If nothing else works, please contact us. We stand behind our Photopopper kit (if we stood on top, we'd break the
solarcell..), so we are always available to troubleshoot it if you have problems you can't solve.
Step 6: Initial Testing and Tuning
Step 6a: Troubleshooting
10
Right Rotation
(Clockwise)
Left Rotation
(Counter-clockwise)
Left Motor
Right Motor
Test & Initial Tune
25
Top View
Looking Forward
The first thing to test on your Photopopper at this stage is
to see if both solarengines are functional. The trim pot
(square box & screw thingy) controls the balancing
between the two solarengines, so we'll now show you
how to use it.
The trim pot has a small screw mounted on the backside
of it (see the image) that you can turn with a small
screwdriver. The trim pots we're using for this kit are 20-
turn units, meaning it takes a full 20 rotations of the screw
to make a complete adjustment from extreme left to the
extreme right. You
hear or feel it hit the end of it’s
travel, so take my word - 20 turns one way will have it at
the extreme end of it’s travel.
Start by turning the screw completely to the left
(counter-clockwise) at least 20 full turns. You should find that the left motor is pulsing consistently. Now do the same to the other
side, advancing the screw to the right (clockwise) 20 turns. At this point, the right motor should be pulsing consistently. If all is
well, and your motors are exhibiting this behaviour, turn the screw back 10 turns so the trim pot is approximately centered.
Now you should be able to place your Photopopper to the left of a light source and the right motor should activate. As you
move it to the front and to the right of the light, the left motor should activate. This is a sure-fire indication your Photopopper is
"seeing" the light and trying it's best to move itself closer to it.
will not
As soon as you connect the power capacitor to the PCB and place your Photopopper near a source of light, one
of the motors should start pulsing. If so - BRAVO! Congratulations! You're the new proud owner of a partially-
complete functioning BEAM Photopopper robot! If not - don't dispair. Any problems can be narrowed down
into a few simple checks and resolved.
Hopefully you won't need this section, but if you do, here a few checks and tests to perform if your
Photopopper is acting up. Above all else, make sure that there are no
. This is when solder crosses
from one pad to the next - a condition that should
solder-bridges
.
never be allowed to happen
=
No movement / action
Only one side works
This can be attributed to many factors. If you have a multimeter, try the tests in the paren-
thesis (). Test the following conditions :
- Solarcell hooked up backwards? (voltage positive on pad marked "+")
- Power capacitor hooked up backwards? (voltage climbs only to 1.5-2 volts)
- Motors hooked up to pads "M1" & "M2"?
- Trim pot in place?
- Transistors in correct place and orientation?
- Is it dry? Moisture will interfere with the proper operation of the Photopopper
When only one side works, you can compare it against the side that is working. Check and
compare these conditions:
- Motor hooked up to pads "M1" & "M2"?
- Solder bridge from motor pad "M2" to resistor pad? (left motor only)
- Trim pot adjustment turned all the way over to one side?
Proper Soldering Technique
Solder
Soldering Iron
PCB Solder Pad
PCB
Component Leg
Bad
No flow from leg to pad
Good
Flows from leg to pad
Bad
Solder “bridge” across pads
Bad & Good Solder Joints
X
X
ü
Cap
-
+
2N
3906
2N 3904
1381
1381
Содержание BEAM Robotics Kit 2
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