RTK Motor Controller Board doesn't work

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larsbo
 
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RTK Motor Controller Board doesn't work

Post by larsbo »

I soldered my ordered motor controller https://www.adafruit.com/products/1687 and put it on my raspi and also created a python script as described here https://github.com/ryanteck/RTK-000-001 ... r/motor.py.

But the board doesn't work :(

I checked the voltage output and the script is working as espected: the raspi pins 17 & 18 are alternately under power. But there is no voltage at the ic pins for the motors.

Is it a problem to power the rtk board with the raspi voltage output at pin 2?

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adafruit_support_bill
 
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Re: RTK Motor Controller Board doesn't work

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

Please post clear photos of the front and back of the assembled board.
Is it a problem to power the rtk board with the raspi voltage output at pin 2?
The board circuitry can be powered by the Pi, but the motors require a separate supply.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rfw ... tsts8c9n0t

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larsbo
 
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Re: RTK Motor Controller Board doesn't work

Post by larsbo »

adafruit_support_bill wrote:The board circuitry can be powered by the Pi, but the motors require a separate supply.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rfw ... tsts8c9n0t
Ok, I already read that but I thought it isn't mandatory to use an external power supply.
So maybe this is the problem I guess. But here are some pictures just to be sure.
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adafruit_support_bill
 
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Re: RTK Motor Controller Board doesn't work

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

The assembly looks fine. I'd try an external power supply.
The Raspberry Pi doesn't have a lot of power to spare and motor can be pretty power hungry.

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larsbo
 
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Re: RTK Motor Controller Board doesn't work

Post by larsbo »

ok, I will try an external power supply and answer here what will happen.
thank you for your help!

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larsbo
 
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Re: RTK Motor Controller Board doesn't work

Post by larsbo »

I tried an external power supply (usb from another computer) but the board still doesn't work.
Without the board the motor is working fine.
I have also verified again that the python script work as espected and the gpio pins 17 and 18 are powered periodically.

RyanteckLTD
 
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Re: RTK Motor Controller Board doesn't work

Post by RyanteckLTD »

Hi Larsbo,

the soldering on the kit looks perfect so I don't think its that at all.

We've got some newer documentation at https://github.com/RyanteckLTD/RTK-000- ... onBasis.md which should get you going slightly better. Although written to use with a robot chassis the principles of turning motors on and off is exactly the same.

It looks like your using the code from the V1 documentation which is fine but from what I can tell you have the motor itself wired into M2 and not M1 which is likely the issue.

Power supply wise will depend completely on the power the motor requires. If it is only a tiny one then you may be able to get away with it but it may cause some noise on the line. What's most likely to happen is when its turned on for the Pi to reboot due to the drop in voltage (The Pi isn't designed to handle a motor via its power).

Thanks -
Ryan Walmsley

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larsbo
 
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Re: RTK Motor Controller Board doesn't work

Post by larsbo »

Hi Ryan,

thank you for your answer and the new documentation. But unfortunately that example code doesn't work either. The important parts looks also the same:
motor 1 is powered by pin 17 & 18,
motor 2 is powered by pin 22 & 23.
And I tried both ports M1 & M2 and both pin combinations, of course.

Very frustrating :(

RyanteckLTD
 
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Re: RTK Motor Controller Board doesn't work

Post by RyanteckLTD »

It sounds to me like the IC could be faulty as the new code and old code both worked perfectly fine.

The next step I think would be to send it back to Adafruit or to Me for testing. I'm not fully sure on Adafruit's return policy at all so would require a reply or email to them.

Sorry about the issue,
-
Ryan Walmsley

RyanteckLTD
 
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Re: RTK Motor Controller Board doesn't work

Post by RyanteckLTD »

Update,
Just had a talk with Adafruit and I'l handle a replacement for you.

Can you email me on [email protected]?

Thanks

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