Arduino bootloader on UNO: error "avrdude: Device signature = 0x000000 "

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1

Hello!
I am trying to change the fuses on an arduino nano in order to have the clock out on D8. In order to change the fuses I need to burn the bootloader. The procedure I am following is:
-use an Arduino uno as programmer, with the Arduino ISP (old style wiring) installed;
-connect the programmer to my arduino nano: D13-D13, D12-D12, D11-D11, D10-RESET, 5V-5V, GND-GND;
-connect the programmer to the computer, change to board Nano, check the correct port, select "Arduino as ISP" as programmer;
-burn bootloader.

Every time I get the same error:
avrdude: Device signature = 0x000000 (retrying)

I checked multiple times my connections, and also tried with a second Arduino board as programmer. I also tried to do the same procedure with the two Unos as programmer and target and again I have the same error.

Does someone know what is this error related to?
Thanks!

2

Try connecting a 10 uF capacitor between reset and ground on the Uno.

3

Thank you for your suggestion, I am trying with a 22uF capacitor between RESET and GND on the programmer. Now the error is "avrdude: Device signature = 0xffffff (probably .avr8x_mega). This error now appears both with and without capacitor.

4

Probably short circuit, some wire of interconnection.

5

Ok, it worked! Thanks for your help! :slight_smile:

It was one of my arduino uno boards that was not working properly, but with another one I managed to bootload the nano and the fuses were correctly updated. The presence of the capacitor is absolutely necessary, without it it doesn't work. Would be helpful it this info was added to the official tutorial 'Arduino as ISP and Arduino Bootloaders' on Arduino webpage!

6

GLORIAP:
Would be helpful it this info was added to the official tutorial 'Arduino as ISP and Arduino Bootloaders' on Arduino webpage!

It is on there, but for some reason it only says to use it when you're using a Mega as an Arduino as ISP. I definitely agree that it should be documented consistently.

It used to be that you could usually get by without using the capacitor, but Arduino recently made a change (in the interest of adding support for using ATmega32U4-based boards as Arduino as ISP) that made it more likely for the capacitor to be needed. In the next release, that change will be reverted and a new "Arduino as ISP (ATmega32U4)" programmer will be added, so the documentation fix won't be so critical once that happens.