Home › ELEKTOR FORUMS › My circuit does not work (yet)! › USB EM84 Magic Eye - help needed

ELEKTOR FORUMS

Please log in to post a reply or subscribe / unsubscribe to topics

Topic: USB EM84 Magic Eye - help needed

Author Post

timetec

9 posts

Popping In
Popping In

Read post 06-02-2010 22:42

Hello all - I have built the 'EM84 USB Magic Eye' CPU load monitor circuit as published in January's issue.

The tube indicator bars glow dimmly, accompanied by a slight whistle from the transformer. The HT is 216V, but the heater voltage is very low indeed.

I read that the heater supply voltage / current is PWM controlled by the PC software, and this is where my problems start.......

When the monitor is plugged into a USB port, 'Device not recognised' appears - it does not even ask for a driver. I've downloaded the AVR309.zip file from the ATMEL website and have the nessecary drivers, but don't know where to begin installing the AVR software ??


Any help would be greatly appreceiated

Many thanks, Richard

phonoplug1

25 posts

Occasional Visitor
Occasional Visitor

Read post 07-02-2010 01:16

Just a thought, if the USB D+ and D- lines are swapped you would get that message on the PC. Worth checking?

Anything else on the USB lines (shorts etc) would probably also cause that message.

timetec

9 posts

Popping In
Popping In

Read post 07-02-2010 02:21

Many thanks for the reply - all sorted now

Stupid mistake - misprogramed the fuses on the ATTINY.

Now needs a bit of tweaking, as I wound the transformer on a 'non-spec' former - HT now nearly 300V ! - so it will all have come to bits again.

Picture attached shows running at 20% - a bit out of sorts.

DOS Command line : cpushow 20


Richard

phonoplug1

25 posts

Occasional Visitor
Occasional Visitor

Read post 07-02-2010 12:02

Nice work. Have to say I looked at that project with interest. Might build it now!

phonoplug1

25 posts

Occasional Visitor
Occasional Visitor

Read post 03-03-2010 12:39

Just built this with a moving coil meter, very useful. At least now I can see the computer is 'doing something' when it seems to be 'doing nothing'!

I wonder though, is there a way to run the PC application without having a window sitting on the task bar? I tend to have many things running at the same time, so the less items on the task bar the better. Any ideas??

Please log in to post a reply or subscribe / unsubscribe to topics

Sponsored


Design your unique front panel with our free CAD software - it is quick and easy! Front Panel Express will machine your design with modern CNC technology. You will receive the panel exactly as you need it in a couple of days.

New book

Python Programming and GUIs

This book is aimed at people who want to interface PCs with hardware projects using graphic user interfaces. The programming language used is Python, an object-oriented scripting language.