troubleshooting ht16k33

[Glenn McIntosh]

Have assembled the kit (#157), and is mostly working apart from LEDs. By working, I mean appears to be completely functional, all buttons are being detected, rotors are being detected and can encode messages (using TTS).
However, I’m getting no LEDs (either the lamps or the rotor displays), except for the decimal points on the rotor displays which are driven from the Arduino. Occasionally I’ll see a quick flash of a couple of LEDs on startup, but it is only momentary.
I’m assuming my issue is the ht16k33. What I have tried:
* tracing each of the lines from the ht16k33 to check connectivity
* checking for shorts between adjacent pins
* re-checking all LED polarities and pins on the alphanumeric connectors
I’m seeing signals being asserted on COM0-7 of the ht16k33, but nothing on the ROW0-15.
My best guess is that I’ve killed the drivers on the rows somehow (though they must be working as inputs, since they are seeing the buttons).

Apart from me replacing the ht16k33, do you have any ideas on anything else which could be causing this?

[me2016]

Hi Glenn
Yes, it sounds like the issue is related to the ht16k33 chip.
Connect sa PC to the usb port and set speed to 38400. Then when it boot up it will state something about found ht16k33 ir not.
If not found check the power and SCA/SLK lines. Carefully measure the voltage directly on the chip.
Now since the buttons work then I would guess it’s detected and it’s something else and studying the schematic the only thing I can think of is that you accidentally install the LEDs the wrong way.

[Glenn McIntosh]

The startup seems fine (I’m guessing the ‘IC detected’ line is for the ht16k33, I have the plugboard disconnected for now). Power and clk/data are working, I’ve re-checked all the LEDs, will continue to investigate. I’ll figure it out, thanks for the response.

—

MeinEnigma Version: 1.10d
Checksum seems OK, (E9AA) keeping the values
IC detected
Looking for soundboard
Found a soundboard, activating it
Time is: 200-01-03 19:38:18
No plugboard found
All LEDs on
All LEDs off

Machine mode: run
Version: 1.10d
Preset: 0

Odometer: 561
Morse code: OFF
TTS: ON
Serial number: 157

Model: M3 (Enigma M3, German Navy (Kriegsmarine))
Reflector: UKWC
Rotors: I – II – III
Ringstellung: – A A A
Plugboard: virtual –
CurrentWalze: – B Q M
Time is: 200-01-03 19:38:23

Ready

[Glenn McIntosh]

I replaced the ht16k33 on the assumption that I’d somehow killed the row drivers, and it is all working now!

The keyboard is a bit of a frankenstein’s monster after I used a breakout board version of the ht16k33, but that’s all hiding underneath 🙂
https://archive.meme.au/meinenigma-2d38250c/keyboard.jpg

Overall, the instructions for construction were comprehensive and the only minor issues I had were the battery connector terminals being a bit loose for the wire gauge, and one hole on the board (for the Arduino socket) was blocked and had to be drilled out.

Thanks for a great kit.

[thedy]

i just assembled the tit #156 and now have exactly the same issues with the LED’s and alphanumeric displays. When i push one of the 4 button by the wheels to recall a preset, most time it shows PR 1 (2, 3 or 4), but nothing else. Everything else seems working well.

I also checked everything, shortcuts, wrong direction of LED’s bat soldering points ….

Any suggestions ?

Best Regards from Swizerland
Thedy

[me2016]

I am starting to wonder if the batch of chip I got (after a very long delay) was faulty.
The “PR 1” should come when you press a button and turn it on but that’s it.
1 – Do you get the “all LEDs on” when you turn it on
2 – if you put the dial in the first on position (model) can you then try some of the shortcuts and see if it does react to them. Things like “M” for morse code, “T” talk, “C” for clock, “L” for lamp test.
3 – can you connect a computer to the serial port (speed 38400) and see if you get some more info there. You can increase log level with “!LOG:2” (I think)

I’m currently out of town so I can’t really check on things that easily.

[thedy]

Hello again,

everything works fine. When i push L for the light test, all is dark except the 4 dots on the alpha displays. When i push C the 2nd dot blinks in a 1 second rhythm. In UKW mode, the voice say the correct letter that i push. In run mode i can enter text and can see the encryption in the terminal window on the PC, but not on the LED’s nor on the alpha display.

Log:

MeinEnigma Version: 1.10d
Checksum seems OK, (24B4) keeping the values
IC detected
Looking for soundboard
Found a soundboard, activating it
Time is: 2024-03-14 19:24:47
Preparing plugboard
All LEDs on
All LEDs off

Machine mode: model
Version: 1.10d
Preset: 0

Odometer: 98
Morse code: OFF
TTS: ON
Serial number: 156

Model: M3 (Enigma M3, German Navy (Kriegsmarine))
Reflector: UKWB
Rotors: I – II – III
Ringstellung: – A A A
Plugboard: physical – empty
CurrentWalze: – A A G
Time is: 2024-03-14 19:24:52

Ready
Time is :19:24
Time is :19:24
All lights on
All lights off
All lights on
All lights off
sound OFF
sound ON
morsecode ON
morsecode OFF

[me2016]

It’s hard to guess what can b e wrong but since it is a few reports of it now I’m going to put together a kit and maybe also a test jig of some kind so I can verify functionality of the chip.
If I’m not happy with what I see I will order a pile of ht16k33 as a replacement in existing kits and for anyone else here.
For the kits above – if you are willing to pay shipping to Canada and ship the just the main board I will take a look and do whatever is needed to make it work.

[me2016]

Update: I did solder together a L&K board and reproduced the problem so now I can do some troubleshooting. I have ordered replacement ht16k33 but it will take some time to get here.
I will get back once I done some checking.

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by me2016.
• This reply was modified 1 year ago by me2016.

[thedy]

i added the following line in the original MeinEnigma Sked and downloaded it to the Arduino. After this, it worked as it has to. Without replacing the HT16K33

on line 2012 after the ‚void checkSwitchPos()
i added the following:

HT.displayOn();

Perhaps someone else can verify it, if it runs there too ?

Best Regards and good luck with upgrading the Arduino 😉

[me2016]

Did try some things and it does make a change to the better. Now it’s more of a side effect than a fix. The “HT.displayOn()” call does set a bit in the chip to turn on the display but that bit is set at start and never cleared so it’s more of the repeated sending of data that makes it work better.
One thing that still doesn’t work is for example the light check, turn on all LEDs. That still doesn’t work.

To verify that I added a dummy read call “i=HT.i2c_read(0);” to the main loop and then it seems to work the same, display, lights and such work but not light test.
I added it around line 4340, just before “if (!standalone) {“.

This indicates that the chip has issues to work unless you keep talking to it, something that shouldn’t be needed. Adding that line to the main loop is at best an ugly workaround to get some function out of it so I keep looking at what the root cause is for this issue.

/ps

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by me2016.

[cosinus]

I have the exact same problem with kit #152.

– LEDs not working
– rotor displays not working, except for the dots

Occasionally, when the board was off more than a few seconds and no power was left in the circuit, a very short flash from some LEDs on startup.

I have verified over TTS and the serial monitor that all buttons and rotors work fine. Also, the Plugboard does work.

There is one difference to the original post:
My kit was provided with a VK16k33 Chip instead of a HT16k33.

I think I will look for a new ht16k33 chip, or do you guys have found a fix or have an idea what I can try?

Greetings from Germany 

[me2016]

It may take a while to make it from Canada to you but a new ht16k33 is now on it’s way

[me2016]

Ok, so you have a VK16K33, that basically means it needs to be replaced.
As we wrote in the email sent out we have no issues sending you a ht16k33 and unless you moved since you ordered it we still have your address. If different, please send direct message or email. If you have any questions then send email to shop@meinenigma.com

It is a software fix that makes it work a little better see https://meinenigma.com/forums/topic/troubleshooting-ht16k33/#post-2518
It only improve things, it is not a fix! The permanent fix is replacement of the chip.

/me

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