problem with prop1/cowlacious

[ryagl]

I have the code for the animation correct on a electric chair, but the audio will not start up like I want it to.  I am using cowlacious car/p 300 and prop1.  I have the headers set to 9-12v and am using 2 head pin from vtrig to v+/out5 on prop1.  Mode is set to 2.   Still not able to get it to work.  Please help.  Code follows.
P.S. you helped/wrote code for me originally.

   '   {$STAMP BS1}
'   {$PBASIC 1.0}
'
' =========================================================================


' -----[ Program Description ]---------------------------------------------


' -----[ Revision History ]------------------------------------------------


' -----[ I/O Definitions ]-------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  Sio             = 7                     ' SETUP = UP; no ULN
SYMBOL  Trigger         = PIN6                  ' SETUP = DN
SYMBOL  CARP            = PIN5                  ' V+/OUT5 to V-Trig


' -----[ Constants ]-------------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  IsOn            = 1                     ' for active-high in/out
SYMBOL  IsOff           = 0

SYMBOL  Yes             = 1
SYMBOL  No              = 0

SYMBOL  Baud            = OT2400                ' B/R jumper removed


' -----[ Variables ]-------------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  relays          = B0
SYMBOL   Solenoid       =  BIT0                 ' on K1
SYMBOL   Fogger         =  BIT1                 ' on K2
SYMBOL   Light          =  BIT2                 ' on K3
SYMBOL   Light2         =  BIT3                 ' on K4

SYMBOL  idx             = B1                    ' loop controller

SYMBOL  timer           = W4
SYMBOL  lottery         = W5                    ' random #


' -----[ Initialization ]--------------------------------------------------

Reset:
  PINS = %00000000                              ' clear all
  DIRS = %00100000                              ' set CARP to output

  relays = %0000
  GOSUB Set_RC4                                 ' clear relays

  PAUSE 20000

' -----[ Program Code ]----------------------------------------------------

Main:
  timer = 0                                     ' reset timer

Check_Trigger:
  RANDOM lottery
  PAUSE 5                                       ' loop pad
  timer = timer + 5 * Trigger                   ' update timer
  IF timer < 100 THEN Check_Trigger             ' wait for 0.1 sec input

Start_Audio:
  CARP = IsOn
  PAUSE 100
  CARP = IsOff

  timer = 0                                     ' set to T00.0

Shake_It:
  RANDOM lottery
  Solenoid = lottery                            ' randomize Solenoid
  RANDOM lottery
  Light = lottery                               ' randomize Light
  GOSUB Set_RC4
  PAUSE 69                                      ' 100 - 29
  timer = timer + 100                           ' update timer

Check_Fog_Start:
  IF timer < 4000 THEN Shake_It
    Fogger = IsOn                               ' fog on at T4.0

Check_Fog_Stop:
  IF timer < 6000 THEN Shake_It
    Fogger = IsOff                              ' fog off at T6.0

Check_Chair:
  IF timer < 15000 THEN Shake_It

  GOTO Reset                                    ' quit at T15.0


' -----[ Subroutines ]-----------------------------------------------------

' Update RC-4 with "relays"
' -- takes 29ms @ 2400 baud

Set_RC4:
  SEROUT Sio, Baud, ("!RC4", %00, "S", relays)
  RETURN


' -----[ User Data ]-------------------------------------------------------

thanks for any help. 

[bsnut]

I didn't see any problems with the code. Can you trigger the audio player manually? Are you using a relay to trigger the audio player?

Here is how I would find out that prop's OUTx is triggering the audio player. Connect a light or a voltmeter that is the same voltage of the prop, between OUTx that the audio player is being trigger from and the V+. If this is working it maybe a problem with the audio player, such as no voltage to the audio player, setup problem with the audio player or a bad audio player input. Now if the prop OUTx isn't working it is going to be the ULN. One of the two common problems with the ULN are, they fail open or they fail shorted "stays on", even when the Stamp is telling it to turn on or off. You can try extending the pause instruction to this

PAUSE 2000

Just as a test to see if OUTx is working, so you can rule the prop out of the picture. Just remember to set the pause instruction back to the original, which this

PAUSE 100

and  have audio player disconnected from prop OUTx when are testing that output for the audio player.

I always make my voltmeter my friend when testing and troubleshooting.

[JonnyMac]

I don't see any problems, either, though I would use a 250ms pulse; 100 may be a little short for the CARP's debouncing.

[JackMan]

I would say Jon is probably correct, I use a 1 second pulse on my Cowlacious players.

[bsnut]

I would say Jon is probably correct, I use a 1 second pulse on my Cowlacious players.

Jackman has a good point too and using a light( light around 100 ma)like I suggested to see if the prop is triggering will work just fine. This means that you can watch the light blink when the prop triggers the audio player. Every PLC that I worked on has this feature, so you can see if the field wiring is working or not working.

[ryagl]

Thanks for all the help.  I increased the pulse to 250 ms and it now works great.  Thanks

[gremlock]

i have the same setup ryagl, prop 1 with a CAR/P......below is my setup.  My the Car/P will not play, it will play if manaully pressed, my programming is below:

' =========================================================================
'
'   File......
'   Purpose...
'   Author....
'   E-mail....
'   Started...
'   Updated... 22 OCT 2009
'
'   {$STAMP BS1}
'   {$PBASIC 1.0}
'
' =========================================================================


' -----[ Program Description ]---------------------------------------------
'
' Trigger :: Parallax-compatible PIR or N.O. button (mat switch, etc.)
'            -- connect N.O. button between P6.W and P6.R


' -----[ Revision History ]------------------------------------------------


' -----[ I/O Definitions ]-------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  Trigger         = PIN6                  ' SETUP = DN
SYMBOL  CARP            = PIN5                  ' V+/OUT5 to V-Trig @12v

SYMBOL  Fogger          = PIN2                  ' V+/OUT2 to relay
SYMBOL  Chair           = PIN1                  ' V+/OUT1 to valve
SYMBOL  Light           = PIN0                  ' V+/OUT0 to relay


' -----[ Constants ]-------------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  IsOn            = 1                     ' for active-high in/out
SYMBOL  IsOff           = 0

SYMBOL  Yes             = 1
SYMBOL  No              = 0


' -----[ Variables ]-------------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  delay           = W3
SYMBOL  timer           = W4
SYMBOL  lottery         = W5


' -----[ Initialization ]--------------------------------------------------

Reset:
  PINS = %00000000                              ' clear all
  DIRS = %00111111                              ' set output pins

  PAUSE 30000                                   ' PIR warm-up


' -----[ Program Code ]----------------------------------------------------

Main:
  timer = 0                                     ' reset timer

Check_Trigger:
  RANDOM lottery
  PAUSE 5                                       ' loop pad
  timer = timer + 5 * Trigger                   ' update timer
  IF timer < 100 THEN Check_Trigger             ' wait for 0.1 sec input

  Light = IsOn

Start_Audio:
  CARP = IsOn
  PAUSE 50
  CARP = isOff

  timer = 0

Buzz:
  Chair = 1 - Chair                             ' toggle chair valve
  PAUSE 95                                      ' short delay
  timer = timer + 95                            ' update timer
  IF timer < 5000 THEN Buzz                     ' done buzzing?

  timer = 0

Shake_It:
  Chair = 1 - Chair                             ' toggle chair valve
  RANDOM lottery                                ' restir random #
  delay = lottery // 201 + 50                   ' 0.05 to 0.25s
  PAUSE delay
  timer = timer + delay

Check_Fog:
  IF timer < 1000 THEN Shake_It                 ' run 1s before smoke
    Fogger = IsOn

Check_Show:
  IF timer < 10000 THEN Shake_It                ' (adjust for audio timing)
    PINS = %00000000                            ' everything off

Program_Delay:                                  ' hold 5 minutes
  FOR timer = 1 TO 5
    PAUSE 60000
  NEXT
  GOTO Main


' -----[ Subroutines ]-----------------------------------------------------


' -----[ User Data ]-------------------------------------------------------

[bsnut]

Thanks for all the help.  I increased the pulse to 250 ms and it now works great.  Thanks

You need to increase this PAUSE 50 to PAUSE 250 under the label Start_Audio. The PAUSE instruction is too short and not giving the audio player a chance to see the voltage on it's input pin. You already did the first test to see of the audio player is working. Now, all you have to do is make a change in the code and you should be all set to if it works automatically.

I always say, trigger your audio player manually because, your finger always provides a longer pause and its how I troubleshoot something like this.

[gremlock]

Thanks for the help, I will give this a try and see what happens.