Helix Main Board
Assembly and Setup Manual
23
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Initial Testing of the Main Board
To perform the following test you will need at least one standard 4-channel SSR board, a two Cat 5e cables, a Helix
Daughter Board and four strings of lights. If you have eight 4-channel SSR boards, nine Cat 5e cables, a Helix
Daughter Board (or a Helix SSR Daughter Board) and 32 strings of lights even better.
1.
Do
NOT
insert the MicroSD card yet.
2.
Connect the lights to the SSR board.
3.
Plug the SSR board/s into an electrical outlet.
4.
Place the Main Board on a non-conductive surface.
5.
Plug the Main Board into an electrical outlet.
Expected Results:
1.
The power LED should illuminate immediately.
2.
The light strings may flash on for about 10 seconds then turn off, this is normal.
3.
The Heartbeat LED should come on for about 1 second then start flashing in a repeating “SOS” pattern
(three short flashes, three long flashes, three short flashes then a pause).
4.
After about 10 seconds, if you have all 32 channels of lights connected to the Main Board then they should
flash on sequentially for about one second each. If you only have four channels of lights connected then
Channels 1-4 should flash on sequentially for about 1 second each. After the Channel 4 light goes out it will
take about 28 seconds before Channel 1 will start to flash again. You should move the single SSR to each of
the Channel output jacks to verify that all of the channels are operating correctly.
5.
This test shows the EEPROM, Propeller chip, 74HC4094 chips and RJ-45 jacks are all operating as required. If
the above expected actions do not occur then you need to troubleshoot these chips and jacks.
Next repeat the test three times with the Helix Daughter Board connected to each of the Channel Banks on the Helix
Main Board and the SSR board(s) connected to the Helix Daughter Board. The Helix Daughter Board will need to be
powered by the 5VDC wall wart power supply. You should expect to get the same results. This test shows the RS-
485 chips and Helix Daughter Board are all operating as required. If the above expected actions do not occur then
you need to troubleshoot the RS-485 chips, RJ45 jacks and the Helix Daughter Board.
Unplug the Main Board before starting the next test.
