
bret.tallent
So I finally got around to testing out my EZ-B. I have all my stuff plugged in, and as soon as I power it on, several of the items connected to it start running - without any controls associated. It connects up just fine but a soon as I attempt any control it disconnects. My thoughts are that because a couple of things are already running, as soon as I try to do anything else it is browning out. I am using the battery pack that came with it.
Thought: Should I disconnect all peripherals then power it up and slowly add items and test their control that way? Also, what would be an optimal battery pack to work with?
GND => Brown/Black
5+ => Red
EXT => Orange/White
if the cable is backwards the signal line will be tied low and when your trying to control them you would actually be changing the pwm on the GND line which could be causing the brown out
Servos will move a bit initially when the power is connected
I would always try connecting first before attaching devices
The EZ-B Signal Pin is signal, not power. It's used to "talk" to other devices. If you wish to control the power from a signal pin, you'll need to connect a switching transistor to the pin.
But, you have also given me a good EZ-Bit idea. I'm sending the first batch of EZ-Bit files off to the printer this week. I think we'll see the launch sometime next week or the week after, depends on the printing speed.
Are you using the stock battery pack? If so, you will most likely need to upgrade to a battery source with more juice.
The additional power module should be available in a week
We should start carrying more powerful battery solutions.
1. Get a TIP120 Darlington Transistor.
2. Connect power to whatever you want to turn on and interrupt the ground with the "emitter" and "collector" from the transistor.
3. Connect a wire from the PWM of one of the Digital ports to the "base" of the transistor.
4. The circuit will be open (off) until you switch the digital port to HI which closes the circuit and turns your device on.
A TIP120 transistor from Radio Shack is less than $2.
Maybe i should turn one of those into an ez-bit.. give it 4 or 5 channels. put a filter on it too.