Sensor "persistence"?

iahim67

Sorry ... still learning how to use the Insert Code Block :-)
I start Domoticz, enter the Gateway setup and delete every node while the sensor is powered off.
I power on the sensor (connect the USB cable to my laptop) and nothing happens, I click refresh on the nodes but no nodes shows up, the RX and TX LEDs on the gateway do not blink.
Then I reflash (upload) the code above and suddenly the RX and TX LEDs on the Gateway start blinking and Domoticz recognizes my sensor.
It is like if I power off the sensor it will not be recognized unless I upload the sensor code again.

tbowmo

Try a simpler approach, use a serial terminal to access the gateway, and check the messages that is coming in there.

Next check the serial port on the node, and check if it indicates any errors etc, both on first power up, and on second/third/fourth etc.

iahim67

OK, I tried to power ON the sensor 5 times, I opened the Arduino serial monitor every time and waited a couple of minutes, the terminal window was empty every time like the sensor has no serial output.
Sixth time I hit the upload button in Arduino and in a few seconds the sensor starts working and this is what I can see in the terminal window:

0 MCO:BGN:INIT NODE,CP=RNNNA--,VER=2.1.1
3 TSM:INIT
4 TSF:WUR:MS=0
11 TSM:INIT:TSP OK
13 TSF:SID:OK,ID=2
14 TSM:FPAR
51 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-255-255,s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:
411 TSF:MSG:READ,0-0-2,s=255,c=3,t=8,pt=1,l=1,sg=0:0
416 TSF:MSG:FPAR OK,ID=0,D=1
2058 TSM:FPAR:OK
2059 TSM:ID
2060 TSM:ID:OK
2062 TSM:UPL
2065 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=255,c=3,t=24,pt=1,l=1,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:1
2071 TSF:MSG:READ,0-0-2,s=255,c=3,t=25,pt=1,l=1,sg=0:1
2076 TSF:MSG:PONG RECV,HP=1
2078 TSM:UPL:OK
2080 TSM:READY:ID=2,PAR=0,DIS=1
2084 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=255,c=3,t=15,pt=6,l=2,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:0100
2092 TSF:MSG:READ,0-0-2,s=255,c=3,t=15,pt=6,l=2,sg=0:0100
2099 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=255,c=0,t=17,pt=0,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:2.1.1
2107 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=255,c=3,t=6,pt=1,l=1,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:0
2113 TSF:MSG:READ,0-0-2,s=255,c=3,t=6,pt=0,l=1,sg=0:M
2120 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=255,c=3,t=11,pt=0,l=10,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:Thermistor
2129 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=255,c=3,t=12,pt=0,l=3,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:1.0
2138 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=0,c=0,t=6,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:
2143 MCO:REG:REQ
2147 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=255,c=3,t=26,pt=1,l=1,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:2
2153 TSF:MSG:READ,0-0-2,s=255,c=3,t=27,pt=1,l=1,sg=0:1
2158 MCO:PIM:NODE REG=1
2160 MCO:BGN:STP
2162 MCO:BGN:INIT OK,TSP=1
27
2166 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=0,c=1,t=0,pt=2,l=2,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:27
2172 MCO:SLP:MS=3000,SMS=0,I1=255,M1=255,I2=255,M2=255
2178 MCO:SLP:TPD
2180 MCO:SLP:WUP=-1
27
2184 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=0,c=1,t=0,pt=2,l=2,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:27
2190 MCO:SLP:MS=3000,SMS=0,I1=255,M1=255,I2=255,M2=255
2195 MCO:SLP:TPD
2197 MCO:SLP:WUP=-1
27
2201 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=0,c=1,t=0,pt=2,l=2,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:27
2207 MCO:SLP:MS=3000,SMS=0,I1=255,M1=255,I2=255,M2=255
2212 MCO:SLP:TPD
2214 MCO:SLP:WUP=-1
27
2219 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=0,c=1,t=0,pt=2,l=2,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:27
2225 MCO:SLP:MS=3000,SMS=0,I1=255,M1=255,I2=255,M2=255
2230 MCO:SLP:TPD
2231 MCO:SLP:WUP=-1```

tbowmo

what hardware do you use for the node?

iahim67

The node is an Arduino Mini - it is not an Arduino Mini Pro as reccomended, true!
But I'll try soon with an Arduino Nano as a node.
The gateway is an Arduino nano.
on The gateway side the serial monitor only shows

0;255;3;0;14;Gateway startup complete.
0;255;0;0;18;2.1.1

no matter how many times I power ON and OFF the sensor.
But after I reflash the sensor then the Gateway serial output is:

0;255;3;0;14;Gateway startup complete.
0;255;0;0;18;2.1.1
2;255;3;0;11;Thermistor
2;255;3;0;12;1.0
2;0;0;0;6;
2;0;1;0;0;27```

tbowmo

Just a thought..

Program a simple blinking sketch in your node, see if the LED is blinking (this is without mysensors at all!)

Now try powercycling it a couple of times, does it start blinking?

If not, then there is a problem with your arduino mini.

iahim67

OK, I'll try that too, thanks!

iahim67

Amazing! You were absolutely right! I tried a simple LED blink like below, it only works once after the code upload. No matter how many times I power cycle after that, it will not work any more. What could be wrong with this Arduino Mini? It is the original Arduino Mini from Farnell ...

/*
  Blink
  Turns on an LED on for one second, then off for one second, repeatedly.

  Most Arduinos have an on-board LED you can control. On the UNO, MEGA and ZERO 
  it is attached to digital pin 13, on MKR1000 on pin 6. LED_BUILTIN is set to
  the correct LED pin independent of which board is used.
  If you want to know what pin the on-board LED is connected to on your Arduino model, check
  the Technical Specs of your board  at https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Products
  
  This example code is in the public domain.

  modified 8 May 2014
  by Scott Fitzgerald
  
  modified 2 Sep 2016
  by Arturo Guadalupi
  
  modified 8 Sep 2016
  by Colby Newman
*/


// the setup function runs once when you press reset or power the board
void setup() {
  // initialize digital pin LED_BUILTIN as an output.
  pinMode(8, OUTPUT);
}

// the loop function runs over and over again forever
void loop() {
  digitalWrite(8, HIGH);   // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
  delay(1000);                       // wait for a second
  digitalWrite(8, LOW);    // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
  delay(1000);                       // wait for a second
}```

iahim67

Many thanks nevertheless:-)
I use Arduino 1.8.2

tbowmo

I have no idea what could be wrong with it..

Have you checked the soldering of the board? Tried another powersupply?

iahim67

Forgot to tell I have a few such Arduino Mini, all have the same issue!
Might have something to do with both the way I have connected the power and the reset, like here, "Connecting the Arduino Mini and Mini USB Adapter":

https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/ArduinoMini

Power to the Arduino (+5V) comes from the USB Adapter while reset goes through a capacitor.
I will abandon this setup and use a nano based sensor for now.

iahim67

I think the RESET could be the problem but I cannot find the schematics of this Arduino Mini to determine the precise source of the problem.
I'll use the Nano or the Pro in the future ... but thanks anyway, it was instructive!

tbowmo

Have you tried just supplying it with 5V, without the reset attached?

iahim67

Yes, I did, no change.
I have removed the capacitor on the RESET pin and I have pressed the RESET button on the Mini, nothing happens to my surprise.
I shall try to use a different 5V power supply instead of supplying the Mini from the USB adapter. Eventually remove every wire between the Mini and the USB adapter and use an external 5V supply.

iahim67

I have re-wired everything and it works now if I remove the wire from the USB Adapter "EXT. RESET" signal to the 100nF capacitor connected to the Arduino RESET pin - after the code upload.
I guess we can say "solved", I still can use the Arduino Mini if I remove either the RESET capacitor or the wire to this capacitor, like in the attached picture ... nice help on this forum anyway:-)

tbowmo

@iahim67

thanks for the feedback, and good that you got it working finally :)

iahim67

One more thing :simple_smile: , this is the Arduino Mini schematics if someone needs it (not very easy to find):

Sensor "persistence"?

21

11.7k

11.2k

113.1k