NeoTrellis Kit - Bad Batch?

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morphinejh
 
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NeoTrellis Kit - Bad Batch?

Post by morphinejh »

I recently purchased this 8x8 NeoTrellis Feather M4 Kit Pack. After soldering the 4 wire connector and testing, none of the boards work!

Upon launching the example "Adafruit sesaw>NeoTrellis>basic" I get the following response:
"Could not start trellis, check wiring?"

I investigated further into the code and it is failing the I2C initial connection in Adafruit_I2CDevice.cpp:

Code: Select all

bool Adafruit_I2CDevice::begin(bool addr_detect) {
  _wire->begin();
  _begun = true;

  if (addr_detect) {
    return detected();
  }
  return true;
}
I then tried a simpler test running "Examples>Adafruit BusIO>i2c_address_detect" with a response of:
"I2C address detection test
Did not find device at 0x2E
"

All the boards have working 3.3V regulators. The problem I'm having is true for all 4 boards! What else can I check/test?
Attachments
M4_Neotrellis_NotWorking.jpg
M4_Neotrellis_NotWorking.jpg (678.06 KiB) Viewed 163 times

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adafruit_support_carter
 
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Re: NeoTrellis Kit - Bad Batch?

Post by adafruit_support_carter »

Try an I2C scan and see if any addresses at all get found:
https://learn.adafruit.com/scanning-i2c ... es/arduino

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morphinejh
 
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Re: NeoTrellis Kit - Bad Batch?

Post by morphinejh »

Okay, I ran the code you referenced; similar failure for all addresses. Again, this is for each of the 4 panels. I also tried on a different PC just in case. To rule out the the Feather itself, I did put a scope on the SCL[Channel 1] and SCA[Channel 2] pads on the NeoTrellis board during the scan. That part seems to be working as expected. It seems that the seesaw controllers aren't responding.
I2C Scanner
Scanning...
No I2C devices found

Scanning...
No I2C devices found

Scanning...
No I2C devices found

Scanning...
No I2C devices found
Attachments
NeoTrellis_I2C_Scanner.png
NeoTrellis_I2C_Scanner.png (4.49 KiB) Viewed 151 times

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adafruit_support_carter
 
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Re: NeoTrellis Kit - Bad Batch?

Post by adafruit_support_carter »

Are the wires going to the Feather soldered in place?

It looks like the edge pads on the NeoTrellis have been soldered to. Were these tiled at some point?

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morphinejh
 
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Re: NeoTrellis Kit - Bad Batch?

Post by morphinejh »

Yes, they are soldered in place on the top side of the Feather. The edge pins are soldered in preparation for the 2x2 tile layout of the kit; but not tested in that configuration yet. Next step (this step) was test them individually.
Attachments
FeaterM4Express_Soldered.jpg
FeaterM4Express_Soldered.jpg (604.31 KiB) Viewed 147 times

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adafruit_support_carter
 
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Re: NeoTrellis Kit - Bad Batch?

Post by adafruit_support_carter »

Try reflowing those pins a bit and see if that helps. It looks like there's a chance they might be cold or under soldered, esp. SCL and GND.
https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-gui ... n-problems

Keep using the I2C scan as a way to sanity check.

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morphinejh
 
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Re: NeoTrellis Kit - Bad Batch?

Post by morphinejh »

I can do that, or even remove the solder entirely. However, how is this going to help with the problem? The Feather is sending data through the connector and not the pads. I'm currently testing them individually and its not working. I did test the SCL/SDA at the pads pads and posted the oscilloscope screenshot. It looked like the correct signals I thought.

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adafruit_support_carter
 
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Re: NeoTrellis Kit - Bad Batch?

Post by adafruit_support_carter »

The signals originate on the pads of the Feather. If there is poor connection between the pads and the wires, then it will produce poor signal at the NeoTrellis.

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morphinejh
 
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Re: NeoTrellis Kit - Bad Batch?

Post by morphinejh »

I will try it, but to be clear I tested the Trellis pads with the scope. Not the Feather pads. It looked like they were getting a good I2C clock and data (see pic). I also tested the 3v3 regulator voltage on the Trellis, at 3.29V; close enough.

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adafruit_support_carter
 
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Re: NeoTrellis Kit - Bad Batch?

Post by adafruit_support_carter »

Agree it does look like signal is getting there. But worth at least trying to see if helps. It may still be marginal from the NeoTrellis's point of view.

Do you still have the bags these came in? If so, can you post a photo of the sticker with the Adafruit logo and barcodes.

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morphinejh
 
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Re: NeoTrellis Kit - Bad Batch?

Post by morphinejh »

Okay reflowed the solder and took a scope reading at the Feather pins and on the Trellis Pad.

VUSB at Feather = 5.06V (referencing ground on NeoTrellis)
VIN at Neotrellis = 5.06V (referencing ground on NeoTrellis)
3V3 at Neotrellis = 3.28V (referencing ground on NeoTrellis)

Oscilloscope output Channel 1=Feather, Channel 2=Trellis Pad for both images (referencing ground on NeoTrellis).

The scope shows a matching signal on both boards. It's just not getting any response from the Seesaw chip.

Same results on all 4 boards.
I2C Scanner
Scanning...
No I2C devices found

Scanning...
No I2C devices found

Scanning...
No I2C devices found

Scanning...
No I2C devices found
Attachments
Feather_Reflowed.jpg
Feather_Reflowed.jpg (751.31 KiB) Viewed 136 times
Feather_Neotrellis_SCL.png
Feather_Neotrellis_SCL.png (4.74 KiB) Viewed 136 times
Feather_Neotrellis_SDA.png
Feather_Neotrellis_SDA.png (4.22 KiB) Viewed 136 times

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morphinejh
 
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Re: NeoTrellis Kit - Bad Batch?

Post by morphinejh »

Yes, still have all the packaging.

Picture attached.
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NeoTrellis_Bags.jpg
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adafruit_support_carter
 
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Re: NeoTrellis Kit - Bad Batch?

Post by adafruit_support_carter »

Thanks for the photos and the additional testing. This is quite odd. We'll do some checking here (the sticker photos help) and get back to you. At this point, not sure what could be causing this.

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adafruit_support_carter
 
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Re: NeoTrellis Kit - Bad Batch?

Post by adafruit_support_carter »

OK, we're just going to replace all these boards. Send an email to [email protected] with a link to this thread and your order number and they can send you 4x replacement NeoTrellis boards.

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luisg
 
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Re: NeoTrellis Kit - Bad Batch?

Post by luisg »

I'm running into the same issue posted here(unfortunately I have no way to test with a scope. In my case, I have 3 working boards and 1 board for which i2c.scan() is not detecting the board. When testing the 8x8, I could find 3 out of the 4 boards. I desoldered that individual board I couldn't find from the 8x8 group and tested it standalone, but it still can't find it. I've attached the packaging in case it helps troubleshoot. Let me know if I should attach an image of the board itself as well
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Capture2.PNG
Capture2.PNG (689.85 KiB) Viewed 87 times

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