Trouble shoot the MPGuino -- Something hot

You've noticed something on the MPGuino board getting hot, and things aren't working. Here are some common problem items and matching solutions.

7805 regulator

If the regulator gets hot, it's trying to regulate too much power. There are only a few reasons for this.

Input voltage too high

Almost all automobiles have 12V electrical systems, but maybe yours is odd or there's something wrong with the connection. Measure the power and ground connection and make sure it falls between 7 and 24 volts.

Shorted to ground

If the output is shorted to ground, you're trying to sync an infinite amount of power, this makes the regulator understandably warm.

Measure the resistance between the bottom two pins of the regulator (or any 5V and GND point). You should see several kΩ or more of resistance! If your seeing only a few ohms or zero ohms, look at the short to ground page.

Bad regulator

If the regulator is warm, and it's not shorted, and the input voltage is sane, the regulator may be bad. With 7V or more applied to the Vin connection, measure the voltage on the regulator output, if it's not 5v, you likely have a bad regulator.

These is just a plain 7805 regulator in a TO220 package. Almost all electronic stores (even RadioShack) carry them.

ATmega168

The ATmega168 contains current limits on all outputs when sourcing current. This greatly limits the scope of the problem.

Input voltages too high

Measure the voltage on each pin of the ATmega, if any of them are over 5.1v, note the pin number. Most likely it's pin 4,5, or 23. Check the soldering of the 100K resistors and Zener diodes.

Chip in backwards

It happens, make sure the chip lines up with the silkscreen on the board.

Output shorted to +5

Check the resistance between all outputs and +5. None of the outputs (pins 2-6, 11-19, 23-28) should have a zero resistance to +5.

Vin shorted to +5

Measure the on pin 7 and 20. Both of these should be roughly 5V. If they're higher, check for shorts between Vin and +5.

1N4004 Diode

If either of the 1N4004 diodes is getting noticeably warm, something is amiss.

12V input diode, near the big brown cap

This diode protects the MPGuino from reverse polarity on the vehicle connector. If it's warm, too much power is being drawn through it, check for a short between it's output and ground.

If output is shorted to ground, check the solder joint on the 7805 input, big brown cap, and 1N4004 diode. Touch up as needed.

If the output isn't shorted to ground, you're drawing too much power through the 7805, follow the 7805 troubleshooting advice above.

USB input diode, near the FT232 chip and yellow cap

You have a short between 5V and ground, look at the short to ground page.

Zener diodes

You're sinking too much current on the VSS or Injector lines. Check the soldering on the 100K resistors. Measure the resistance on the 100K resistors. Unless you've hooked up several thousand volts, input voltage is unlikely to be a problem.

100K resistors

Make sure the VSS and Injector inputs are below 100 volts. If they're over 100 volts, something is usually wrong anyway.

 
kits/mpguino/trouble/hot.txt · Last modified: 2009/03/03 19:24 by spiffed
 
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