I'm trying to connect the circuit board to my arduino and I have a problem. Whenever I connect the circuit board to the arduino, the arduino turns off. Is there a problem with the soldering on the circuit board? It only happens when I am connecting the pins on the circuit on to the following pin-slots on the arduino: RESET, 3.3V, 5V, GND, GND, and the Analog in. Really weird. I am really new to all this and am just following the instructions regarding a robotic arm I am building.
Please read the first post in any forum entitled how to use this forum. http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php/topic,148850.0.html .
Then look down to item #7 about how to post your code.
It will be formatted in a scrolling window that makes it easier to read.
Can you please post a copy of your circuit, in CAD or a picture of a hand drawn circuit in jpg, png?
UKHeliBob:
What is the purpose of the circuit board and how much current does it draw ?
The purpose is actually quite simple: it allows me to control the robotic arm through 4 micro-servos. It also has potentiometers with knobs to control it, but it can be controlled through a computer as well.
Either the board is drawing too much current, or there is a short between power and ground on the board (ie, causing it to draw as much current as it can get). Either way, power to the Arduino is cut by either the on-board PTC (self-resetting) fuse or the computer's current limiting on the USB port.
If you see in the picture with the yellow circle, that is the area where when I attach the pins from the circuit board, the arduino green light turns off. At this point, also the arduino port doesn't show up on the arduino IDE.
You need more heat, and to leave the iron on the joint longer before applying solder, you will not damage anything if you put the iron on the joint and count to 3 then slowly feed some solder on.
Then remove the solder then remove the iron.
DO NOT BE AFRAID TO KEEP THE IRON ON THE JOINT UNTIL THE SOLDER HAS PROPERLY MELTED AND FLOWED.
Can you post a picture of your iron, in particular the tip?
I have attached the picture of the tip of the iron.
Also I did a lot of research and figured out a lot of my solder joints are not done properly.
There's some cold joints, some joints that have too much solder, some incidents of insufficient wetting (with the circuit board), and some solder bridges.
What are your suggestions?
I will do what you said: "You need more heat, and to leave the iron on the joint longer before applying solder, you will not damage anything if you put the iron on the joint and count to 3 then slowly feed some solder on. Then remove the solder then remove the iron. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO KEEP THE IRON ON THE JOINT UNTIL THE SOLDER HAS PROPERLY MELTED AND FLOWED."
Also I use 300 degrees Celsius for the iron and maybe you're right, the solder may not have flowed properly.
That tip should be bright and shiny, and looking like fresh solder.
Clean it by melting a bit of rosincore solder on it, and wipe it on a damp (soldering) sponge.
Do this several times until the tip is clean.
Keep it clean, and never melt things like plastic with it.
Leo..
