MOTEINO/MIGHTYBOOST POWER PROBLEM [solved]

[Rjp663]

All,

I'm encountering a problem operating the MightyBoost under Moteino control.

BLUF: The Moteino & MightBoost will not function unless I have a FTDI Serial cable attached to the Moteino. 

With the FTDI cable attached I can start, reboot and shutdown the Raspberry Pi3 just like I were using a ATXRaspi. 

I suspect the FTDI serial cable is providing voltage or ground to the Monteino that is otherwise missing.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Rick

[Felix]

You may not be wiring it correctly, please check again. Are you using headers to mate the two?
Check that the VIN pin of the Moteino gets 5V with a multimeter.
MightyBoost powers the Moteino through GND and VIN pins.

[Rjp663]

Felix,

First of all thank you for replying to my post!

I attached a few pictures of my test setup.  I'm using headers for the MOTEINO, JST 4 pin connector to the LED/Momentary switch and simple male headers for GPIO7 & GPIO8 jumpers.

I measured DC voltage with a Fluke across GND and VCC. The mightyBoost is only providing 1.48VDC.  I thought a component might be loading the 5VDC voltage down, so I removed the MOTEINO, LED/Switch and GPIO jumpers.  No change in the voltage output of the MightBoost.

Thank you,
Rick

[Felix]

From a set of photos with small resolution and detail, the setup looks OK.
But I can't really tell what's going on just from these small photos.
I think the MBoost is not even turned ON, the green "5V*" LED on the lower right seems to be OFF.

Either of the following are true:

- MBoost output is not turned ON, you do this by setting D4 to HIGH, this is even noted on the bottom silkscreen of the board
- short somewhere which cripples everything
- 1.48 v sounds very strange even if the output is off, so wiring might still be a problem
- damaged MBoost board somewhere in the process

So please check these points and let me know what additional info you can provide.

[Rjp663]

Felix,

I Thought that when using a Moteino to emulate the ATXRaspi functions, that the "5V* out" pad is not jumpered to Pad D4. When not jumpered, 5V* output is controlled by the Moteino.

Is this correct? 

Thanks
Rick

[Felix]

I Thought that when using a Moteino to emulate the ATXRaspi functions, that the "5V* out" pad is not jumpered to Pad D4. When not jumpered, 5V* output is controlled by the Moteino.
Is this correct? 

Correct. It's never jumpered unless you solder-jumper it yourself. The 5V* output has to be enabled by setting D4 to HIGH.

[Rjp663]

Felix,

I configured the MightyBoost for "standalone mode" (no Moteino installed) and tested the output voltage via the USB-A connector.  Voltage tested good at 5.15vdc.

I also checked for a short between the Moteino VIN pin and others on the header.  No shorts found.

I decided to install a jumper between the Moteino VIN pin and 5V pin (picture refers). The MightBoost and Moteino are now operating fine.  Problem solved. 

Since you test your PCBs after manufacture, I'll blame this failure on me.

Thanks for the help.
Rick

[Felix]

Ok well at least the board is good!
Simply touching that solder jumper will enable the output and the 5V* LED will turn ON. That's the simplest way to tell the output works.
You can of course do this via Moteino D4 set to HIGH.
It's up to you. MBoost is primarily a booster and IPS, with the added option of being controllable by the Moteino, which is actually powered by 5V (boosted from battery or from USB).