CurrentRanger User Guide?

[chrismower]

I have had my CurrentRanger (R1?) for some time and never actualy needed a user manual as using it with a Fluke 87 was pretty much intuitive. I recently added the OLED display which is amazing, and I don't know why I didn't do it earlier, which raised the question "Could I use it for data logging via USB?".

Unfortunately I could find no documentation describing how to do this. I plugged the CR into my Win11 pc but it does not show up as anything. I tried turning it on/off but still nothing shows up as a device or a com port.
Can anyone help here? Do I need to do something on the CR to enable it as a USB device? It is a reasonably early unit but it does have the reset button on the rear and has R1 written under the Current Ranger logo.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Felix]

Yes the R1 is a very early revision, however it should have a serial menu where you can get logging enabled.
You can open the serial port at any baud (ex. from Putty or Arduino IDE), then type '?' + ENTER to bring up the available menu.

See these pages for more on that:
https://lowpowerlab.com/guide/currentranger/usb-serial-menu-options/
https://lowpowerlab.com/guide/currentranger/bluetooth-data-logging/

The firmware can be updated to the latest available (see Github repo). Make sure you read and follow the proper steps for updating the firmware - ie. ensure you backup your current firmware from the device before you replace it!

https://lowpowerlab.com/guide/currentranger/programming-firmware-updates/

[chrismower]

Thanks for the reply. However my problem is that when the CR is connected via the USB it does not appear as a device on any computer that I have plugged it in to, PC or Mac. The USB cable is fine as it works with several other devices such as an RP2040 which appears just fine. So my question is, does something have to be done on the CR to enable it to appear as a device when plugged in?

[Felix]

It should not require anything.
What happens if you double click the reset button (not even sure if at that point one was mounted)?
Or try another computer/windows?
And you have only one CR?

[chrismower]

I have the CR connected by USB to my Mac and after pressing the reset button it now shows up as a serial port. Using CoolTerm I can connect to the com port and when I power the CR on it instantly transmits 'no response' so there is connection. However nothing that I type gets a response. I have tried ? followed by carriage return but nothing. Double pressing the reset button doesn't seem to do anything either, it just goes off line then back on line. Also at no point does it appear as drive. Should it?
Any help would be great, thanks.

[Felix]

It's too old to even remember exactly if I have a UF2 bootloader on there.
If you reset it then the latched port goes away and reopens, and any application that was connected to it will loose that connection without automatically re-latching when it comes back online.
If nothing seems to work, I can offer to look at it and perhaps replace the bootloader and reflash it so you get the functionality you want, but you will need to cover shipping costs back/forth. If that's of interest email me at felix at lowpowerlab.

[chrismower]

Thanks Felix. I think I will just live with it as it is since I have managed without having a computer connection so far and haven't really missed it. It would just have been nice go have had the option.

[Felix]

Ok let me know if you change your mind, the offer is open.