Hi
like someone else here,i also wired up both xbees as the receivers. i cut out the IC , 2 resistors and the red LED, and proceeded to wire it up per the directions for transmitter. i programmed the xbee chip per the directions for the transmitter. everything went ok making the transmitter (my case is also a little different from the books but i found a spot for things).
but my problem is this: when i plug in the kill-a-watt the display faes up, then goes off, faeds upm, then goes off, regularly every few seconds. also the green asc led isnt lighting up. any idea on which components i should check and how to check them? as you can tell im pretty new to this. im fairly sure i had no issues on my solder joints, unless the board was scratched up too much when i cut out the chip. i did some continuity testing after cutting off the bad stuff and it seemed to be the same results as the working receiver. i did go through these directions carefully so im kind of at a loss.
any help thanks, i was so excited to get this working...
tweetawatt transmitter problem
Moderators: adafruit_support_bill, adafruit
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 10:04 am
Re: tweetawatt transmitter problem
i just opened it up and went through the directions/pictures again and everything looks fine, when i put it back together the same display issue was happening but this time the kill-a-watt is beep once per second or 2 with no display. not sure if that helps narrow down what my problem might be but there it is.
- Franklin97355
- Posts: 23910
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:33 pm
Re: tweetawatt transmitter problem
Do you have a p4400 or an EZ? The Kill-a-watt EZ has a less powerful Power supply.
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 10:04 am
Re: tweetawatt transmitter problem
thanks, it is a p4400 .
-
- Posts: 12151
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:21 pm
Re: tweetawatt transmitter problem
what do you mean "cut out the chip"?
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 10:04 am
Re: tweetawatt transmitter problem
i cut out (i dont have a solder pump) the buffer chips described here inn the receiver setup:
"Next is the buffer chip. This chip converts the 2V-5V signal from the bottom strip of pins to 3.3V so that you can safely connect the XBee to 5V logic circuitry."
"Next is the buffer chip. This chip converts the 2V-5V signal from the bottom strip of pins to 3.3V so that you can safely connect the XBee to 5V logic circuitry."
-
- Posts: 12151
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:21 pm
Re: tweetawatt transmitter problem
are you 'DIYing' this or did you get a kitpack from adafruit? if you're diying are you sure you got the right sized capacitors installed?
you should post a photo of your transmitter internals
you should post a photo of your transmitter internals
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 10:04 am
Re: tweetawatt transmitter problem
its the tweetawatt starter kit, attached pics, thanks
- Attachments
-
- IMG_0835.JPG (209.04 KiB) Viewed 2579 times
-
- IMG_0836.JPG (209.42 KiB) Viewed 2580 times
-
- IMG_0837.JPG (171.25 KiB) Viewed 2580 times
-
- Posts: 12151
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:21 pm
Re: tweetawatt transmitter problem
hmm, you could try replacing the 220uF resetter cap with a 330 or 470uf to make it wait longer?
what happens if you take the xbee out and then close it & plug it in, does it work ok?
what happens if you take the xbee out and then close it & plug it in, does it work ok?
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 10:04 am
Re: tweetawatt transmitter problem
i just noticed that the display was blank with and without the xbee. looks like the ribbon cable connecting the display of the killawatt came loose. annoying as i have been pretty careful with everything. cant repair that but i will look into getting a solder sucker and trying to repair that.
cani test the transmitter unit outsside of the killawatt with the ftdi cable somehow? not sure if all 4 leads need to be hooked up or if i can just use power and ground. im about ready to toss this thing, anybody want to by a tweetawatt that needs some work?
cani test the transmitter unit outsside of the killawatt with the ftdi cable somehow? not sure if all 4 leads need to be hooked up or if i can just use power and ground. im about ready to toss this thing, anybody want to by a tweetawatt that needs some work?
-
- Posts: 12151
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:21 pm
Re: tweetawatt transmitter problem
it only really makes sense to fix the killawatt at this point. you can do it with some solder, a wire stripper and hot glue
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 10:04 am
Re: tweetawatt transmitter problem
thanks, i ordered a solder sucker as there wires in the holes and i cant get a good bond .
can i test the transmitter unit outside of the killawatt somehow for at least some functionality? im not sure the pulsing of the display was a loose cable, it was too regular, i think the cable must have loosened after all the troubleshooting.
can i test the transmitter unit outside of the killawatt somehow for at least some functionality? im not sure the pulsing of the display was a loose cable, it was too regular, i think the cable must have loosened after all the troubleshooting.
-
- Posts: 12151
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:21 pm
Re: tweetawatt transmitter problem
you could attach 2-3 batteries to ground and power wires as indicated in the instructions
but you wont get any good analog signals
id really just fix the killawatt first.
but you wont get any good analog signals
id really just fix the killawatt first.
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 10:04 am
Re: tweetawatt transmitter problem
i was not able to fix the other killawatt so started with a new one, before closing it up i plugged it in after wiring up the xbee. the display is still fading out. its a p4400. the display looks like its reading ok it just fades in and out every 3-5 secs. i am not getting any led light flashes on the xbee. when i unplug the exbee the killawatt works fine. i tried the other tricks here about plugging in and then unplugging.
does anyone want to buy my tweetawatt kit thats mostly done and needs some tshooting as described here? i suppose i could try a bigger capcitor but i dont know why the one that came in the kit isnt working.
does anyone want to buy my tweetawatt kit thats mostly done and needs some tshooting as described here? i suppose i could try a bigger capcitor but i dont know why the one that came in the kit isnt working.
-
- Posts: 12151
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:21 pm
Re: tweetawatt transmitter problem
there is something wrong with your assembly, perhaps? the only other person who had a fading issue had a soldering problem, iirc
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.