable doesn't help, maybe Don will have some good suggestions when he finishes his build.

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You might also want to double-check R1. It has a different value than the other resistor networks and if you have the wrong one, it could cause your problem.

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As far as I can tell the solders are pod and the parts in the correct Places.

The led does not change pace when plugged in.

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have you tried changing the cat 5 to both ports on the controller? one may be bad or damaged during install. I have not built a controller from the ground up but I was looking at mine tonight to duplicate the problem. I did but only when i unhooked it from the usb adapter

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Have you taken a really, REALLY close look at your solder connections? It only takes one cold solder joint to ruin your day. Use a bright light and a good magnifier and examine every connection. If a connection looks questionable, hit it with your soldering iron again. (Be sure to remove the processor before you hit any of the pins on its socket.)

If you still don't find anything, download the troubleshooting guide from the LOR site, follow the procedure to reset the LOR board and then follow the troubleshooting information for your board.

If it still fails, give LOR a call. They are super and stand behind their products.

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Also I strongly recommend having someone else look at the board for you as far as parts placement. After building it, and then trying to work thru issues like this, it is real easy to miss an error.

And you do have a jumper on the second row of pins of J0?

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