tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92011990652891133292024-03-13T12:46:13.165-07:00redhotEngineer's Blogpsgarchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571917492867013450noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201199065289113329.post-49549827261455561782014-12-16T23:09:00.001-08:002014-12-16T23:12:04.259-08:00Bringing a Router back to life (Modding the Beetel 450TC1 Modem, Fixing bootloop)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
<b>The pain of Routers and Modems</b></div>
In this 21st century, where everybody is connected to the Internet, routers and modems are the devices that are under a lot of stress. How much stress? a typical ADSL Modem/Wifi AP work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, since the day of deployment till the day they die (stop working).<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I usually am curious enough to check any device by opening it up, if it gives me trouble. So when it comes to a ADSL router-cum-WiFi, the internet being something I am heavily dependent upon, I cannot just let it go. Internet downtime is a big thing! And moreover, every router repaired is lowering the e-waste problem significantly. So people, don't just throw away your Routers and other devices just because they are not working. In most of the cases, the faults are simple to correct. If you are inquisitive and want to learn something about electronics, or already have some experience, open it up and see whats going on. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The routers we get here, having BSNL as my ISP (I reside in India), are of sub par quality. The WiFi Signal range is not enough (not powerful enough) and the parts used inside are of cheap quality to bring down the cost. Capacitors are the classic components that suffer from this problem, as most other components either have low probability of failure (Inductors, Transformer Filter, ICs, Crystals) because they need to be of good quality. These routers, have to run all the time, and if these capacitors inside are sub par, needless to say they have a very limited and short lifetime. How short you ask? I had to change 2 capacitors twice this year. You can also blame it on the temperature here in India, it gets horribly hot during the summers.<br />
<br />
Note: A bootloop looks like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTfqwUC2QV4</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U54qCH0GqsU/VIM6003SV-I/AAAAAAAAAhg/4pjNmogRMA4/s1600/IMG_20141018_132031322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U54qCH0GqsU/VIM6003SV-I/AAAAAAAAAhg/4pjNmogRMA4/s1600/IMG_20141018_132031322.jpg" height="323" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Lowly Router</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RGrbR7lWzqE/VIM7eAsWLaI/AAAAAAAAAho/465Lr7HxI3o/s1600/DSC_0759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RGrbR7lWzqE/VIM7eAsWLaI/AAAAAAAAAho/465Lr7HxI3o/s1600/DSC_0759.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Lowly Router Opened up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
So here goes my story. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Giving me "The Boot"</b></div>
<div>
The first time my router gave up on me, it would not start up properly. Initiation started, and it would go through the blinking of LEDs (which I would suspect is the checking and initiation of systems present onboard). But then, after initiation, at the time it should be "Booted", it would reboot. Everything Shut down and it started again. The routine would run again, in a loop, but the router would fail to come online, every time. The first thought that came to my mind was, that the software might have gotten corrupted. All software is bound to get corrupted at some point in the life time of the device. But many-a-times, that is not the case, as I found out later. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The problem with a router stuck in bootloop is, that you cannot get into the web interface. No web interface would mean that you cannot "easily" upload any firmware to it. It might be available by Serial Interface of the router, but if you don't have much experience with Microcontrollers, a specialist might have to chime in.<br />
<br />
A bootloop looks something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTfqwUC2QV4</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Hating downtime, but kinda liking it</b> </div>
<div>
With the router down, I had enough reason to open it up and check whats inside, just to satisfy my curiosity. To my surprise, I saw a blown up capacitor. Wow. I was just about to pull the trigger on another router, but replacing a part worth 2 bucks would save me from spending 2000 bucks on a new one! AND HEY! did I mention I am helping lower e-waste?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Blown_up_electrolytic_capacitor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Blown_up_electrolytic_capacitor.jpg" height="289" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Blown Capacitor R.I.P (Courtesy: Wikipedia)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Al-Elko-bad-caps-Wiki-07-02-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Al-Elko-bad-caps-Wiki-07-02-17.jpg" height="387" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Cluster of Blown Capacitor, called Capacitor Plague. R.I.P friends (Courtesy: Wikipedia)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I replaced the capacitor the next day, and bam! the router started up fine and I was online in a snap!<br />
Alas I have no evidence of that first repair. I did not have this blog on my mind when I repaired it.</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Capacitor Plague hits again</b></div>
<div>
So the next time a router died on me, I made sure I opened it up to see what was wrong. Guess what? Blown capacitor again. I searched my personal stash of components, and found a cap that was of a higher value (Capacitance) but same voltage rating. Now through my studies, I have seen that resistors and capacitors are used to control the timing of pulses on 555 timers (suggesting they are integral in timing related circuits). So, I was afraid a bit, of ending up with a router that wont work because of different capacitance rating, because the capacitor might have been a part of a timing circuit on the router. But then, I said to myself 'What the heck', I will try it and if it works then good, if not I will get the original value tomorrow and we will be running up again. The capacitor from my stash was bigger than the one that blew up, so the case did not fit properly. Because I am super lazy, I did not go the electronics shack to get the right size -and- rating capacitor. But that worked to my advantage, as you will see later in the story.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b9etOxiAh30/VINEyjjzBlI/AAAAAAAAAh4/lYHr2Pw4p9g/s1600/DSC_0760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b9etOxiAh30/VINEyjjzBlI/AAAAAAAAAh4/lYHr2Pw4p9g/s1600/DSC_0760.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Capacitor death is a real problem. I never thought it would affect me in life, we need to make people aware of this issue :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I8w_lGXAtKk/VIQ1AW0m0rI/AAAAAAAAAiI/kAgLkqjSFRs/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I8w_lGXAtKk/VIQ1AW0m0rI/AAAAAAAAAiI/kAgLkqjSFRs/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the bulges (Not-so-healthy Capacitors)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MJwWKcMKew8/VIQ1Qt77LrI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/P1MvBHp5T8c/s1600/DSC_0770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MJwWKcMKew8/VIQ1Qt77LrI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/P1MvBHp5T8c/s1600/DSC_0770.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another angle to see more clearly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pcR9tMvZDxQ/VIQ1igGqEeI/AAAAAAAAAiY/ZthovhXT5Is/s1600/DSC_0772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pcR9tMvZDxQ/VIQ1igGqEeI/AAAAAAAAAiY/ZthovhXT5Is/s1600/DSC_0772.JPG" height="400" width="326" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Capacitor that I got. Rated for 85 Degrees, 16V</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rBZsyDd-im8/VIQ10Vak7PI/AAAAAAAAAig/7GZvC5pQ6kk/s1600/DSC_0773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rBZsyDd-im8/VIQ10Vak7PI/AAAAAAAAAig/7GZvC5pQ6kk/s1600/DSC_0773.JPG" height="400" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Left) I highly doubt the quality of this one<br />
(Right) Elna Capacitor rated at 680uF, 35V (hence the height), 105 Degrees C</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QjTyP1d8A60/VIQ2Dw3GqTI/AAAAAAAAAio/fd95DcxsXd4/s1600/DSC_0779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QjTyP1d8A60/VIQ2Dw3GqTI/AAAAAAAAAio/fd95DcxsXd4/s1600/DSC_0779.JPG" height="400" width="326" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Dielectric Strength affects the size of the capacitor, Blue ones are 16V and the bigger one is 35V</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8zpjskvmB5U/VIQ2VVo4UhI/AAAAAAAAAiw/Ga7zvYhF1Sw/s1600/DSC_0786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8zpjskvmB5U/VIQ2VVo4UhI/AAAAAAAAAiw/Ga7zvYhF1Sw/s1600/DSC_0786.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bad news, It wont fit into the case</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BwzcXqoJtxQ/VIQ2jJ7xaUI/AAAAAAAAAi4/yK0IVjM4b8Y/s1600/DSC_0788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BwzcXqoJtxQ/VIQ2jJ7xaUI/AAAAAAAAAi4/yK0IVjM4b8Y/s1600/DSC_0788.JPG" height="392" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one will fit just fine. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hoMp8lh9oRg/VIRAVLArSkI/AAAAAAAAAjY/7Nm2I4yZMpA/s1600/DSC_0822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hoMp8lh9oRg/VIRAVLArSkI/AAAAAAAAAjY/7Nm2I4yZMpA/s1600/DSC_0822.JPG" height="640" width="636" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Capacitors removed Top View<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZjT0JJt-TfU/VIRAgjF8O6I/AAAAAAAAAjg/8_ocJO7d69I/s1600/DSC_0826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZjT0JJt-TfU/VIRAgjF8O6I/AAAAAAAAAjg/8_ocJO7d69I/s1600/DSC_0826.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Capacitors removed (another angle)<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Soldering the New Capacitors in:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mc7UsIcoemw/VIRDyz5u8iI/AAAAAAAAAjs/Ksa-H2b7B00/s1600/DSC_0833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mc7UsIcoemw/VIRDyz5u8iI/AAAAAAAAAjs/Ksa-H2b7B00/s1600/DSC_0833.JPG" height="518" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">For a New (not Populated board), doing this would be easy. But here, the holes into which the component leads go are already filled with solder. The picture shows a solution to the problem<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QzwiMGW6goc/VIR-dYb30TI/AAAAAAAAAj8/NsOltmJPjFY/s1600/DSC_0839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QzwiMGW6goc/VIR-dYb30TI/AAAAAAAAAj8/NsOltmJPjFY/s1600/DSC_0839.JPG" height="492" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">This it to be done one the longer lead appears on this side of the board<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xoEIlANOs50/VIR_QpzonKI/AAAAAAAAAkE/NLV91XWczNo/s1600/DSC_0850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xoEIlANOs50/VIR_QpzonKI/AAAAAAAAAkE/NLV91XWczNo/s1600/DSC_0850.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Because of this heating-pushing process, the leads look like this at the end of the process<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MsXdui__-Tk/VISDCaL4RWI/AAAAAAAAAko/HxsIwZTq5qE/s1600/DSC_0871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MsXdui__-Tk/VISDCaL4RWI/AAAAAAAAAko/HxsIwZTq5qE/s1600/DSC_0871.JPG" height="310" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Second Capacitor Soldered in<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C70kKYGzxiA/VISA8MNnbNI/AAAAAAAAAkc/ZchBr2y4N6A/s1600/DSC_0870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C70kKYGzxiA/VISA8MNnbNI/AAAAAAAAAkc/ZchBr2y4N6A/s1600/DSC_0870.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B75PeaSNpWc/VISEtlOgg9I/AAAAAAAAAk0/00kkZS51BWg/s1600/DSC_0905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B75PeaSNpWc/VISEtlOgg9I/AAAAAAAAAk0/00kkZS51BWg/s1600/DSC_0905.JPG" height="380" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
Capacitor leads snipped (1 and 2 are power supply capacitors, and 3rd one is unknown module )</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QCotNdQ5Occ/VISFWUD1USI/AAAAAAAAAk8/lu6iMx_YCDQ/s1600/DSC_0909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QCotNdQ5Occ/VISFWUD1USI/AAAAAAAAAk8/lu6iMx_YCDQ/s1600/DSC_0909.JPG" height="462" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All three Capacitors Replaced</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
With a router, without any cover, I was able to see first hand how hot the SOCs got. Not just that, touching the capacitors revealed that they were getting hot too. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>But Wait, do capacitors heat up?</b><br />
Through my experiments with capacitors, I had noted, and, was under the impression, that capacitors don't heat up if treated properly. Abuse a capacitor and it will blow up on your face. The one thing a capacitor doesn't like is getting its dielectric limit crossed (Voltage Rating). So was it this voltage rating being crossed? Was this voltage responsible for the damage and killing of innocent capacitors? I checked with a multi-meter, and it read 12.06V on the supply rail. 16V capacitors should be able to handle 12V right? Why the ones in here heated up, is still an unanswered question, for which I will be googling a bit.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The second reason could be the ambient temperature. This reason, why a capacitor might misbehave and want to blow up, is that its temperature reaches its limit due to outside factors. The capacitors I had were rated for 85 degrees Celsius. So, does the temperature inside the router reach that range? I highly doubt that, and need to get together an Arduino data-logging system to measure the exact temperatures, current and voltage, to eliminate these doubts. That will be the content of another post altogether. Till then we cannot know for sure, but the removed cover allowed me to be able to touch and check if the chips run hot. And they did. Almost all the components would reach temperatures that keeping a finger on the these parts would be an uncomfortable event. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The third reason I found during my adventures was, polarity. Dont put the right polarity on a capacitor (for long or a very short period of time) and it will blow.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The increase of temperature in a capacitor increases the pressure inside it (talking about electrolytic capacitors). These capacitors have electrolytes inside them, and naturally the cans they are inside can only be subjected to so much pressure. I have heated up capacitors on a flame (*Dangerous* DO NOT DO IT AT HOME!! I did it so you wouldn't need to do it!) and they exploded because of this, so it explains why these capacitors blow up at the first place. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you want to see a capacitor exploding, you can watch [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr7bPmGTQUk ]</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Also check out his other videos, they are hilarious!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Also, one idea to be noted is, capacitors are electrical components. They develop voltage on their terminals and DC current flows through them for some finite time (Till the capacitor gets fully charged), after this finite time, the capacitor is an open circuit to DC voltage. So naturally they would have a characteristic Wattage and a Limit at it (Power Density). I need to search more on this also. (So take this with a grain of salt) But in the case of ripple voltage, where current is changing polarity at the rate of AC supply, things might be getting tricky. Again, I need to research about this more. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
These links explained a bit and solidified some of the concepts for me. For example, the concept that ripple current affects capacitors and when not inside the rated limits of the capacitor, it can blow them up. That is one of the reason you can find ripple characteristics in a capacitor's datasheet.</div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
LINKS:</div>
<div>
[ http://www.digikey.com/Web%20Export/Supplier%20Content/CDE_338/PDF/CDE_ThermalModel.pdf?redirected=1</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/16499/hot-capacitors-is-that-a-problem</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/51645/should-electrolytic-capacitors-get-hot</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor</div>
<div>
]</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Adding a fan! The router must be like Yeah BABY!!</b><br />
But whatever the reason is, my current router developed bulged capacitors. So today I decided to fix them. Even though the open case points to the fact that it is not that probable that the blowing up of capacitors is ambient temperature related, it will always help to lower the ambient temperature. So I decided to pull the trigger on modding this router with a fan, and replace the capacitors with quality ones. To my astonishment, I did not find any 680uF 16V/25V capacitors. The only one they had were 680uF 35V, which do not fit the case. So I went for 1000uF 16V ones, keeping my fingers crossed and wishing that the capacitors i am replacing do not have any timing jobs they need to take care of.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q5Q9tfwfr0A/VIQ2veJPUGI/AAAAAAAAAjA/ZuYzpVqbn34/s1600/DSC_0791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q5Q9tfwfr0A/VIQ2veJPUGI/AAAAAAAAAjA/ZuYzpVqbn34/s1600/DSC_0791.JPG" height="560" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the fan that is to be added to the router. The heatsink is for the SOC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FKDNLCUaTY4/VIQ_yv-ANvI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/kSaP7VeUuWI/s1600/DSC_0793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FKDNLCUaTY4/VIQ_yv-ANvI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/kSaP7VeUuWI/s1600/DSC_0793.JPG" height="640" width="482" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fan is rated 12V DC at 1 Watts. Heatsink was for a simple Linear regulator</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
The best ones I got were Elna brand, but not the right size. The 1000uF ones were a little shady, but I brought them anyways. I did not want to go to another shop (did i mention i am Lazy?). Back at home, started the router Mod. I also brought a 12V mini fan. rated at 1 Watt. The Power = Voltage x Current equation puts it at 0.084 Amperes. The Router is rated at 12V, 700mA. Putting this fan in parallel with the supply leaves 0.616 Amperes for the supply, This method is very crude and unscientific, as prior calculations were not made. This might have made me need a new power supply for the router, but I was fortunate enough that no such thing was needed. </div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ppJWUEkc5IE/VI7xq6UwhOI/AAAAAAAAAnk/WNMtf5sq7iU/s1600/DSC_1168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ppJWUEkc5IE/VI7xq6UwhOI/AAAAAAAAAnk/WNMtf5sq7iU/s1600/DSC_1168.JPG" height="400" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Current Consumption of fan, based on rating as it appears on the fan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>NOTE:</b> To be able to add the fan to the router, its current consumption and voltage specs should fall within the range of what can be supplied by the power supply. In my case, looking at the fan, i calculated it will need approximately 0.1A of current, which falls within the rated specs on my router's power supply.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GtCuGbwdokw/VJEb2e7_UvI/AAAAAAAAApY/6x3Kf6kdMp8/s1600/DSC_1174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GtCuGbwdokw/VJEb2e7_UvI/AAAAAAAAApY/6x3Kf6kdMp8/s1600/DSC_1174.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="text-align: center;"> Rating specified on the Router</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ytETIH3U5M/VJEZhdl9acI/AAAAAAAAApM/NSEGi9s42YU/s1600/DSC_1170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ytETIH3U5M/VJEZhdl9acI/AAAAAAAAApM/NSEGi9s42YU/s1600/DSC_1170.JPG" height="640" width="556" /></a><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"> Power Supply for the Beetel 450TC1</span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Measuring Power (Overhead) available</b><br />
As I measured the current consumption, I noticed that running with one LAN port connected and WiFi on, with a file downloading on uTorrent, the router was consuming 0.44 to 0.45 Amperes. With the fan running, the multimeter measured 0.52 Amperes. Well inside the rated limits. I suspect that fully loading (All LAN ports connected, plus a lot of WiFi Clients connected) the router would give me problems with the fan being powered simultaneously. WiFi shouldnt be much of a trouble, because at the time of measuring, a total of 8 devices were connected. I am hoping I will never have to cross the limit. The addition of a switch in series with the fan will help me in such a case. Originally I added the switch in case there was too much noise for my parents to sleep in the room, and in case i get WiFi Reception troubles because of the addition of two current carrying conductors running near the Antenna. It would have been a problem if these wires were to be carrying high frequency data, but a fan doesn't need that.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
The motors used in these fans are brushless DC. The rotor has nothing but a magnet mounted on the inside. These motors do not need any brushes, and so this arrangement increases the lifetime of the motor compared to brushed ones, and extra electrical noise wouldnt be introduced into the system. I wish I had an oscilloscope to measure how much noise is introduced onto a power rail comparing brushed and brushless motors. But just to be safe, I chose to put a Capacitor in parallel with the supply to the motor. Being a 680uF 35V one, it should be able to handle any noise that the motor creates, even if it is minimal. Its a design choice, not very scientific, as I needed an oscilloscope to know exactly how much it helped and if the addition even helped or not.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LxLL-aSKHRI/VJEb3J1CmiI/AAAAAAAAApg/O2yVpkNBdSU/s1600/DSC_1175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LxLL-aSKHRI/VJEb3J1CmiI/AAAAAAAAApg/O2yVpkNBdSU/s1600/DSC_1175.JPG" height="372" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was lucky enough to find a vent I could create for the wires to be soldered inside the case, onto the jack, and be brought outside the case where the Fan, the Capacitor and the Switch lie. i usually am not that lucky, to be able to get that kind of a fit with such a mod.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7SCt0_Co87Y/VISJDI0_oOI/AAAAAAAAAlc/zaeGwfcsKbE/s1600/DSC_0917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7SCt0_Co87Y/VISJDI0_oOI/AAAAAAAAAlc/zaeGwfcsKbE/s1600/DSC_0917.JPG" height="484" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proposed placement of fan onto the fan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Next came the 'Fitting the Fan' part. I chose to put it in a way that would promote maximum air flow. </div>
<div>
When I was building my first Raspberry Pi case and getting a Switching regulator to lower a 12V rail voltage to 5V was too expensive, i had to use a linear regulator that could allow atleast 2A of current for the pi. To cool this regulator, as i noted in my experiments that as the regulator heated up, the current output went down, I was forced to put a fan inside the case to keep it cool. It was kind of an overkill, but I learned a lot from that build. It came to my attention that, pushing air through a case is better than sucking it from outside in. that i could notice with the amount of air that was displaced when sucking air inside the case was lower than the amount that could be pushed out.</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wsPG8dfmjPw/VISJVpHSMmI/AAAAAAAAAlk/JS3pMjqpu5o/s1600/DSC_0923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wsPG8dfmjPw/VISJVpHSMmI/AAAAAAAAAlk/JS3pMjqpu5o/s1600/DSC_0923.JPG" height="432" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Circumference of the Fan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
Same concept to be applied here. But the fan should not be on the top of a part that you want to cool. As, directly under the rotor of the fan there is minimal air-flow. Wanting to cool the whole system, i decided to put the fan closer to the edge. Sucking air in from one side, closing the vents on this side, will force the air over the whole system and effectively cool it (Atleast thats the theory, will need to measure temps to see what actually is happening). But it should help the blowing capacitors. Bringing down the ambient temperature should help. Will get to know the real story during the summers. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I drew onto the case of the router, the shape of the fan, subtracted a little from the lines outside, drew a small square inside and removed it using a heated knife. Then the fan was placed onto the case. I could have fixed it onto the case with screws, but that meant extra work (drilling holes). But since i have a Hot Glue gun, i hot glued the fan onto the newly created vent instead.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ERyhLl8q63g/VISTVcXEzGI/AAAAAAAAAmg/hdo1cJx_A5o/s1600/DSC_0942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ERyhLl8q63g/VISTVcXEzGI/AAAAAAAAAmg/hdo1cJx_A5o/s1600/DSC_0942.JPG" height="394" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spreading Thermal Paste onto the heat-sink</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tz06bjHiLbk/VISTxVKXzQI/AAAAAAAAAmo/gwj5ogcF6PI/s1600/DSC_0944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tz06bjHiLbk/VISTxVKXzQI/AAAAAAAAAmo/gwj5ogcF6PI/s1600/DSC_0944.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heat sink attached to the SOC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before packing up the router I added a small heat sink (to the chip that gets heated the most, the SOC) that I had in my inventory. It isn't the same size as that of the chip, but I think that the addition of a heat sink is in any case going the chip cool down better by increasing its heat dissipation. So why not, even if its not the same size as that of the chip?<br />
<br />
Just placing the heat-sink on top of the chip doesnt cut it. First of all there is nothing to keep it there if you move the router, which is only natural and it would happen. So to make the heat-sink stick and better thermal efficiency, I added a thin coat of thermal paste. Even if its low quality and cheap, i needed it to keep the heat-sink in place.<br />
<br />
<br />
I ran it once again to see if everything was fine, and once i was sure it is all OK, and I can connect to the internet, I packed the router up.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It makes a little bit of noise, but its nothing I cannot live with. The air it pushes outside is cool, and I have added a little transparent tape to the edge to which the fan lies close to (To force air over the whole board, rather than losing in from this side). Overall, I am happy with the performance as i can feel cool air being pushed outside the system. Again, the real test will be the summers, but I think it will pass the test. <br />
<br />
<b>The Placement of the Fan</b><br />
As one can imagine, the placement of the fan on the body of the router was an important decision. I learned about the placement of a fan on a system that needs cooling from a little bit of practical analysis when i was building a case for my raspberry pi. It was not the raspi that needed cooling as much as the Linear regulator. A linear regulator produces/releases heat into the atmosphere to regulate. The problem with such a system is<br />
1. Not Efficient<br />
2. If efficiency is not a factor, consider that as the temperature of the regulator rises, it loses its current output capabilities.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TeLuBrfR6gc/VISK1QgCINI/AAAAAAAAAlw/Jl-SkrROXyU/s1600/DSC_0923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TeLuBrfR6gc/VISK1QgCINI/AAAAAAAAAlw/Jl-SkrROXyU/s1600/DSC_0923.JPG" height="432" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outline drawn to make a vent for the fan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OZT88oJ_ZHg/VISH38aH8CI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/LAbitnSM3Fw/s1600/DSC_0921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OZT88oJ_ZHg/VISH38aH8CI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/LAbitnSM3Fw/s1600/DSC_0921.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XeCKkl2pqzM/VI7xnE5VLCI/AAAAAAAAAnU/10X4vuxYgvo/s1600/DSC_1166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XeCKkl2pqzM/VI7xnE5VLCI/AAAAAAAAAnU/10X4vuxYgvo/s1600/DSC_1166.JPG" height="292" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scheme 1, Suck air inside through Router Vents<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7UACxJm5G_E/VI7xnvQzNBI/AAAAAAAAAnY/kdLIxSB3yLU/s1600/DSC_1167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7UACxJm5G_E/VI7xnvQzNBI/AAAAAAAAAnY/kdLIxSB3yLU/s1600/DSC_1167.JPG" height="216" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scheme 2, Force air through Vents sucking from the fan<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
Why I wasn't buying a system with a Switching regulator? Well, they cost more than simple linear regulators. So i was forced to devise a system where a fan and a linear regulator was cheaper than a Switching regulator. Interesting experiments were those. It went as far as trying to use Wax as a coolant after water with the regulator submerged in it. As my system was not needed to be mobile, i could afford such solutions, but i did not because they were impractical and just experiments. Overall I had a lot of fun working with them.</div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
So the fan vent should be at a place on the body of the device that needs cooling, from where the Air intake flows over most of the board. Then comes the question of whether to create suction so as to push the air through the fan, out of the vents of the device, -or- to pull air inside through the vents and push out through the fan vent. </div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
Well, here is the deal. Air in = Air out. So to maximise air flow we need to maximize air In. The vents on the device are very small, even though large in number. So, the votes goo in the favor of the fan sucking air from the outside, and pushing it through the device's components and out through its vents. That way, because the vent of the fan is bigger and localized (One surface through which air passes in), we can get more amount of air inside and over the components compared to sucking it in through the vents. </div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
This method, ofcourse has a pitfall. More dust will collect on to the board. Only time will tell if it will affect the thermal dissipation of the router in a negative or a positive way. </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WlM1VZE9IEw/VISMAheIx4I/AAAAAAAAAl4/WptOkuiFm4Q/s1600/DSC_0924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WlM1VZE9IEw/VISMAheIx4I/AAAAAAAAAl4/WptOkuiFm4Q/s1600/DSC_0924.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TSIG5cCjjAA/VISMs1_iW8I/AAAAAAAAAmA/M6ZrFZXFs5E/s1600/DSC_0931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TSIG5cCjjAA/VISMs1_iW8I/AAAAAAAAAmA/M6ZrFZXFs5E/s1600/DSC_0931.JPG" height="504" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lqXdWT7kM98/VISRmFNs3eI/AAAAAAAAAmM/ztJQAasrtj4/s1600/DSC_0935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lqXdWT7kM98/VISRmFNs3eI/AAAAAAAAAmM/ztJQAasrtj4/s1600/DSC_0935.JPG" height="502" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8WmlLQoAf5c/VISR_QuRFYI/AAAAAAAAAmU/eEeNUxCfsek/s1600/DSC_0936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8WmlLQoAf5c/VISR_QuRFYI/AAAAAAAAAmU/eEeNUxCfsek/s1600/DSC_0936.JPG" height="401" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Placing the fan on the vent to see fitting<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V-As5kcP9XM/VISUC81C6fI/AAAAAAAAAmw/zVlbpXBr0uY/s1600/DSC_0949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V-As5kcP9XM/VISUC81C6fI/AAAAAAAAAmw/zVlbpXBr0uY/s1600/DSC_0949.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Fan hot-glued to the case<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1DkBrvV8Jeo/VJEO_z80I0I/AAAAAAAAAn0/SAo6WcWKiuM/s1600/DSC_0950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1DkBrvV8Jeo/VJEO_z80I0I/AAAAAAAAAn0/SAo6WcWKiuM/s1600/DSC_0950.JPG" height="505" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The fan, hot glued to the casing of the router</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WB6zQPQFbio/VJEPOJbaL3I/AAAAAAAAAn8/3Jy5tdFH0Qk/s1600/DSC_0956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WB6zQPQFbio/VJEPOJbaL3I/AAAAAAAAAn8/3Jy5tdFH0Qk/s1600/DSC_0956.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
680uF, 35V Elna, used as a filter capacitor</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LxVBAbUaIF8/VJEQIJd4TOI/AAAAAAAAAoI/mGFAB67zzCY/s1600/DSC_0959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LxVBAbUaIF8/VJEQIJd4TOI/AAAAAAAAAoI/mGFAB67zzCY/s1600/DSC_0959.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKCO7CLqfzw/VJEQqE9IhcI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/LQD1cE1LSnU/s1600/DSC_0958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKCO7CLqfzw/VJEQqE9IhcI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/LQD1cE1LSnU/s1600/DSC_0958.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--m4Bv2kGSgA/VJERLke0MgI/AAAAAAAAAoY/qvkdtVEwtKA/s1600/DSC_0963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--m4Bv2kGSgA/VJERLke0MgI/AAAAAAAAAoY/qvkdtVEwtKA/s1600/DSC_0963.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;"> The circuit with switch and capacitor connected</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I5LoemcCKus/VJERhhLwaRI/AAAAAAAAAog/YbY10ll-f4Y/s1600/DSC_0967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I5LoemcCKus/VJERhhLwaRI/AAAAAAAAAog/YbY10ll-f4Y/s1600/DSC_0967.JPG" height="518" width="640" /></a></div>
Everything glued together<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gN3TAzbEz_Y/VJERsZHbbmI/AAAAAAAAAoo/ufe8bucYBYs/s1600/DSC_0968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gN3TAzbEz_Y/VJERsZHbbmI/AAAAAAAAAoo/ufe8bucYBYs/s1600/DSC_0968.JPG" height="444" width="640" /></a></div>
Everything glued together (2)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g7tS1eA4rV8/VJER3BX-RII/AAAAAAAAAow/2ePqCxozeRc/s1600/DSC_0969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g7tS1eA4rV8/VJER3BX-RII/AAAAAAAAAow/2ePqCxozeRc/s1600/DSC_0969.JPG" height="372" width="640" /></a></div>
Finished product (back view)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Measurement of current Done with fan on and off</b></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8nimQBPFQkA/VJEkwEFEn1I/AAAAAAAAAp4/jgHA8cv4d5s/s1600/DSC_1184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8nimQBPFQkA/VJEkwEFEn1I/AAAAAAAAAp4/jgHA8cv4d5s/s1600/DSC_1184.JPG" height="398" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Booting up, fan running, 0.43A of current</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FEddgypvb1o/VJEk3RVkk1I/AAAAAAAAAqA/RP6Ri0Jmye4/s1600/DSC_1185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FEddgypvb1o/VJEk3RVkk1I/AAAAAAAAAqA/RP6Ri0Jmye4/s1600/DSC_1185.JPG" height="396" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Booted up and clients connected 0.49A of current (Fan running)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ycdFGOA9JyY/VJElB43mZWI/AAAAAAAAAqI/i2-MEycc7BA/s1600/DSC_1191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ycdFGOA9JyY/VJElB43mZWI/AAAAAAAAAqI/i2-MEycc7BA/s1600/DSC_1191.JPG" height="380" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Booted up, fan off, 0.41A of current being consumed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j0JwbvwtdWI/VJElMJABlSI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/TLb6oHs4PRE/s1600/DSC_1193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j0JwbvwtdWI/VJElMJABlSI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/TLb6oHs4PRE/s1600/DSC_1193.JPG" height="297" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of contraption for measurement of current</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sFoSDOk4nRE/VJEkmaftqeI/AAAAAAAAApw/BmAJmnHGdIk/s1600/DSC_1179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sFoSDOk4nRE/VJEkmaftqeI/AAAAAAAAApw/BmAJmnHGdIk/s1600/DSC_1179.JPG" height="400" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">My contraption for measurement of Current (Banana replaces banana)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M0B_uVzp2R4/VJESoTN2McI/AAAAAAAAAo8/SqvmmfA4RMo/s1600/DSC_0971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M0B_uVzp2R4/VJESoTN2McI/AAAAAAAAAo8/SqvmmfA4RMo/s1600/DSC_0971.JPG" height="444" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
Router running with all its glory</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
It has been weeks since this mod was performed on the router, and it is working flawless since then. the air it pushes outside of the vents is cool all the time, making me believe that it is providing the cooling effect the mod is designed for. But, to be honest it is winter season and real testing will be done only in the summers.</div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
PS: I am thinking of coming up with a system that can effectively measure the temperature of the components inside, particularly the SOC. Because i have placed a switch, it will allow me to make measurements both with and without the fan. It *might* get to be the content of another post altogether!</div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
Happy hacking, people!</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
psgarchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571917492867013450noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201199065289113329.post-79573644075330555682014-11-21T12:59:00.003-08:002014-11-21T13:06:05.769-08:00My Fight with "avrdude stk500_getsync(): not in sync resp=0x00" on the Arduino<div class="MsoNormal">
My plight with my year old Arduino Uno started after an
international trip where my Arduino was accompanying me, for project completion
purposes. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-POUtDG-GxwQ/VG9TjqAbvqI/AAAAAAAAAak/Oq2p3nhPTq4/s1600/winuploadtimeout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-POUtDG-GxwQ/VG9TjqAbvqI/AAAAAAAAAak/Oq2p3nhPTq4/s1600/winuploadtimeout.jpg" height="121" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After returning, I noticed that something was wrong. No
matter what code I would try to upload, it would give the “avrdude stk500_getsync(): not in sync 0x00”
error. The RX LED would blink 3 times before this message appearing. The TX LED did not blink at all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So it meant that an initiate recieve request was being sent from the laptop, but the board did nothing in response. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I searched
and searched and searched on the internet for possible solutions. At first I
felt that the serial interface, the Atmega16U2/USB Cable must be at fault. To check that,
the steps were easy. I just had to perform the Loop Back Test:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Connect a jumper between pin 1 and pin 2 of your
Arduino.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Open the Arduino software and see that the
proper com port is selected under Tools>Serial Port (you can look for the
correct serial port in Device Manager on a Windows Machine by right clicking
This PC>Properties>Device Manager. Your Arduino should be visible under
‘Ports (COM & LPT)’. Open the list under this category and there you will
find Arduino xxxx (COMX), where xxxx is your Arduino version, ex Mega, Uno,
etc. and X will be your COM Port Number)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Open the Serial Monitor in Arduino<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Input a string of characters and you should
receive exactly the same string. For ex, if I input 12355, I should receive
12355 in the serial monitor window.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pm-yPJYGF0s/VG9hojNRggI/AAAAAAAAAbY/DUbny1DLfbg/s1600/Mega%2BLOOPBACK%2Btest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pm-yPJYGF0s/VG9hojNRggI/AAAAAAAAAbY/DUbny1DLfbg/s1600/Mega%2BLOOPBACK%2Btest.jpg" height="364" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The loop-back test jumper (jumped from 1 to 0 or 0 to 1)</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CBQKAjim-iI/VG9SyDY4h3I/AAAAAAAAAaY/ZzLBkutv-iE/s1600/screen%2Ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CBQKAjim-iI/VG9SyDY4h3I/AAAAAAAAAaY/ZzLBkutv-iE/s1600/screen%2Ball.jpg" height="392" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BXAm7vtZ_7k/VG9Sx4ugW8I/AAAAAAAAAaU/wCDuy-WXj7M/s1600/screen%2Ball%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BXAm7vtZ_7k/VG9Sx4ugW8I/AAAAAAAAAaU/wCDuy-WXj7M/s1600/screen%2Ball%2B2.jpg" height="382" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
If however, you do not receive the same, there is a problem
with<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->a.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The USB cable<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->b.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The Atmega16U2’s Firmware<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->c.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The circuit traces between the Atmega16U2 and
the rest of the board.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->d.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Could also be that the TX LED was bad (needs reconsideration)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For me, I did receive the characters back, but call it my
stupidity, I still went on and flashed my Atmega16U2 with a DFU Programmer to
rule out any errors over there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But again, after flashing the Atmega16U2, I experienced the
same behavior from the board, performing the loopback test again and trying to
upload the code after the firmware flash. Characters were received in the Serial Monitor but the Upload
still complained “not in sync 0x00”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b>
<b>Turing On Verbose for Upload (For in depth analysis):</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Things were starting to get serious now, so I started
searching even harder. The problem with this error is that it can occur for a
number of reasons. Also, it was necessary to get the exact errors that occurred
during the upload, so I went on and turned on the Show Verbose output during:
Upload option from File>Preferences in Arduino software<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F5V3sNTVXfk/VG9UFHhm5aI/AAAAAAAAAas/BMMo-mtlw9Q/s1600/verbose%2Bon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F5V3sNTVXfk/VG9UFHhm5aI/AAAAAAAAAas/BMMo-mtlw9Q/s1600/verbose%2Bon.jpg" height="640" width="531" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fig X. This Figure has the "Show Verbose Output During: Upload", ticked/Enabled.</div>
Simply go to File>Preferences to open the above window<br />
<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The reasons for the errors can be as follows:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->a.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->No communication between the computer and the
board (Covers 90 percent of the cases)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->b.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Wrong COM port selected<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->c.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Wrong board selected (It is advised to check a
few different boards from the Tools>Board Menu)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->d.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Timing Errors (Still falls under communications,
for if the Atmega being programmed does not respond in time, it will be a
Timeout) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The reason why it was affecting my particular board was not
to be found anywhere on the forums. The theoretical reason was found early on,
that my Atmega328p-PU was not responding in time/at all. The practical reason
was learned the hard way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In between the bouts of readings, I typically would stumble
upon information that is very necessary to judge the current state of my
Arduino. For example, on a healthy board, when any code whatsoever is loaded
(in the presence of a bootloader), every time the user would press the Reset
button, the LED labelled L on the Arduino (the one connected internally to the
13<sup>th</sup> pin through a resistor) should blink. That means a bootloader
is present.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I would get the response as:<br />
<br />
avrdude stk500_getsync(): not in sync 0x00<br />
avrdude stk500_getsync(): protocol error, expect=0x14, resp=0x51<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
And 3 requests being send to the board and none received. Sorry that i cannot produce the exact error code right now, i did not have the making of this blog on mind when i was solving the problem. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Simple LED Blink Test</b><br />
So, to cross out any such problem, you need to push the reset
button while the board is powered through USB or the Power Jack, and see if the
LED ‘L’ blinks. If it doesn't, the problem might be<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<br />
<!--[if !supportLists]-->a. A<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Corrupt Bootloader<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->b.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>The chip not responding (damaged chip, blown
circuit traces, any reason why the chip might not respond)<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MsTMjmEx5nw/VG9WMGsBNuI/AAAAAAAAAa4/_RzDHfd3LQQ/s1600/L%2BLED.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MsTMjmEx5nw/VG9WMGsBNuI/AAAAAAAAAa4/_RzDHfd3LQQ/s1600/L%2BLED.JPG" height="318" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The alleged 'L' LED, marked with the RED Circle</div>
<br />
<br />
My LED 'L' was not blinking. This lead was something, as small as it was. So I went
on and started looking for resources to burn my bootloader again. I had a spare
Mega 2560 I had lying around which I could use to program the board, so I was
in luck of being fully equipped, already. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Kicked in the butt by failure</b><br />
4-5 hours later, after trying a few different burning
trials, I was devastated in the face of failure. I was still thinking that it
is only a circuit trace gone bad in which case I might not be able to help it,
but still I needed to know the problem. Tried a few more times, and I actually
ended up trashing the bootloader on my Mega 2560, and it also started giving
the “not in sync 0x00” error. Frustrated, I left the problem, and ordered a
USBASP v2.0 LC Technology programmer and 2 bootloaded Atmega 328P-PU MCUs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<b>A packet of Rays of Hope Arrive (Programmer and bootloaded chips)</b><br />
Fast forward a few days, my programmer and the 2
Atmega328P-PU chips arrived. The Programmer was fine but the packaging in which
my Atmegas arrived made me wary of whether the chips were bootloaded at all to
even start with. It looked to me like factory packaging, having experience with
factory packaging after ordering components from Element14. The first thing I
did after that was to pop in the new Atmega328P-PU chip and try to program the
board hoping (even though I had never abused the board) that it might be a
blown chip that was giving me all the trouble. But to no avail. The new chips,
both of them, refused to take code and gave slightly different errors, but on the same lines as the original one. F**K Me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are going to be a few reasons always, as to why a chip
does not work the way it is supposed to. If you can figure out the chip being
bad or good, the weight of the problem then falls on the most critical
components, external, on which the chip’s functioning depends. One such
component is the Crystal, another is the circuit traces. After a lot of playing
around with this board, the initial feeling of the fact that the Crystal might
have bitten the bullet, appealed the most to me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>Multiple Arduino Versions, Drivers, Cables</b><br />
Still, I tried to program the chip via the programmer I had just
brought. Multiple Arduino versions ranging from 022 to even the 1.5.7 one were
used, in case there was something about the Windows 8.1 compatibility. Even
tried the different driver versions. The 1.5.7 version I had was one which came
bundled with signed drivers for windows 8.1. I even uninstalled all drivers I
had and tried all versions of drivers available easily. The latest version, the
last version, and another driver not even for the Arduino, but one that people used
when the driver signing was not letting people use their Arduino boards on
their Windows 8.1 machines. Nothing worked here too. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>Breadboard Time</b><br />
The only option left was for me was to breadboard the
Arduino circuit and try and program an Atmega328P-PU from there. Who knows, it
might work, was my thinking. So I gathered the components (16MHz Crystal, 2
capacitors, Jumper wire), assembled the circuit on a breadboard and used my
programmer to flash the bootloader on. But no, how in the world can it be
that easy? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The Arduino Software threw out errors of the sorts:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
"Auto set sck (because the default is null)<br />
Please upgrade the firmware. <br />
initialization failed rc=-1<br />
Run with –F to ignore these".<br />
<br />
So as it suggested, I ran it with –F (AVRDude was used, not Arduino). Again the verbose output would be<br />
<br />
Auto set sck (because the default is null)<br />
Please upgrade the firmware. <br />
initialization failed rc=-1<br />
invalid device signature 0x00000<br />
expected device signature is 1e 95 0F<br />
please recheck connections and try again.<br />
<br />
Damn. I was pretty close to ordering a new Arduino Uno. But the pain of
hardware just lying there because of my incompetence in repairing it was
something I would not take. So I searched some more. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Re-Introduction with the Devil</b><br />
Fast forward a few more days. I sat down again, feeling determined to make this
thing work, my mind almost forgetting the failure I had endured the last two
times. But the best thing was, I was taking up the problem with a well settled,
untroubled mind, so I could take on to the problem with a new perspective. <br />
<br />
The first thought that occurred to me was to try and reflash firmware again,
because it might have been problems with wiring the last time. The error always
said “Auto set sck time”. And all these
timing troubles, well most of them, come from incomplete/incorrect circuits. The
programmer I had was the USBASP LC technology v2.0, so I took out a multi-meter
to check for grounding. This particular version is 10Pin version.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The pinout is as shown below:<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hIQ91zWJwdQ/VG9gwVxmHsI/AAAAAAAAAbI/zUifTRcaZMc/s1600/programmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hIQ91zWJwdQ/VG9gwVxmHsI/AAAAAAAAAbI/zUifTRcaZMc/s1600/programmer.jpg" height="333" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aSUsYGpHJxk/VG9hnRfIyJI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/5MyuGkSg_-c/s1600/ICSP%2BPinouts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aSUsYGpHJxk/VG9hnRfIyJI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/5MyuGkSg_-c/s1600/ICSP%2BPinouts.jpg" height="338" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fig x. ICSP 10-Pin (Left) vs 6-pin (Right)</div>
PS. Real engineers don't use rulers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the wire, it goes like Pin 1 then VCC, Pin 3 then Ground (Pin 4), Pin 5 then Ground (Pin 6) and so on. The last Pin is Ground (pin 10). On the other hand, the Arduino
has a 6pin ICSP Header, so a quickfix was needed to convert 10pin ICSP header to 6pin ICSP header.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HEQIbwNidw0/VG97nxaNxYI/AAAAAAAAAbo/8ROwSaPXZJU/s1600/icsp%2Bcable%2Bpinout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HEQIbwNidw0/VG97nxaNxYI/AAAAAAAAAbo/8ROwSaPXZJU/s1600/icsp%2Bcable%2Bpinout.jpg" height="406" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Curious and with a multimeter, in my programmer, I found that not all the
ground pins were actually grounded. So, if a normal person, like me, would
randomly choose from Pin 4,6,8,10 to put the ground pin on the Arduino (ICSP Pin
6), you might not have grounded the Arduino pin at all. That is bad. So many
variables to go wrong at, and this programmer can cause this one.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h5Fmh1d-QNI/VG-GfFJ12hI/AAAAAAAAAcA/NPj5EmjqQeA/s1600/reading%2Bshort.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h5Fmh1d-QNI/VG-GfFJ12hI/AAAAAAAAAcA/NPj5EmjqQeA/s1600/reading%2Bshort.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fig x. Shorting the leads in Continuity Mode reads 002</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HB4jNVgKibc/VG-GgoFC25I/AAAAAAAAAcQ/NiG6IwwHV_8/s1600/reading%2Bconti1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HB4jNVgKibc/VG-GgoFC25I/AAAAAAAAAcQ/NiG6IwwHV_8/s1600/reading%2Bconti1.JPG" height="608" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fig x Pin 10 ICSP to Pin 3 Atmega8 (GND) [Shows Continuity]</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-muyZOOnZVTg/VG-GfO_suzI/AAAAAAAAAcE/eF5SEwskMYA/s1600/reading%2Bconti%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-muyZOOnZVTg/VG-GfO_suzI/AAAAAAAAAcE/eF5SEwskMYA/s1600/reading%2Bconti%2B3.JPG" height="516" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fig x Pin 8 ICSP to Pin 3 Atmega8 (Shows Continuity)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h0O1ifaBos8/VG-GZMojZAI/AAAAAAAAAb4/pCMo0aw53mk/s1600/reading%2Bconti%2B4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h0O1ifaBos8/VG-GZMojZAI/AAAAAAAAAb4/pCMo0aw53mk/s1600/reading%2Bconti%2B4.JPG" height="544" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fig x Pin 4 ICSP to Atmega8 Pin 3 [No Continuity]</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
To be precise, Pin 8 and Pin 10 are grounded, directly shorted to the Pin 3 on the Atmega8. Pin 4 and Pin 6 on the other hand, were not shorted to each other and to the Gnd pin of the MCU. WTF? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I chose to short all the ground wires, to actually create
a ground.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JgMhv071G5A/VG-JAeHhSYI/AAAAAAAAAcc/wa_y7jmYHuw/s1600/my%2Bcontraption.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JgMhv071G5A/VG-JAeHhSYI/AAAAAAAAAcc/wa_y7jmYHuw/s1600/my%2Bcontraption.JPG" height="320" width="311" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fig x My Solution to the Ground problem</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Do4icw6ckxU/VG-jdUmz9NI/AAAAAAAAAek/fGegMuf_zvI/s1600/my%2Bconnector%2BMOD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Do4icw6ckxU/VG-jdUmz9NI/AAAAAAAAAek/fGegMuf_zvI/s1600/my%2Bconnector%2BMOD.jpg" height="338" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Modified Cable with Headers labled</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Note: The reason for the arrangement of wires in the 10pin ICSP header is that this configuration maximizes stability of signals, shielding from noise in places where a long cable is employed. <br />
<br />
<b>Resurrection of the Mega</b><br />
After this, I tried setting my Mega 2560 back to working condition. I
plugged in the USBASP programmer, put the female header onto the Mega, and <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->a.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Tools>Board>Mega 2560 (board to be
programmed)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->b.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Tools>Programmer>USBasp<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->c.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Tools>Burn Bootloader<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The Arduino software said Burning Bootloader, this might take
a minute. The L LED flashed on the Mega 2560, and no errors, no verbose text was reported
in Arduino. So I left it on for 5 minutes or so, then, believing that the
process still did not work and from 1 bad Arduino I was officially onto 2 bad
ones, I unplugged it and put it on USB to check for the Bootloader Blink (Bad idea, because unplugging the chip while bootloader is being flashed is a bad idea, NOT RECOMMENDED). To my
astonishment, the bootloader had been written, and clicking the reset button,
blinked the L LED. Meant that the bootloader was now present on the Mega
2560. I checked with Arduino, trying to
upload the blink program and it worked flawless, to my relief. <b>So I had passed the Blink Test on one Board atleaset</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Nice, now please do it for the Uno</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The first problem i faced here was that the way i had configured my header, it would not fit into the ICSP header of the Uno. So, More jumper cable was the solution, not pictured.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tvi818FNQCk/VG-jdHeHNvI/AAAAAAAAAeo/bSRavFfc9vk/s1600/Doesnt%2Bfit%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tvi818FNQCk/VG-jdHeHNvI/AAAAAAAAAeo/bSRavFfc9vk/s1600/Doesnt%2Bfit%2B1.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fig X Wouldnt Fit Arggh</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qdkmXy_UqsU/VG-jdDdJy3I/AAAAAAAAAeg/96oh77reJ7Y/s1600/doesnt%2Bfit%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qdkmXy_UqsU/VG-jdDdJy3I/AAAAAAAAAeg/96oh77reJ7Y/s1600/doesnt%2Bfit%2B2.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fig X Shite.</div>
<br />
Next, I noticed that the USBasp had reported “Auto sck set
time” with the Uno, but worked with the Mega. So now I was all set to upgrade
the firmware for the USBasp using my newly revived Mega 2560. A few posts and a
few errors later, I managed to update the firmware of the USBasp, and now
thinking that I had rectified the major problems I was working with last time,
I went on to flash the Uno.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Comes the moment of truth. I tried to plug in the header
into the UNO, but my design had gone horribly wrong. Improvistion it is, and I
used a few jumper cables to put the header onto the Uno. My heart skipped a
beat when I tried to flash the bootloader the same way I had for the Uno, as it
showed this error<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
“ avrdude: auto set sck period (because given equals null)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
avrdude: error:
program enable: target doesn't answer. 1 <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
avrdude:
initialization failed, rc=-1<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Double check
connections and try again, or use -F to override<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
this check. ”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What the Hell? Is it that I am supposed to select SLOW SCK?
(Jumper JP3 on my board) I put a jumper on JP3, tried flashing again, and same
error flashed to my face. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What was it? What was the problem? Why my Uno? Why me? Then
I once again looked at the board, closely, focusing on the Resonator. It is
when you have lost everything that you look to follow your instincts. And then
I saw the Resonator on the Mega. Both looked different. And then it occurred to
me. My Uno had no working Resonator. It’s cap had blown off. And only the base
remained, as you can see in the pictures. And that was my problem. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_rXblMT_F-k/VG-TKw1UeZI/AAAAAAAAAc4/hF3dRsRWAPQ/s1600/resonator%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_rXblMT_F-k/VG-TKw1UeZI/AAAAAAAAAc4/hF3dRsRWAPQ/s1600/resonator%2B1.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fig x Missing Resonator</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ysKWuPRXxp4/VG-TKxg96VI/AAAAAAAAAc0/bM5lwnaJB7M/s1600/resonator%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ysKWuPRXxp4/VG-TKxg96VI/AAAAAAAAAc0/bM5lwnaJB7M/s1600/resonator%2B2.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fig x The return of the Infamous red Circle</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WhF5TnLwxnA/VG-TCUzi1qI/AAAAAAAAAcs/pnSOBYVqAVA/s1600/resonator%2Bactual.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WhF5TnLwxnA/VG-TCUzi1qI/AAAAAAAAAcs/pnSOBYVqAVA/s1600/resonator%2Bactual.jpg" height="588" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fig x What the Actual Resonator should look like (Picture from my Mega2560)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I got the parts with which I had successfully programmed
the Atmega on the breadboard.<br />
<br />
Had to remove the remnants of the resonator that remained, and the resistor that was connected in parallel to it, so as to be able to solder the bigger Crystal Oscillator.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ONMWCPLFwfs/VG-aWFTc5DI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/hwdPX76v5xs/s1600/resistor%2Band%2Bresonator%2Bbase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ONMWCPLFwfs/VG-aWFTc5DI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/hwdPX76v5xs/s1600/resistor%2Band%2Bresonator%2Bbase.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fig X This is How the board was. Base of Resonator exists and resistor also soldered</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kbTU6qVg2Kw/VG-aNoiaJwI/AAAAAAAAAd4/CMvSNyf8naQ/s1600/after%2Bdesoldering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kbTU6qVg2Kw/VG-aNoiaJwI/AAAAAAAAAd4/CMvSNyf8naQ/s1600/after%2Bdesoldering.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fig X This is how all things looked with de-soldered components</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8_iJUPZf58M/VG-aPTboniI/AAAAAAAAAeA/nasCAH_P5L4/s1600/New%2BCircuit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8_iJUPZf58M/VG-aPTboniI/AAAAAAAAAeA/nasCAH_P5L4/s1600/New%2BCircuit.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fig X This is the circuit that should be at last, soldered onto the board</div>
<br />
<br />
Note: I could have used a more "Low Profile" Oscillator, like the one used for the Atmega16U2 on the board, but i did not have that on hand. And i wanted the board working at any cost, so i went with the bigger one only.<br />
<br />
Note 2: The resistor connected in parallel to the Resonator is there for stability reasons. It is not needed for the Crystal Oscillator. So removing it is recommended. You can see this resistor in the Fig X of Mega 2560 on the right side of the Resonator. Desolder it.<br />
<br />
And I came up with a scheme to solder the Crystal
removing the remnants of the Resonator. And voila! I have a working UNO now.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1-YHbLreqgE/VG-U6Nt5fFI/AAAAAAAAAdI/DNVrxUbx9AQ/s1600/Resonator%2Bmy%2Bfix%2B(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1-YHbLreqgE/VG-U6Nt5fFI/AAAAAAAAAdI/DNVrxUbx9AQ/s1600/Resonator%2Bmy%2Bfix%2B(1).JPG" height="458" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Removed the (dead) resonator and the resistor connected and in place of that, soldered a Crystal Oscillator with 2 22pF Caps</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xo_tXnuroBQ/VG-U_g8RD-I/AAAAAAAAAdY/r8bMQN2As-M/s1600/Resonator%2Bmy%2Bfix%2B(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xo_tXnuroBQ/VG-U_g8RD-I/AAAAAAAAAdY/r8bMQN2As-M/s1600/Resonator%2Bmy%2Bfix%2B(2).JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2VtJfdB1dIg/VG-U9meLEWI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/MkfcqXSQ4bk/s1600/Resonator%2Bmy%2Bfix%2B(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2VtJfdB1dIg/VG-U9meLEWI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/MkfcqXSQ4bk/s1600/Resonator%2Bmy%2Bfix%2B(3).JPG" height="516" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wXfsFQZvb4g/VG-VFQriU8I/AAAAAAAAAdg/45y00R8-jRE/s1600/Resonator%2Bmy%2Bfix%2B(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wXfsFQZvb4g/VG-VFQriU8I/AAAAAAAAAdg/45y00R8-jRE/s1600/Resonator%2Bmy%2Bfix%2B(4).JPG" height="430" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1t0WRarccmE/VG-VL4NBwMI/AAAAAAAAAdo/idK61hfLXg8/s1600/Resonator%2Bmy%2Bfix%2B(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1t0WRarccmE/VG-VL4NBwMI/AAAAAAAAAdo/idK61hfLXg8/s1600/Resonator%2Bmy%2Bfix%2B(5).JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ft0SQ2rQ-X0/VG-aSriPrOI/AAAAAAAAAeI/Y3jQOIyXfWI/s1600/final%2Bhot%2Bglued.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ft0SQ2rQ-X0/VG-aSriPrOI/AAAAAAAAAeI/Y3jQOIyXfWI/s1600/final%2Bhot%2Bglued.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Everything Hot Glued Together</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope I have helped maybe 2% of people with the not in sync
0x00 error. It took me days of thinking and searching to come to this point,
and these were the days I was not tinkering or using the Arduino for what it
is, but wasting my time wondering what had gone wrong with the board.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
PS: Please dont mind the Pictures, I really did not have this blog in mind when i started the Fixing of the Uno<br />
<br />
PPS: Links<br />
USBasp Firmware Upgrade: http://www.nexuscyber.com/boards/topic/1/how-to-use-arduino-uno-upgrade-usbasp-firmware<br />
<br />
Arduino Mega and Uno Programming: http://www.gammon.com.au/forum/?id=11637<br />
http://www.gammon.com.au/forum/?id=11635<br />
Minimal Arduino Circuit for Breadboard: http://www.gammon.com.au/forum/?id=11109<br />
Info: https://learn.adafruit.com/arduino-tips-tricks-and-techniques/arduino-uno-faq<br />
Info2: http://jorisvr.nl/arduino_frequency.html<br />
Same Mod: http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=54621.0<br />
A little Different: http://parkyjimbo.blogspot.in/2014/05/arduino-uno-ceramic-resonator.html<br />
<br />
The above link, parkyjimbo's link, was very tempting, as i could have solved the problem with only a single wire. But afraid of stability issues I *might* have faced (USB Timing, very crucial, not to be played with) I went with the addition of Crystal method.<br />
<br />
PLUS: My Uno's timings are more accurate now! YAY!<br />
<br />
I also found<br />
<br />
People in problem, search search and search and you WILL find the solution is what i have learned from this experience.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Happy Coding people!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
psgarchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571917492867013450noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201199065289113329.post-25733021146138026162014-11-16T11:22:00.001-08:002014-11-16T11:22:25.746-08:00First things, first<br />
<br />
I have been thinking of creating my blog for a long time now.<br />
<br />Finally, with a repair, I got together the thoughts, the electric and magnetic forces, the billions and billions of atoms and molecules inside my head to present to the world, my Art.<br />
<br />
I intend to share things that I find fascinating, from electronics to music and everything in between.<br />
<br />
Giving my two cents to the world of information, with the motto of helping and sharing and who knows, you might just like what I am all about... psgarchahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571917492867013450noreply@blogger.com1