Hi Arduino Forum, this is my first post...be merciful with me
I rebuilt a soldering station from the MAKE magazine, called "Maiskolben". I used an Arduino Nano V3.0 and a 1.8 SPI TFT(using Adafruit_ST7735, 3.3V) display, 12V to Vin (11.7V measured)
Everything workes fine, every time, as long as i plug it on my computer via USB. The display starts and tells me "weak power source" as the 5V & 500mA from USB is not enough for soldering.... everything as expected.
The problem starts as soon as i plug it in via power adapter, 12V & 3A.
In about 3 of 10 cases the display starts and everything works properly. But most of the time the display stays white, only background light.
I measured the Voltage of the arduinos output: the 5v voltage regulator seems fine, the 3.3v output of the FTDI seems fine.
I tried different power adapters, same problem.
I have 2 identical PCBs, all have the same problem.
i have 2 other PCBs from previous versions, same problem.
I tried 2 different Arduino Nanos, all have the same problem.
I tried some extra Caps for a smooth power source, nothing changed.
i tried different example-sketches, same problem. >:(
My next guess is that there is a problem with the initialisation of the TFT as soon as i power it from the power adapter, but i have no idea how to test that. nor do i have an idea how i could fix that.
A simple delay(1000) at the beginning of the sketch couldn't do the trick.
Did anyone of you experience a similiar problem? Any Ideas?
You provided a lot of information, unfortunately it doesn't help us help you. This is a common problems with newbies arriving here, that being failure to read the instructions for forum use.
No schematics, no project photos, no code. I could ask you a hundred questions, one at time, all which could be answered by the mentioned documentation. Which way do you think you'll get a faster answer?
Sorry, I read the instructions, and i tried to follow them. But i wanted to exclude any possibillity that i have already checked.
I am sure theres nothing wrong with the schematic or the PCB, as there are several different versions, all sharing the same problem.
Furthermore its not about the code, every example sketch (Adafruit, UTFT, TFT....) has the same problem. I cant post all the codes if you want. But i dont think thats necessary.
I have a very concret issue, that starts somewhere at the voltage reguation and ends somewhere at the communication between TFT and Arduino and i was hopin that someone has yet experienced the same trouble
Turbotorben:
Hi Arduino Forum, this is my first post...be merciful with me
I rebuilt a soldering station from the MAKE magazine, called "Maiskolben". I used an Arduino Nano V3.0 and a 1.8 SPI TFT(using Adafruit_ST7735, 3.3V) display, 12V to Vin (11.7V measured)
Everything workes fine, every time, as long as i plug it on my computer via USB. The display starts and tells me "weak power source" as the 5V & 500mA from USB is not enough for soldering.... everything as expected.
...
I learn from your post that you use a Adafruit_ST7735, 3.3V.
If you would post a link to this display, I might learn how it is supposed to be connected.
I am too lazy to go searching, just to try to help a Newbie, like I was not so long ago.
I learned from other posts, that Adafruit examples tend to omit the reset signal handling.
Your display may sometimes reset correctly, if the power supply ramp is fine.
But as you provide not enough information, this is just a guess.
, Thanks ZinggJM