Adafruit Flora v3 disconnects itself from computer and reset
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- NChantelle
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- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:13 pm
Adafruit Flora v3 disconnects itself from computer and reset
I received my adafruit flora v3 in the mail today and connected it to the LED strand that it will be controlling. Uploaded the strandtest and attempted to run it. The microcontroller disconnects itself from the computer after a few seconds, and the reset button doesn't do anything (no flashing red light or anything). The green power indicator remains on, and the LED strand is powered up to varying points (inconsistent) before the disconnect occurs.
- adafruit_support_carter
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- Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2016 2:45 pm
Re: Adafruit Flora v3 disconnects itself from computer and r
Try disconnecting the LED strand and anything else attached to the FLORA and see if you can get the Blink example to load and run:
https://learn.adafruit.com/getting-star ... nboard-led
https://learn.adafruit.com/getting-star ... nboard-led
- NChantelle
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- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:13 pm
Re: Adafruit Flora v3 disconnects itself from computer and r
Nothing else is attached, but disconnecting requires reheating the solder to remove the wires. I don't have the materials to remove the solder entirely, and I'd prefer to avoid this if necessary as the length of wire between the start of the LED strand and the microcontroller is already somewhat short. Am I correct in understanding that removing the wires from the microcontroller by reheating the solder is what is recommended?
- adafruit_support_carter
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Re: Adafruit Flora v3 disconnects itself from computer and r
Oh. They're soldered on. OK - let's hold of on removing them for now. Post a photo of your setup showing how everything is connected.
Go ahead and try the Blink example any way. This is just a simple sanity check to make sure basic programming of the board works.
Go ahead and try the Blink example any way. This is just a simple sanity check to make sure basic programming of the board works.
- NChantelle
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- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:13 pm
Re: Adafruit Flora v3 disconnects itself from computer and r
For the blink attempt, you want me to see if I can upload the "demo code" from the page you linked, correct?
- NChantelle
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- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:13 pm
Re: Adafruit Flora v3 disconnects itself from computer and r
Requested image
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- Microcontroller connected to LED strand
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- NChantelle
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- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:13 pm
Re: Adafruit Flora v3 disconnects itself from computer and r
Plugged it in again to attempt to run the blink example, but as before, it will disconnect before we are able to write or upload anything. When initially connected, it shows up on port COM5 for a few seconds while the strand is lighting (or attempting to-as mentioned in the initial posting), and after a few seconds Windows makes the hardware disconnect noise and the microcontroller disappears from port COM5. It acts as though it's not plugged in when it's clearly being powered by the USB port and it can't be reset.
- adafruit_support_carter
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Re: Adafruit Flora v3 disconnects itself from computer and r
Did you install the drivers?
https://learn.adafruit.com/getting-star ... dows-setup
https://learn.adafruit.com/getting-star ... dows-setup
- NChantelle
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:13 pm
Re: Adafruit Flora v3 disconnects itself from computer and r
Yes, drivers were installed.
- adafruit_support_carter
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Re: Adafruit Flora v3 disconnects itself from computer and r
From your first post:
Did it upload successfully at this point?Uploaded the strandtest and attempted to run it.
- NChantelle
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- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:13 pm
Re: Adafruit Flora v3 disconnects itself from computer and r
Yes. This was the only point where we were successfully able to modify/upload code without the disconnect issue. Prior to running anything.
- adafruit_support_carter
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Re: Adafruit Flora v3 disconnects itself from computer and r
OK - so maybe it is the LED strip that's causing the issue. You're powering it through the USB port and it looks like a fairly long strip. So it may be trying to draw too much power and that's causing your computer to disconnect it from the USB port.
Can you power the board through a wall power supply and get the program you uploaded to run and see activity on the LED strip?
Can you power the board through a wall power supply and get the program you uploaded to run and see activity on the LED strip?
- NChantelle
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:13 pm
Re: Adafruit Flora v3 disconnects itself from computer and r
I'm not really sure how I would determine if it's any different in that scenario. Would the reset on the microcontroller be functional as well? That would give me a better indication.
The strand will occasionally light to completion with USB connection, and has for the last few times, so there isn't a visible difference between the wall power and USB power.
I also don't intend to use the full length of the strand. Would it be helpful to trim it and then attempt plugging it in to the computer again? Or would that not make any difference as far as the disconnect is concerned? The strand is currently 1m.
The strand will occasionally light to completion with USB connection, and has for the last few times, so there isn't a visible difference between the wall power and USB power.
I also don't intend to use the full length of the strand. Would it be helpful to trim it and then attempt plugging it in to the computer again? Or would that not make any difference as far as the disconnect is concerned? The strand is currently 1m.
- NChantelle
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- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:13 pm
Re: Adafruit Flora v3 disconnects itself from computer and r
Reset is still not functional with wall power.
- adafruit_support_carter
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Re: Adafruit Flora v3 disconnects itself from computer and r
Just plug it in and see if the strand lights as expected. Wall power can typically provide more current than a computer's USB port. But if you don't have a good wall power supply, then we can't try this test.I'm not really sure how I would determine if it's any different in that scenario. Would the reset on the microcontroller be functional as well? That would give me a better indication.
This is just a sanity check test. It seems like you got the strand test code to upload. I'm wondering if runs OK with a good power supply - and the PC's USB port is *not* a good power supply in this case.
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.