Nav-Aids

Thanks John I'll send you a PM.

Ray

jpanhalt

Here's a small suggestion from a hobbyist perspective. Servos used to have ground the middle pin, signal and V+ were the outer pins of a 3-pin plug. That was instant death to the servo, if it accidentally got reversed. Now, the middle pin on almost all servos is V+.

I don't believe the pin sequence for ICSP is critical (lead length must be kept short), so you might consider for a 5-pin plug making the center pin Vdd, which is different from what the link shows. Then, your PIC may survive getting it plugged in wrong. You might also consider making Vdd at pin 5. A reversal would simply put MCLR at V+, which won't damage anything. Of course, some sort of keyed system is also advisable.

John

Gompy

Why is it not possible to put computerleads wrong to the motherboard ????

jpanhalt

Maybe you haven't tried hard enough?

Most of the motherboard connections are "keyed" in some way. That is, the receptacle and plug are not symmetrical. A simple pinheader and in-line contact plug are symmetrical. A 6th pin can be added and make it a blank/solid plug is another way to add asymmetry.

John

Gompy

But why have we make problems if there are no problems ?
Simple buy plugs with a hardware mark, same like computerplugs.

jakestew

Good ideas for the other connectors, but don't mess with the ICP header. Most programmers, including mine, use a single connector. So we can't go changing the pinout, otherwise I'd have to cut off the heatshrink cover and start pulling and rearranging pins.

It's pretty easy to get the orientation right. Red stripe goes to the square pad.

One other thing I should mention, the connector is a 6-pin header-type connector. The 6th pin is not connected, or even present on the board. So remember to leave room for that extra empty header pin connector.


-Jake

Gompy

We use for allmost 20 years PS2 to DIN, DIN to USB for keybords, SUB9 and SUB 25 to USB for communicationsports.
For every GSM we have a differend plug but one loader.
We can connect our computer with 5 differend cables to the TV.
I think I have at least 8 differend cables for programming PLC's and the use all Hart protocol.
And we can't use a adaptercable with two differend plugs between the programmer and the CDI for ICP ?

A programmable CDI is not only a other kind of ignition, with a programmable CDI you gone try to get more from your engine.
If you don't know how to handle a programmer, don't start with a programmable CDI, you blow the engine or the programmer.

I say allway: If you don't know wat you are doing, don't do it.

jpanhalt

Well, I can agree with that in the main. I was talking in general that when you have a choice, either use a keyed connector or make the connection fool proof, in case it is inserted wrong. I surmised, perhaps wrongly, that the programmer was to be homemade and compatibility with commercial units was not a design criterion. As in the case of servos, apparently >90% of the community agrees and changed from the Airtronics/Volz's configuration to the Hitec/JR/Futaba configuration. Airtronics converted and Volz got out of Hobby servos. BTW, my factory PK3 is a standard, 6-pin, inline, non-keyed connector that can easily be inserted wrong. So, there are some things you just have to live with.

A little bit ago, you described how to calculate the advance of your engines:
That is wrong. Linear displacement of the piston and degrees of crankshaft rotation are not linearly related. Here are a couple of references on that:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piston_motion_equations
http://www.epi-eng.com/piston_engine...ion_basics.htm

The first is a mathematical analysis. The second is mostly non-math. I wonder if that could be why some of your results are different than others' results?

Regards,

John

Gompy

I know it isn't very exact calculation for degrees, but you need the *pin* tool the get TDC.
Normaly you porting / tuning a cilinder, the in and output *holes* are not timed by degrees, but by distance.
RC people use only the degreescale to set the hallsensor, thats it.
Why want you have a programmable CDI if you don't do any thing with timing and tuning of the engine ?
And NO you can't tune a engine with a degreescale, you can set the ignitiontime (BTDC) with it.

gr8flyer55

Jake, just ordered that USB PIC programmer from PicCircuit.
Might take a few weeks to get here from Malaysia!
Hope it works so I can do in circuit programming.
It said nothing about any software though. What do I use?

John

jpanhalt

@gr8flyer55,

I don't recall whether you have any programmer. I used to have a PicStart Plus programmer that was easily adapted to ICSP. All I had to do was keep the connecting lines less than 8". I would never had gotten rid of it, except for the enhanced mid-range chips, which are not supported. So, if you have any programmer at all, you may be able to use it for ICSP until your new one arrives.

John

Nav-Aids

jpanhalt I know where Rob is coming from. For years the only wayto time a 2 stroke was by using a piston stop type tool that measured depth instead, I still use a dial depth gauge for small engines. Anyway we use to look up the factory timingspec. which was given as distance to TDC, some gave both distance and degree. Unless you had access to a 12 volt battery, a timing light was useless, so we measured distance. I know on newersnowmobiles that they have batteries or 12 volt power to hook up a timing light or we use aself powered timinglight and you can go by degrees, if there are timing marks. But yah, unless you have the OEM spec a self powered timing light and degree wheel is the way to go. I've seen battery poweredLED timing lights for small enginesand want to make one this winter.

Ray

jakestew

It uses the standard PIC Kit 2 software from microchip.com.

It will program the 683 right from MPLAB. For some reason it won't do the 1840 from MPLAB though. You have to open the hex in the PK2 software to flash it.


-Jake

lovefool

Jake, Pickit2 doesn't detect new enhanced mid-range PIC like 12F1840 automatically, Pickit3 does.

Jay.

gr8flyer55

A few years ago I built a simple serial port programmer which I still use today, in fact I just used it tonight to program my last 25 pic12f683 chips for the batch of timer boards I built today. The problem with it is there is no support for the 1840 chip. That's why I ordered the USB programmer from PicCircuit.com.
I'm not sure where to get the Pickit2 software though. Jake said that's what he uses with it. Is it free from Microchip? Never saw it on the site when I was on there. Lots of other crap but not what am looking for.
I'll just have to wait till I find something to work with it after the programmer comes in the mail.


John

lovefool

John, here is the programmer software.
You need two files, PICkit 2 v2.61 and Device File 1.62.14 (New device support. Compatible with application version 2.61.)
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/id...cName=en023805

Jay.

jakestew

Yep, that's the link. I can verify that it programs the 12F1840 just fine. I've run my engine with one.

Not sure if you need the updated device file or not. It was there when I downloaded the software, so I installed it.

I've just gotten serial transmission working with the 1840! I've got it printing out the RPM once per sec. I also got my bluetooth module working, so now I can monitor the RPM wirelessly!

The module you want can be found by searching ebay for: "serial bluetooth backplane". They're about $8 shipped!
You'll also want a bluetooth adapter for your computer. They cost $1 for class 2, or a few bucks for class 1. The cheap class 1 module they sell that has an antenna, actually has a fake antenna. It's just plastic, so you might as well break/cut it off or remove it. It's still the cheapest class 1 bluetooth module out there, and it's the one I'm currently using.

I'm just giving you guys a heads up since it takes awhile to get these cheap parts from China. Hopefully I'll have some nice code written by the time they come. I'm figuring that most people here will think it worthwhile to have wireless monitoring for under $10.

I still have to write a program to monitor things with gauges and bells and whistles, unless you like watching numbers scroll by in a terminal window. The real handy thing will be when I write an Android app to do the monitoring on your phone! I'll probably have to charge a couple bucks for that since it costs to register as a developer and get into the app store, and it will be my first Android app so it will take quite a bit of time to learn everything and write it.

Don't wait, get your bluetooth gear now so you have it in hand when I turn out the code. It will be worth it! (you can still use cables I guess, but that's no fun)


-Jake

Gompy

Dutch http://www.kreidler.gompy.net/Kreidl...elli/index.htm

English http://translate.google.nl/translate...li%2Findex.htm

Start with the engine left up picture with 1.2 hp and ended with ~19 hp, thats wat you can do with a engine.
Playing with programmable CDI is fun, but you also have to use it.

Batterie powered flashlight http://www.electronics.gompy.net/strobelight/index.htm

Gompy

Monitoring is only usfull if it's realtime.
Given gas and wait for a second to see wat happen ?
Why don't you use the TX and RX of the micro to communicate ?
Even USB 1.1 will be faster then one second.

THis is wat we need, realtime monitoring and change on the fly, plug and play.



It's not fun if packman will do wat you want todo after one second.
Even my first "computer", the ZX80 was faster when I play snake.

The PIC program wasn't work well, but the monitor program was good.
http://www.electronics.gompy.net/cdi/index.html
Without reprogramming the chip we can change the ignitiontable......not the tables but the timing, we don't use tables.
The program was making realtime calculations after every rotation the hallsensor will be trigger and put the ignitiontime ready for the next round.

I'm a tuner, not a player, maybe thats why I have other intrest how programs work and wat todo with it.
I'm the man at the startgrid with the laptop connected to the bike to change at the last moment the values to win.
I'm also a _ user_ and not a programmer, I wish I was and I'm happy with your knowledge about programming.

But most programmers put to much *toys* or *nice to have* into there programs.

Again, I don't shoot you down.......It's positive critrical comment I given.

COM

Rob,
Don't you already have that?

So your program did not do what you wanted? I thought you and the programmer were going to make a commercial unit. I saw a bug in how the pic operated, but everyone thought I was crazy.

Gompy

I have the program and the HEX......not the source.....so it was not my program.

You got mail [&o]

Nav-Aids

Thanks for the links Rob, I have seen your web site but, not all of it, need more time. I like the timing light and will build one. Thanks again.

Ray

gr8flyer55

Ray, I have built Rob's timing light. It sure works nice, now that we can't use the led on the timer board!
I've tried Rob's suggestion for the cheap led flashlight for a multiple led bright strobe. That thing works really good and in near daylight conditions too. Worth the time spent on it.

Rob, is there a point on that board to make a direct connect to it and the timer board without having to use the antenna pickup coil over the sparkplug wire???

John

Gompy

There is, use the SCR output from the PIC.
I was work on it, but you send me the CDI boards so I have to stop with the flashlights.......your fault

I was just into town to buy some new SCR to use the strobe flashlight with Xenontube.
When I test the first desgne, I forgot the Voltage is turn backwards when the light flash.
The SCR don't like it and blowup, now I'allmost done with it, only findout the switching points wothout disturbe the CDI.

gr8flyer55

Thanks Rob!!
Post a small picture or schematic showing where to hook it up and extra parts needed to do it. I'm sure everyone will want to know how to do it!
I was testing this morning on my engine. Made a few new curves and now I need a curve for a small 4 stroke. Tried the 2 stroke curves but it just throws my prop off when I rev it up, a little dangerous!
Anyone experimenting with 4 stroke curves at all?

John