Firmware 4.1.34: Power Cycle required when enabling Limit/Homing Switches

General discussion of using Roboclaw motor controllers
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Basicmicro Support
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Firmware 4.1.34: Power Cycle required when enabling Limit/Homing Switches

Post by Basicmicro Support »

In firmware 4.1.34, when first enabling Limit/Homing Switches on S4 or S5, the settings will not take effect until after a power cycle of the Roboclaw. This means you must set your Limit/Home Switch settings, then click Write Settings(Device Menu), disconnect from the Roboclaw and power cycle the controller before the inputs will function as Limit/Home switches

This behavior will be corrected in the next firmware release. The only settings change that should normally required a power cycle is when changing the Device Address.
SimonRafferty
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Re: Firmware 4.1.34: Power Cycle required when enabling Limit/Homing Switches

Post by SimonRafferty »

That doesn't work for me!

It remembers the state of S4, set to Limit(Both) but not S5. It's a bit of a machine-wrecking bug!
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Re: Firmware 4.1.34: Power Cycle required when enabling Limit/Homing Switches

Post by Basicmicro Support »

Before you power cycle you must go to Device menu and click Write Settings. Until you do that all settings are in RAM so a power cycle will lose those settings. So effectively, to set limit switch settings, you MUST write settings to the controllers non-volatile memory.

P.S. the same is true for packetserial Address changes as well.
SimonRafferty
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Re: Firmware 4.1.34: Power Cycle required when enabling Limit/Homing Switches

Post by SimonRafferty »

I've tried this dozens of times, exactly as you describe - and it still does not retain the value for S5.
The sequence I've followed is:
Set S5 to Motor 2 (Limit Both)
Write Settings from the menu
Disconnect Drive in BasicMicro Studio
Unplug USB
Disconnect power to board.

Power up board
Plug in USB
Connect Drive

It has now reverted to the default, 'Disabled'.
The sequence of disconnecting, de-powering & unplugging USB makes no difference.

The drives are using firmware 4.1.34
Model 2x15a
Motion Studio 1.0.0.64

I'm getting a tired of busting the physical stops every time I loose power to the RoboClaw - and having to connect a PC to restore it.

I've tried setting the function of S5 via serial on power-up using:
Motors_Front.SetPinFunctions(address, 0x01, 0x02 , 0x02 );

But that doesn't seem to work either.

Any ideas / alternatives?
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Basicmicro Support
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Re: Firmware 4.1.34: Power Cycle required when enabling Limit/Homing Switches

Post by Basicmicro Support »

email support@basicmicro.com. Please include screen shots of all your settings, a description of the motors and encoders being used. Any more details you think important from this thread. I will have to setup a similar system so please be detailed. Most likely I will not be able to test this until the weekend.

Currently we are operating a skeleton crew due to COVID-19 which means everything takes longer than usual. Please bear with us.
SimonRafferty
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Re: Firmware 4.1.34: Power Cycle required when enabling Limit/Homing Switches

Post by SimonRafferty »

OK, I've sent an email containing all the details I could think of. Sorry for the delay, but also due to Covid I was unable to access the machine until Friday.
SimonRafferty
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Re: Firmware 4.1.34: Power Cycle required when enabling Limit/Homing Switches

Post by SimonRafferty »

Do you have any update on this? I've not had a reply to the email you requested.

I'm guessing this is low priority. Can you therefore suggest another type of controller on which the limit switches work correctly on both motors.

I've had enough of breaking stuff due to this 'feature'.

Si
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Re: Firmware 4.1.34: Power Cycle required when enabling Limit/Homing Switches

Post by Basicmicro Support »

Did you send it to support@basicmicro.com. I've currently answered all emails received more than a couple days ago. If you still have not received a response please resend it.

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