# Precision High Speed Photography Trigger **URL:** \ **Category:** General Guidance\ **Created:** [March 23, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/precision-high-speed-photography-trigger/152298 "2013-03-23T13:54:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/precision-high-speed-photography-trigger/152298/1 "2013-03-23T13:54:04Z")
Hi all, This is my first project and I am sort of stuck at the moment. Michael Ross has written a brilliant build manual which can be found here: [http://www.mrossphoto.com/PHSPT/Precision\_High\_Speed\_Photography\_Trigger\_Tutorial-Ver\_1.3\_20120714.pdf](http://www.mrossphoto.com/PHSPT/Precision_High_Speed_Photography_Trigger_Tutorial-Ver_1.3_20120714.pdf) The wiring diagram is here: ![](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/9/4/5/94595537b22ba73ce825f8687c49fc26b18112cf.png) My question relates to the initiation sketch which is quite long so a link below: [http://www.mrossphoto.com/PHSPT/High\_Speed\_Trigger\_Memory\_Initialization\_pde.pde](http://www.mrossphoto.com/PHSPT/High_Speed_Trigger_Memory_Initialization_pde.pde) The instructions state specifically to run it once only but due to various errors I had made with the wiring, the first time I ran it basically nothing happened. After which I made some corrections and had to attempt it again with no success for the second try. I have now gone all the way back to the beginning and would like to know if I need to clear the Arduino Mega's memory before trying it again? Many thanks, Maarten ---
**Author:** ![Shpaget](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/shpaget/32/215075_2.png) [@Shpaget](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Shpaget)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 2:10pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/precision-high-speed-photography-trigger/152298/2 "2013-03-23T14:10:34Z")
Depending on what "various errors" in wiring means, you could have damaged your Arduino. Trying if various simple sketches like blink, fade etc work on various pins would be a good place to start. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/precision-high-speed-photography-trigger/152298/3 "2013-03-23T14:29:35Z")
Thanks for the swift reply Shpaget. I am not sure exactly what I did but a puff of the magic blue smoke was the result but I was too slow in reacting to see where it was coming from. 😊 The Blink sketch works but I have not tried any of the others. If I assume that the Mega is not damaged, what would be the effect if I would run the initialisation script again though? ---
**Author:** ![Shpaget](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/shpaget/32/215075_2.png) [@Shpaget](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Shpaget)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 3:43pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/precision-high-speed-photography-trigger/152298/4 "2013-03-23T15:43:01Z")
Well, the smoke came from somewhere. You should try to figure out what component is burned. You may be able to identify it visually by discoloration or even a crack in the packaging. Maybe you can replace that part. Since your Blink sketch works it could be that only some of your pins got busted. Try editing the sketch to use other pins. See if all of them work. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelMeissner](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/michaelmeissner/32/215152_2.png) [@MichaelMeissner](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/MichaelMeissner)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/precision-high-speed-photography-trigger/152298/5 "2013-03-23T17:37:25Z")
The wiring diagram has 4 flashes hung off of a single opto-coupler's pin. What flashes were you using? What is the voltage limit of the opto-coupler? If you are using old flashes, particularly those made in the 70's, the flashes could send hundreds of volts through the hot-shoe/pc-sync. Mechanical cameras made back then didn't care about high voltages, but modern electrical cameras do and so flashes typically are safer (no more than 6 volts). Given your shutter is also controlled by the same opto-coupler, it may be you burned out the opto-coupler. Given the flashes are all on the same circuit, it may be one of the flashes burned out the others. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/precision-high-speed-photography-trigger/152298/6 "2013-03-23T18:53:53Z")
Michael, I did not get as far as plugging in the flashes, which will be 2 x Canon 430 EX II and 1 x 580 EX. The blue smoke emerged without anything attached. I have replaced all components apart from the Arduino Mega and even ditched the solderless breadboards and soldered everything on a new board. Thank you for your thoughts and consideration. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 9:28am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/precision-high-speed-photography-trigger/152298/7 "2013-03-24T09:28:10Z")
As suggested, I have tested all the digital pins by altering the blink sketch accordingly and I am glad to report they all are working fine. Before I attempt to upload the initialisation sketch again, there a way to test the analogue pins as well? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Shpaget](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/shpaget/32/215075_2.png) [@Shpaget](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Shpaget)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 9:59am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/precision-high-speed-photography-trigger/152298/8 "2013-03-24T09:59:22Z")
Sure. Use a potentiometer and serial.print to display the values. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 12:11pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/precision-high-speed-photography-trigger/152298/9 "2013-03-24T12:11:52Z")
Sorry, I am new to this game but Googling you last suggestion led me to : > **[Analog Read Serial | Arduino Documentation](https://docs.arduino.cc/built-in-examples/basics/AnalogReadSerial)** > > Read a potentiometer, print its state out to the Arduino Serial Monitor. I presume that is what you meant? ---
**Author:** ![Shpaget](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/shpaget/32/215075_2.png) [@Shpaget](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Shpaget)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/precision-high-speed-photography-trigger/152298/10 "2013-03-24T13:07:28Z")
That page is exactly what I meant. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/precision-high-speed-photography-trigger/152298/11 "2013-03-24T17:47:46Z")
Thanks. I will have a go at that! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/precision-high-speed-photography-trigger/152298/12 "2013-03-24T19:41:44Z")
Ok, tested with the AnalogReadSerial sketch and registered a reading I could influence with the pot from 0- 1023 on A0 but on A1-A14 I get a reading of 200-300 irrespective of the pot setting. Not sure what that means. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 4:51pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/precision-high-speed-photography-trigger/152298/13 "2021-05-05T16:51:20Z")
Closed on May 5, 2021, 4:51pm UTC