Multiple panel issues = SOLVED

[stempile]

Anyone have any issues hooking up multi panels? I saw the post a while ago with the software problem, I think I am on the latest release however. Is there a distance issue on the cable between boards. I have 5 foot cable between them.

Each panel works ok independently but when a connection from "in" to "out" the panel(s) mis fires significantly. Tried a variety of cables but each time it comes down to when I unplug the "out" cable on the board connected to the computer it returns to normal. Also tried an old desktop (using a laptop for testing). The Computer didn't work either way, computer might be bad.

I have tried using the same jumper settings on both and have tried just a cable plugged into the out with out hooking to the board. Just the cable plugged in causes the "in" board to mis fire.

ms

Solution Edit:
I didn't use the Alergro chips in the LEDTricks PCB. I had the MBI chip. Be sure to use Alergro chips.

[RJ]

I of course was running different software but I ran a multiboard setup during testing without issue in fact the video should still be floating around. Not sure why your having the problem . 5 foot should not be an issue but every computer port is different.

[P. Short]

Don't forget about the need for a good ground connection between the boards...

--

Phil

[stempile]

If the ground connection is missing you will know it. The board fires randomly with no sense of what it is suppose to say. I determined that during testing.

In this specific case this issue was not that. I found that the RJ-45 connectors that I am using on the "IN" wire wasn't making full connect every time. I was able to clear up the multi panel after really making sure the connection was good in the jack. Both panels work evenly now.

What made this not obvious is that it would work ok for a 20-30 seconds then start to fuzz out. Seem that the wire was relaxing and coming slightly disconnected.

I still seem to have a single issue though. Pixels less then column 32 appear to fire early. I am continuing to check connections and re-test. I thought this was resolved. Seems odd that it is in both boards starting at the same spot. It must be signal related.


ms

[stempile]

Up until now I was building and testing with a cheap laptop. It appears to be weak in parallel port functionality.

New show computer = AMD Sempron 2600+ (1.83GHz) with 1 GB of Ram desktop. This PC use to be my old MythTV DIY PVR. This is a large upgrade from my show computer last year.

The first thing I did was test my LedTricks board. The performed is MUCH MUCH better! It is now 95% flawless. The misfires are a lot fewer now. Still testing with different power supplies.

Also the refreshing of the rows is not apparent now. In the prior videos of my troubleshooting it was very obvious that the parallel port was not capable of driving the board. Also note that when I moved the mouse around on the old laptop the performance of the board would be effected.

ms

[stempile]

I shot myself in the foot on the LedTricks project!!

All problems solved, works GREAT now. I am disappointed to report it was a very obvious mistake!

First I started down the path of re-soldering most of the connections on one control board. No change. Upon closer investigation I noticed I had the MBI chips in place. CRAP.

I have on hand both the Alergro and the MBI chips. I was building the Grinch and the LedTricks boards at the same time. At first I have the Alergro in LedTRICKs and the MBI in the Grinch. Sometime before I finished building out the LED panels I switched them. Don't remember why and don't know why I assumed LedTRICKs still had the Alergros.

Phil or John or RJ at one point reminded me to check that, but I must not have! Shoot.

It seems that the MBI chips were 1 out 5 times working with misfires on a single panel. BUT plug in a second panel and that panel was 4 out of 5 misfiring badly. Using the Alergro chips it works great with 0 out of 5 misfires. I have two panels working great now.

Thanks for listening to me troubleshoot outloud...
ms

[wjohn]

great to hear the problem is solved,

Seems that Allegro win for LEDTRIKs,

and

MBI are fine in the GRINCH.

[Macrosill]

Always glad to hear things are working properly!
Good Work.

[cobraman44]

Is there anyone using the MBI chips? I bought those for my project. I was under the impression it was more of a voltage issue.