ESR meter kit - not working

[xelectech]

Ok, I got the kit from a diy-type website supposedly based in New York and assembled it, pretty straight forward; except, it doesn't do anything other than light the back light on the display. I suspect that it's the Atmega 168, which is supposedly pre-programmed, but I have no idea how this thing is supposed to work, nor how to check it, hope somebody here might be able to help me out.

It has a 78L05 which is putting out 4.97vdc, and everything is wired according to the schematic - I'm feeding it 9vdc, it's drawing 25mA. I've got emails into them (since first thing yesterday morning), not heard from them yet. I've got a Cen-Tech Dvmm, no logic probe or scope.

Please see attachments: (can't seem to attach the schematic, guess I'll do another post)

[xelectech]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

(can't seem to attach the schematic, guess I'll do another post)

Huh, msg. too short error, what else can I do wrong...

[SteveNielsen]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

Turn up the contrast control?

[stj]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

that's an ancient design, it doesnt even use a crystal!

it may be similar to page11

[xelectech]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

Turn up the contrast control?

I've tried setting the pot across it's full range, it has no effect.

[stj]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

contact the seller,
if you have 5v then it's probably the atmel because there really isnt much else.

[xelectech]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

that's an ancient design, it doesnt even use a crystal!

it may be similar to page11

Supposedly its using a crystal that is contained in the Atmega168.

Thanks for the pdf, yours has a bunch more circuitry. I'll have to spend some time and see if the literature lends me any clues.

[xelectech]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

Supposedly its using a crystal that is contained in the Atmega168.

Thanks for the pdf, yours has a bunch more circuitry. I'll have to spend some time and see if the literature lends me any clues.

looked up the data sheet - it's actually an Atmega168A-pu, guess I'll be reading for awhile

http://html.alldatasheet.com/html-pd...GA168A-PU.html

[stj]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

internal R/C oscillator, not a crystal.
crystals are prefered for acuracy.

so is a 328 cpu - double the flash space.

[xelectech]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

internal R/C oscillator, not a crystal.
crystals are prefered for acuracy.

so is a 328 cpu - double the flash space.

You can bet that I'm now wishing I just bought the already-assembled one on ebay.
Got an email back from DIY-electronics, looks like they're gonna drag this out as long as they can...

[stj]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

if you had a programmer you could make up a second chip to test the board or dump the fuses on the supplied chip.
it wouldnt surprise me if the fuse-bytes are configured for a crystal given the board has a space for one!

[xelectech]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

if you had a programmer you could make up a second chip to test the board or dump the fuses on the supplied chip.
it wouldnt surprise me if the fuse-bytes are configured for a crystal given the board has a space for one!

Nope, no programmer, wouldn't know what to do with one. Something is going on inside of there though (in the 168 IC), there's one pin that changes from hi to lo to hi at about a five second interval and another one thats briefly changes state then goes back to hi on a much briefer interval.

Also wondering, is it of any significance that, on the display's input, data lines d-4 and d7 have 0 volts but the other six have about 5vdc - that's whether I'm pushing the test button or not.

[R_J]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

Why does this picture from electronics-diy and the sheet you posted in #2 show a crystal?

After checking I guess the Atmega328p can be used without a crystal.

[stj]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

both can be used with or without a crystal.
BUT you need to configure that with your programmer!

[R_J]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

Well I guess the one in their picture was programmed to use a crystal.

[xelectech]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

Why does this picture from electronics-diy and the sheet you posted in #2 show a crystal?

After checking I guess the Atmega328p can be used without a crystal.

I wouldn't recommend electronics-DIY. com, they seem not to be very customer-oriented.

I've been trying to find their phone # so they can answer more than one question a day but so far no luck. I'm also wondering why they call it an atmega168/328 esr meter when its actually powered by the lesser 168 chip.

However, some headway has been made, thanks to Redwire's help in the thread 'LCD display compatibility'; I needed to turn down the voltage going to the contast pin of the display.

[stj]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

i seem to remember a thread about esr kits - was it you?
because i recommended a chinese 328 based graphic one.

[stj]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

with or without a case.
http://www.banggood.com/DIY-M12864-G...-p-986954.html

http://www.banggood.com/DIY-M12864-G...-p-997023.html

[xelectech]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

i seem to remember a thread about esr kits - was it you?
because i recommended a chinese 328 based graphic one.

That might have been me, I did look at them but, being unfamiliar with paying on line and hating to web-surf with javascript enabled, I had to pass on that possibility.

[SteveNielsen]

Re: ESR meter kit - not working

Your javascript paranoia cost you $40.