K8061 card issues

hi,

I’m using 4 k8061 to create a home automation system (domotica). When i enable/disable a digital input very fast, other digital inputs and analog inputs are detected as enabled by the software. Even when nothing is connected to them.

For the moment the 4 boards are connected trough a usb hub. Tried also with the cards directly connected to the pc. Same problem
Also when i only connect 1 board the problem is there.
It can’t be the code i’ve written because the issue is also there when using the test program included on the cd.

I’m not happy with this unwanted effect. Already bought 4 cards.

please advice, thx

[quote]When i enable/disable a digital input very fast, other digital inputs and analog inputs are detected as enabled by the software.[/quote] If I understand right, you get some input from other analog and digital inputs when reading one input?
How long time this condition stays after the input is read?

Could you provide some code snippet where this happens.

Are you using the latest Vistapack driver?

If yes, does this problem occur if you run the K8061_Demo.exe in the subfolder \Delphi of the Vistapack? This program is using 100ms timer to read the inputs.

In this thread there are some results (code and data waveform images read):
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3497
There it seems that the card works well.
The sampling interval is about 3ms if all the 8 AD channels are read simultaneously. If only one channel is read the sampling interval is about 2ms.

hi,

yes i’m getting some input from other analog and digital inputs when fast activating/deactivating a digital input.
The condition stays only a fraction after the input is read.

I downloaded the vistapack & did the test with the K8061_Demo.exe.

I’ve did some more tests and the problem is only there when i use digital input nr 2. (tested on 2 cards).

It’s easy to simmulate.
Open the K8061_Demo.exe, then using your hands to shortcut the wires from digital input 2 and GND, you wil see popping up de bars from the analog inputs randomly. Even the other digital in puts are changing status for a split second.

Ik zal nog even de uitleg in het nederlands doen om misverstanden te vermijden.
Als je dus digitale input 2 snel activeert/deactiveert, gewoon met de 2 draden tegen elkaar te houden, zie je door middel van het K8061_Demo.exe programma, dat willekeurige analoge inputs een fractie van een periode een maximale inputwaarde krijgen (ook als er niets aan hangt). ook de overige digitale ingangen veranderen soms een fractie van een seconde van status.

[quote]It’s easy to simmulate.
Open the K8061_Demo.exe, then using your hands to shortcut the wires from digital input 2 and GND, you wil see popping up de bars from the analog inputs randomly.[/quote]I made this test with two different cards and did not see anything at the analog inputs.

[quote=“VEL255”][quote]It’s easy to simmulate.
Open the K8061_Demo.exe, then using your hands to shortcut the wires from digital input 2 and GND, you wil see popping up de bars from the analog inputs randomly.[/quote]I made this test with two different cards and did not see anything at the analog inputs.[/quote]

Hmmm, that’s very strange…
Can you try again by rubbing the 2 wires against each other?

I think further investigations are needed to find the cause to the problem.
We will do some more tests.

somethimes the ‘cpu ok’ is also changed to ‘cpu fail’ for a split second.

Version info: IC3 VK8061USB rev. V1.3 IC6 VK8061CPU rev. V1.5

I did some more tests.

  • changed powersupply
  • tried other pc
  • swapped IC4 & IC5

All these symptoms may indicate some sort of communication problems between the two microcontrollers on the board.
Possible cause may be optocouplers IC1 or IC2 or components related to the optocouplers.

If you have a multimeter you may measure the voltage on pin 6 of IC1 (against the USB connector shield). The voltage should be about 3.5V when the demo software is running.

[quote=“VEL255”]All these symptoms may indicate some sort of communication problems between the two microcontrollers on the board.
Possible cause may be optocouplers IC1 or IC2 or components related to the optocouplers.

If you have a multimeter you may measure the voltage on pin 6 of IC1 (against the USB connector shield). The voltage should be about 3.5V when the demo software is running.[/quote]

Oeps…
I’m only mesuring 2.5V DC

Would you please also check the voltage on pin 6 of IC1.
This is the USB supply voltage. Should be about 5V.

[quote=“VEL255”]Would you please also check the voltage on pin 6 of IC1.
This is the USB supply voltage. Should be about 5V.[/quote]

Hi, i think you made a typo here???
Do you mean pin 6 of IC2 ?

Sorry - should be pin 8 of IC1.

At the same time you may check also
pin 2 of IC2
pin 3 of IC2

Then you may check against any GND terminal of any analog or digital in/out connector:
pin 6 of IC2
pin 8 of IC2
pin 2 of IC1
pin 3 of IC1

[quote=“VEL255”]Sorry - should be pin 8 of IC1. [color=#BF0000]5,04V[/color]

At the same time you may check also
pin 2 of IC2 [color=#BF0000]4,33V[/color]
pin 3 of IC2 [color=#BF0000]3,97V[/color]

Then you may check against any GND terminal of any analog or digital in/out connector:
pin 6 of IC2 [color=#BF0000]3,83V[/color]
pin 8 of IC2 [color=#BF0000]4,87V[/color]
pin 2 of IC1 [color=#BF0000]4,13V[/color]
pin 3 of IC1 [color=#BF0000]3,76V[/color] [/quote]

Thank you.
All these values are about similar as I get.
The big difference is only in the value measured on pin 6 of IC1.
This is strange.
It would be interesting to know if the voltage on this pin is as low on all the four cards you have…

[quote=“VEL255”]Thank you.
All these values are about similar as I get.
The big difference is only in the value measured on pin 6 of IC1.
This is strange.
It would be interesting to know if the voltage on this pin is as low on all the four cards you have…[/quote]

I found the problem, the problem is caused by IC6 (CPU).
1 card didn’t have the problem, i swapped the cpu from a good board with a bad an the problem moved.
The 3 boards i bought in one time. The 4th later. Maybe a bad batch cpu’s.

Can the cpu’s be replaced under warranty? I only have them for 6mnd.

Thank you for solving this problem.
Indeed there seems to be defective microcontrollers on the boards.
Here is the warranty info link: velleman.eu/distributor/supp … rantykits/

I think there is no need to send the whole kits back. You only need to replace the IC6.

You can return the CPU’s for inspection to:

Velleman Projects Tech. Dept.
Legen Heirweg 33
9890 Gavere
Belgium

Please include a copy of the communication you had with the support people.

[quote=“VEL417”]You can return the CPU’s for inspection to:

Velleman Projects Tech. Dept.
Legen Heirweg 33
9890 Gavere
Belgium

Please include a copy of the communication you had with the support people.[/quote]

How long does it usually take before the rma is processed and send back ?

thx

I’ve send the defective cpu’s to Velleman. Now 4 weeks later still no replacement cpu’s received.

Who can i contact about this problem?

As far as we can see, the repair dept. treated your item on 8/7/2010.
Please note that due to summer holidays, turnaround times can be longer than expected.