Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Username: Password:

Author Topic: AstroEQ DIY Build - No motor activity at all  (Read 2968 times)

gordtulloch

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 4
    • View Profile
AstroEQ DIY Build - No motor activity at all
« on: January 28, 2019, 21:52:31 »
Hi there - I finished off a build of the AstroEQ using the PCB and pre-burned ICs the other day. After soldering everything up I went over the board with a continuity tester and made sure that all of the connections were working and it looked good (despite my not so great soldering skills.) I plugged the board in and configured it using the AstroEQ software, which worked fine. I can connect to the board using EQASCOM and all appears well. Except, the motors don't move, or even warm up. I tried cranking up the current limit progressively, powering down, giving the screw a 1/4 turn, then powering up but nothing.  I have RJ12 cables running from the board to an RJ12 connector on the motor mount.  The pinout I used for the RJ12 cables from the board to the motors is as follows:

A1 -> 5
A2 -> 2
B1 -> 3
B2 -> 4

Next step I guess is to build a breakout board to see what signals are coming out of the motor ports, any other way anyone can suggest to debug the motor side of the circuit? Thanks!

Regards,
  Gord

Logged

TCWORLD

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 809
    • View Profile
    • AstroEQ
Re: AstroEQ DIY Build - No motor activity at all
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2019, 22:04:55 »
Which motor drivers are you using?

Once EQMOD is connected and unparked, I would probe the EN pins (pin 1) of the motor drivers - these should be at 0V when the motors are enabled.

Logged
Tom Carpenter (AstroEQ)

gordtulloch

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 4
    • View Profile
Re: AstroEQ DIY Build - No motor activity at all
« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2019, 23:02:04 »
I'm using DRV8825 drivers, I'll check that -- gt
Logged

gordtulloch

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 4
    • View Profile
Re: AstroEQ DIY Build - No motor activity at all
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2019, 21:59:10 »
Quote from: TCWORLD on January 28, 2019, 22:04:55
Which motor drivers are you using?

Once EQMOD is connected and unparked, I would probe the EN pins (pin 1) of the motor drivers - these should be at 0V when the motors are enabled.

Hi again - finally getting back to this, got through checking cables etc all good, but yes the EN pin is >0 - what can cause that?

Regards,
  Gord
Logged

TCWORLD

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 809
    • View Profile
    • AstroEQ
Re: AstroEQ DIY Build - No motor activity at all
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2019, 19:36:17 »
If the En pin is not being driven low, it suggests either there is a bad solder joint, or there is a short to another pin.

Could you post a photo of the back of the board?
Logged
Tom Carpenter (AstroEQ)

gordtulloch

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 4
    • View Profile
Re: AstroEQ DIY Build - No motor activity at all
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2019, 20:38:37 »
Quote from: TCWORLD on February 19, 2019, 19:36:17
If the En pin is not being driven low, it suggests either there is a bad solder joint, or there is a short to another pin.

Could you post a photo of the back of the board?

Will do, I'll go over it with the continuity tester again as well! Thanks! -- gt
Logged