EmonTx v3 Troubleshooting

Ok, we've been working through the setup for the Home Energy Monitor, based on EmonTx v3, Raspberry Pi, and Emoncms v8, and have come to a halt.

We've followed the instructions up to the point of loading the "emonTxv3_continuous_kwhtotals_noeeprom" firmware onto the EmonTx, but it then refuses to work, and we're beginning to wonder if its faulty.

 

With that firmware loaded we never get a red LED on the front, and the serial monitor runs for  few lines, then crashes.

I've reflashed it back to the original firmware, and the red LED comes on permanently, and the serial monitor outputs the following:

emonTx V3 Discrete Sampling V1.3.1
OpenEnergyMonitor.org
Performing power-on tests.....please wait 10s
 

Then it stalls, and refuses to go any further. This occurs either on 5v, or the 9v AC supply.

Any suggestions for testing to see if it is faulty, or where to from here?

Robert Wall's picture

Re: EmonTx v3 Troubleshooting

Which emonTx V3 do you have? There is the PCB V3.2 that has the RFμ328 module surface mounted on the PCB and the RFM12B radio module on top of that, or there is the V3.4 that has the processor mounted directly on the PCB, which can have either a RFM12B or a RFM69CW radio module. The software for the V3.2 is mostly labelled as "V3" and uses RFu_JeeLib; the software for the V3.4 is mostly labelled V3_4 and uses plain "JeeLib". The software is not compatible with the "other" version.

My first guess is you have the wrong sketch.

petesilcock's picture

Re: EmonTx v3 Troubleshooting

Ok, that makes sense.

I've had it out of the case, and it does have V3.4 written on it - I was under the impression it was a V3 so that's what i've been using.

How do I tell if its RFM12B or RFM69CW?

 

Thanks for your help!

pb66's picture

Re: EmonTx v3 Troubleshooting

The RFM69 chip is a square 28 pin SMT and usually has "RF69" printed on the chip. the RFM12's chips are either DIL or hidden under a black circular blob.

Paul

petesilcock's picture

Re: EmonTx v3 Troubleshooting

Ok great!

I am pretty sure its an RFM12 - the chip isn't hidden under a black blob, but the board itself looks exactly like the ones on google images that are!

I've reflashed with the default 3_4 firmware, and we have our flashing LED back, so thats sorted that one - Great, thanks!

 

Weirdly, having reflashed it with the continuous_kwhtotals_noeeprom 3_4, there is no red light again, however this time it seems to be outputting properly to the serial monitor, rather than crashing after 3 samples, so that still looks positive!

Thankyou

 

 

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