Weird

[heSynergy]

Your 5v10a power supply is acting weirdly. See the video below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXXESL-C160

[adafruit_support_bill]

You are feeding 5v into the DC input jack, which goes through a 7805 voltage regulator. The 7805 needs at least 7v to regulate properly.

Since the 5v/10A supply is already regulated, you should be feeding the Arduino via the 5v pin.

[heSynergy]

Thanks for your quick reply!

So I need to make a jack with jumper pins to go to Vin and Gnd on the analog side?
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Here's a project using several of LadyAda's parts...with a question to the forum...

Chas's Security Device Project
hesynergy Subscribe 29 videos


http://youtu.be/DFMk1MOYv1

Howdee,
I have fabricated an alarm system. It is mounted on a soldered perfboard. For testing purposes, I am pinned from an empty ATTINY85 8-pin carrier which then goes to the arduino.
When the hardware and software is debugged, I'll use the ARDY AS ISP and upload the software to the Tiny.
I am supporting an Attiny85 handling inputs from a PIR (Passive InfraRed motion detector) With digital out to d10 in, an LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) with ANALOG OUT to A0 in, 21-white 12 v LEDS In a 7x3 configuration current limited by 7 resistors . The LEDs are fed by D9 out to a TIP20 Darlington transistor.
The arrangement is currently connected to an external 12v 2a PS(Power Supply), providing 12v to the LEDs on the VCC (+12v) and supplying ~+4.8v to the ATTINY85 8-pin carrier, the PIR, and LDR thru voltage dividing resistors.
The arduino connection is pinned to the empty ATTINY carrier for testing...hardware works fine...but...
software
1.sensing day/night light levels turning on/off the LEDs as appropriate, calling the following Fns
A. random 5-15 sec flash for day and and nite routines .
B. a movement detection Fn calling
1.a flash routine to the LEDs that continue to flash as long as the PIR outputs HIGH(~30 seconds for the PIR to settle down)
Last nite I added a little Piezo buzzer driven by the above routine calling a nasty ~ 8-9khz rise and fall which is loud as hell , driven by D4s PWM out.
I really like the addition of the "siren" rising and falling between LED flashes when the PIR detects movement.
I am now thinking of adding an audio amp driven by a microSD card, PLAYING something like "WARNING your picture is now on the internet! Leave or the GLOCK AIMING ROUTINE WILL BE INITIALIZED!" (JKing)
Ok, forget the SD card audio out ...for now...
The problem is, with the addition of the siren, I need another pwm port, and the AtTiny85 only has 2 digital pins, and the PIR needs one digital input. (D10). The LEDs are using the other(D9).
Now I know that theoretically, digital pins can be changed from output to input and back again thru an ad hoc pinmode() routine, but since the buzzer goes from Dout to gnd, sharing the line with PIR has electrically disrupted the PIR output line. I need an additional digital channel which the ARDY has but the AtTiny85 doesn't.... ...
Question: can I take one of the AtTiny85 ADC channels and turn it into the additional Digital channel I need, as a DIGITAL OUTPUT for the Sireen???
Thanks beforehand for listening and your speedy responses, and thanks to the huge, smart as Hell Arduino community, especially banned, and LAdyAda, SparkFun and Bliptronics forums.
Chas

Thanks,and have a wonderful day!
Chas (Ipd)
Be bigger than yourself!
Keep your eyes on the stars,
Your feet on the ground...
Sending healing vibes your way!

[adafruit_support_bill]

So I need to make a jack with jumper pins to go to Vin and Gnd on the analog side?

No. Vin is before the 7805 regulator. You need to go the +5v and Gnd pins.

[heSynergy]

Thanks for the response.

Ok, so I understand you to say I need to:
1.fashion a jack for the adaFruit 5v10A PS tip
2 run that jacks wires to the +5v and Gnd found on the header? The header we have always used to PROVIDE POWER to our devices?

If so, where do we now get power for the devices we have connected to the Arduino, since we have now lost the Arduino's 5v output, because it is now a 5v INPUT?

Confuzzed, but Thanks

Chas

[adafruit_support_bill]

1.fashion a jack for the adaFruit 5v10A PS tip

Using one of https://www.adafruit.com/products/368 is the easy way o do that.

If so, where do we now get power for the devices we have connected to the Arduino, since we have now lost the Arduino's 5v output, because it is now a 5v INPUT?

The pin itself is neither input nor output. It is just the 5v bus. You can take power for your devices anywhere between the power supply and the 5v pin. If you use the adapter linked above, you can attach two wires to the 5v side of the screw terminal.

[heSynergy]

Thanks,

This per the Arduino site.

5V.This pin outputs a regulated 5V from the regulator on the board. The board can be supplied with power either from the DC power jack (7 - 12V), the USB connector (5V), or the VIN pin of the board (7-12V). Supplying voltage via the 5V or 3.3V pins bypasses the regulator, and can damage your board. We don't advise it.

So, where does that leave us?

chas

[adafruit_support_bill]

It is true that you can damage the board if you connect the wrong voltage or your supply is not regulated. But supplying regulated 5v to the 5v pin is not a problem.

Running a string of LEDs using 5v from on-board regulator is more likely to cause damage. The Arduino regulator is not intended to supply that much current.

[westfw]

You could run the 5V (regulated) into the arduino through the USB jack, if you're not otherwise using USB. (just power on the appropriate USB pins.) This makes for a convenient connector; you still need to wire power for the LEDs separately (as you've done.)

[heSynergy]

Well Adafruit support person, (no name was offered in responses), I suggest you make sure there is a short disclaimer on the PS indicating it will not reliably supply the arduino through the power jack. I am keeping mine, since it's a fair value.

Thanks all, you might be interested in viewing the results of buying NON-Adafruit pixels


http://youtu.be/jg1O6N5XG8