ADXL 345 SPI: Receiving zeroes as output data

Hello everyone!

I am attempting to construct a data-logger using an Arduino pro mini 5v, an ADXL345 accelerometer by Adafruit, along with an SD card breakout board using the SPI communication.

I have searched countless forums which leads me down tunnels getting me more confused than when I began so I figure I should post my problems here and get a direct answer to my own situation.

Through example codes, I have constructed my own code to read data from the ADXL345 and write it to the SD card on the SD breakout board. For the most part, I understand most of my code. I am not sure I need the 'interupt' features for my project but I left them in the code for the time being. It has compiled fine but when opening the serial monitor I generally receive all zeroes as output data. Occasionally, it prints out 13.9776000976-0.9983999252-0.9983999252
-0.9983999252-0.9983999252-0.9983999252 repeating. I have double checked my wiring and have both the ADXL345 and SD Breakout Board running over SPI together. When I move the accelerometer around, no numbers change on the output screen. I have the pro mini attached via Sparkfun's FTDI basic board to upload code.

//#SPI Communication

#include <SPI.h> //SPI communication library
#include <SD.h> //SD library

//Assign Chip Select
int CS = 8; // For ADXL345
const int CS_SD = 10; // For SD Breakout


// ADXL345 Registerr Addresses
#define  DEVID   0x00  //Device ID Register
#define THRESH_TAP  0x1D  //Tap Threshold
#define OFSX    0x1E  //X-axis offset
#define OFSY    0x1F  //Y-axis offset
#define OFSZ    0x20  //Z-axis offset
#define DURATION  0x21  //Tap Duration
#define LATENT    0x22  //Tap latency
#define WINDOW    0x23  //Tap window
#define THRESH_ACT  0x24  //Activity Threshold
#define THRESH_INACT  0x25  //Inactivity Threshold
#define TIME_INACT  0x26  //Inactivity Time
#define ACT_INACT_CTL 0x27  //Axis enable control for activity and inactivity detection
#define THRESH_FF 0x28  //free-fall threshold
#define TIME_FF   0x29  //Free-Fall Time
#define TAP_AXES  0x2A  //Axis control for tap/double tap
#define ACT_TAP_STATUS  0x2B  //Source of tap/double tap
#define BW_RATE   0x2C  //Data rate and power mode control
#define POWER_CTL 0x2D  //Power Control Register
#define INT_ENABLE  0x2E  //Interrupt Enable Control
#define INT_MAP   0x2F  //Interrupt Mapping Control
#define INT_SOURCE  0x30  //Source of interrupts
#define DATA_FORMAT 0x31  //Data format control
#define DATAX0    0x32  //X-Axis Data 0
#define DATAX1    0x33  //X-Axis Data 1
#define DATAY0    0x34  //Y-Axis Data 0
#define DATAY1    0x35  //Y-Axis Data 1
#define DATAZ0    0x36  //Z-Axis Data 0
#define DATAZ1    0x37  //Z-Axis Data 1
#define FIFO_CTL  0x38  //FIFO control
#define FIFO_STATUS 0x39  //FIFO status

//Buffer will hold values read from registers.
char values[10];
char output[20];

// x,y,x axis accelerometer values

int x, y, z;
double xg, yg, zg;
char tapType = 0;
char inactivityEvent = 0;

void setup()
{ //Initiate SPI communication instance.
  SPI.begin();
  //Configure SPI connection for ADXL345
  SPI.setDataMode(SPI_MODE3);
  //Create a serial connectino to display data
  Serial.begin(9600);

  //Set up Chip Select pin to be an output from Arduino.
  pinMode(CS, OUTPUT);

  //Before communication starts, CS needs to be set high
  digitalWrite(CS, HIGH);

  // Create interrupt that will trigger when a tap is detected
  attachInterrupt( 0, tap, RISING);

  //Put ADXL345 into +/- 4g range by writing the value 0x01 to the DATA_FORMAT register.
  writeRegister(DATA_FORMAT, 0x01);

  //Suggested to properly program accelerometer
  writeRegister(INT_ENABLE, 0x00);

  // Set a threshold of 3g
  writeRegister(THRESH_INACT, 0x0F);
  // Raise INACT event immeidately (otherwise it would be in 1 second...)
  writeRegister(TIME_INACT, 0);
  // Consider all axes AND compare THRESH_INACT from 0 acceleration (otherwise it would be differential)
  writeRegister(ACT_INACT_CTL, 0x07);


  // Send all interrrupts to INT 1 (PIN 2)
  writeRegister(INT_MAP, 0);
  // Enable interrupts for INACTIVITY only.
  writeRegister(INT_ENABLE, 0x08);

  //Put the ADXL345 into Measurement Mode by writing 0x08 to the POWER_CTL register.
  writeRegister(POWER_CTL, 0x08);  //Measurement mode
  readRegister(INT_SOURCE, 1, values); //Clear the interrupts from the INT_SOURCE register.

  //Initialize SD card

  Serial.print(F("Initializing SD Card!"));
  if (!SD.begin(CS_SD))
  {
    Serial.println(F("Card is Fail... "));
    while (1);

    Serial.println(F("Card is Ready... "));
  }

}



void loop() {
  //Reading 6 bytes of data starting at register DATAX0 will retrieve the x,y and z acceleration values from the ADXL345.
  //The results of the read operation will get stored to the values[] buffer.
  readRegister(DATAX0, 6, values);

  //The ADXL345 gives 10-bit acceleration values, but they are stored as bytes (8-bits). To get the full value, two bytes must be combined for each axis.
  //The X value is stored in values[0] and values[1].
  x = ((int)values[1] << 8) | (int)values[0];
  //The Y value is stored in values[2] and values[3].
  y = ((int)values[3] << 8) | (int)values[2];
  //The Z value is stored in values[4] and values[5].
  z = ((int)values[5] << 8) | (int)values[4];


  //Convert the accelerometer value to G's.
  //With 10 bits measuring over a +/-4g range we can find how to convert by using the equation:
  // Gs = Measurement Value * (G-range/(2^10)) or Gs = Measurement Value * (8/1024)
  xg = x * 0.0078;
  yg = y * 0.0078;
  zg = z * 0.0078;

  Serial.print(xg, DEC);
  Serial.print(yg, DEC);
  Serial.print(zg, DEC);
  Serial.println();

  if (inactivityEvent == 1) {
    Serial.println("inactivity event");
    inactivityEvent = 0;

  }

  //detachInterrupt(0);
  delay(1000);
  //attachInterrupt(0,tap,RISING);
}
//This function will write a value to a register on the ADXL345.
//Parameters:
//  char registerAddress - The register to write a value to
//  char value - The value to be written to the specified register.
void writeRegister(char registerAddress, char value) {
  //Set Chip Select pin low to signal the beginning of an SPI packet.
  digitalWrite(CS, LOW);
  //Transfer the register address over SPI.
  SPI.transfer(registerAddress);
  //Transfer the desired register value over SPI.
  SPI.transfer(value);
  //Set the Chip Select pin high to signal the end of an SPI packet.
  digitalWrite(CS, HIGH);
}
//This function will read a certain number of registers starting from a specified address and store their values in a buffer.
//Parameters:
//  char registerAddress - The register addresse to start the read sequence from.
//  int numBytes - The number of registers that should be read.
//  char * values - A pointer to a buffer where the results of the operation should be stored.
void readRegister(char registerAddress, int numBytes, char * values) {
  //Since we're performing a read operation, the most significant bit of the register address should be set.
  char address = 0x80 | registerAddress;
  //If we're doing a multi-byte read, bit 6 needs to be set as well.
  if (numBytes > 1)address = address | 0x40;

  //Set the Chip select pin low to start an SPI packet.
  digitalWrite(CS, LOW);
  //Transfer the starting register address that needs to be read.
  SPI.transfer(address);
  //Continue to read registers until we've read the number specified, storing the results to the input buffer.
  for (int i = 0; i < numBytes; i++) {
    values[i] = SPI.transfer(0x00);
  }
  //Set the Chips Select pin high to end the SPI packet.
  digitalWrite(CS, HIGH);
}

void tap(void) {
  //Clear the interrupts on the ADXL345

  if (values[0] & (1 << 3)) {
    inactivityEvent = 1;
  } else {
    inactivityEvent = 0;
  }
  readRegister(INT_SOURCE, 1, values);
}


///SD ///


void printData() {
  //Initialize date and time strings
  //Uncomment if needed
  String time, date;
  //// or 'long' x,y,z?
  /////////////String xg,yg,zg??????
  //placeholder variables for reading the accelerometer
  //or "initialize variables"
  // Below correct?? added 'g'
  int xg = 0;
  int yg = 0;
  int zg = 0;

  //Writing to a file //
  File dataFile = SD.open("Test_1.csv", FILE_WRITE);
  if (dataFile)          //if there is a file....//
  {
    dataFile.print(date);
    dataFile.print(F(","));
    dataFile.print(time);
    dataFile.print(F(","));
    dataFile.print(x);
    dataFile.print(F(","));
    dataFile.print(y);
    dataFile.print(F(","));
    dataFile.println(z);
    dataFile.close();

    Serial.print(date);
    Serial.print(F(","));
    Serial.print(time);
    Serial.print(F(","));
    Serial.print(x);
    Serial.print(F(","));
    Serial.print(y);
    Serial.print(F(","));
    Serial.println(z);
  }
  else
  { Serial.println(F("Couldn't open Test_1 file."));
  }
  delay(1000);
}

Any help is greatly appreciated!! Apologies I am fairly new to the Arduino world and programming so the answer may be simpler than I think! Thank you.

I usually copy code and put it into my IDE for examination but your improperly posted code is too hard to copy.
Read the forum guidelines to see how to properly post code.
Use the IDE autoformat tool (ctrl-t or Tools, Auto format) before posting code in code tags.

Does the accelerometer work by itself (SD card module removed)? Some SD card modules will not play well with other devices on the SPI bus. The problem is with the way the level shifter on the SD module is wired. The ones that do not work well have the MISO signal running through the level shifter. That causes the MISO signal to not be released so that the other devices can control it. The modules made by Adafruit (and some others) have the MISO signal going from the SD card straight to the MISO, bypassing the level shifter. Look at the schematic for the Adafruit module to see what to look for. DO (data out) is the MISO signal.

Apologies, I believe I corrected it now so you can see the code properly !

Thanks.
Please format the code. It is easy. Highlight all of the code and press ctrl-t. Formatting makes the code much easier to read.

Does the accelerometer work by itself (SD card module removed)?

Yes it does. I used a slightly different code to test it just by itself.

//Add the SPI library so we can communicate with the ADXL345 sensor
#include <SPI.h>

//Assign the Chip Select signal to pin 10. 
int CS = 8;

//This is a list of some of the registers available on the ADXL345.
//To learn more about these and the rest of the registers on the ADXL345, read the datasheet!
char POWER_CTL = 0x2D;  //Power Control Register
char DATA_FORMAT = 0x31;
char DATAX0 = 0x32; //X-Axis Data 0
char DATAX1 = 0x33; //X-Axis Data 1
char DATAY0 = 0x34; //Y-Axis Data 0
char DATAY1 = 0x35; //Y-Axis Data 1
char DATAZ0 = 0x36; //Z-Axis Data 0
char DATAZ1 = 0x37; //Z-Axis Data 1

//This buffer will hold values read from the ADXL345 registers.
char values[10];
//These variables will be used to hold the x,y and z axis accelerometer values.
int x, y, z;

void setup() {
  //Initiate an SPI communication instance.
  SPI.begin();
  //Configure the SPI connection for the ADXL345.
  SPI.setDataMode(SPI_MODE3);
  //Create a serial connection to display the data on the terminal.
  Serial.begin(9600);

  //Set up the Chip Select pin to be an output from the Arduino.
  pinMode(CS, OUTPUT);
  //Before communication starts, the Chip Select pin needs to be set high.
  digitalWrite(CS, HIGH);

  //Put the ADXL345 into +/- 4G range by writing the value 0x01 to the DATA_FORMAT register.
  writeRegister(DATA_FORMAT, 0x01);
  //Put the ADXL345 into Measurement Mode by writing 0x08 to the POWER_CTL register.
  writeRegister(POWER_CTL, 0x08);  //Measurement mode
}

void loop() {
  //Reading 6 bytes of data starting at register DATAX0 will retrieve the x,y and z acceleration values from the ADXL345.
  //The results of the read operation will get stored to the values[] buffer.
  readRegister(DATAX0, 6, values);

  //The ADXL345 gives 10-bit acceleration values, but they are stored as bytes (8-bits). To get the full value, two bytes must be combined for each axis.
  //The X value is stored in values[0] and values[1].
  x = ((int)values[1] << 8) | (int)values[0];
  //The Y value is stored in values[2] and values[3].
  y = ((int)values[3] << 8) | (int)values[2];
  //The Z value is stored in values[4] and values[5].
  z = ((int)values[5] << 8) | (int)values[4];

  //Print the results to the terminal.
  Serial.print(x, DEC);
  Serial.print(',');
  Serial.print(y, DEC);
  Serial.print(',');
  Serial.println(z, DEC);
  delay(1000);
}

//This function will write a value to a register on the ADXL345.
//Parameters:
//  char registerAddress - The register to write a value to
//  char value - The value to be written to the specified register.
void writeRegister(char registerAddress, char value) {
  //Set Chip Select pin low to signal the beginning of an SPI packet.
  digitalWrite(CS, LOW);
  //Transfer the register address over SPI.
  SPI.transfer(registerAddress);
  //Transfer the desired register value over SPI.
  SPI.transfer(value);
  //Set the Chip Select pin high to signal the end of an SPI packet.
  digitalWrite(CS, HIGH);
}

//This function will read a certain number of registers starting from a specified address and store their values in a buffer.
//Parameters:
//  char registerAddress - The register addresse to start the read sequence from.
//  int numBytes - The number of registers that should be read.
//  char * values - A pointer to a buffer where the results of the operation should be stored.
void readRegister(char registerAddress, int numBytes, char * values) {
  //Since we're performing a read operation, the most significant bit of the register address should be set.
  char address = 0x80 | registerAddress;
  //If we're doing a multi-byte read, bit 6 needs to be set as well.
  if (numBytes > 1)address = address | 0x40;

  //Set the Chip select pin low to start an SPI packet.
  digitalWrite(CS, LOW);
  //Transfer the starting register address that needs to be read.
  SPI.transfer(address);
  //Continue to read registers until we've read the number specified, storing the results to the input buffer.
  for (int i = 0; i < numBytes; i++) {
    values[i] = SPI.transfer(0x00);
  }
  //Set the Chips Select pin high to end the SPI packet.
  digitalWrite(CS, HIGH);
}

Then I have to suspect the SD card module as in my reply #2.

So if the Adafruit SD module I'm using here is bypassing the level shifter isn't this a good thing?
I'm confused to why it is not working if you are saying that the ones that tend to have problems send the MISO through the level shifter.

Looking at the schematic it shows the MISO is clear, correct?

The Adafruit modules are the ones that are supposed to work OK with other modules.

Could it perhaps be a coding issue then, specifically the portion where I am writing to the file? I believe I mixed up the placeholder values and am not entirely sure about that section.

Have you written code to write some hardcoded data to the SD card by its self?

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