Troubleshooting guide for Wise Clock 3/4

This should really be a chapter of the assembling instructions for Wise Clock 3/4. Until I integrate everything into a single document, it is just another post that begged to be written (long ago, as a matter of fact).


1. Right after power up, the clock should make a beeping sound. If that does not happen, here are possible causes:
  • missing input 5V power; the optional power LED may be useful in this case, turned on when the power is present;
  • reset pin may be shorted to ground (the processor won't execute any code);
  • processor may not be powered: check that pin 10 has 5V and pin 11 is connected to ground;
  • faulty or missing the 16MHz clock for the processor; check crystal connections to the pins; if everything looks good electrically, try to upload a sketch; it that still doesn't work, test by replacing the processor or replacing the crystal;
  • buzzer may be disconnected; check connections between processor's pins and buzzer, shorts to the ground, terminal soldering.


2. The display does not light up at all (assuming the display is not defective):
  • faults in the connections to the display (right-hand header): look for shorts between neighbor pins in the display header; look for shorts between any signal pins in the display connector and ground;
  • output header (left-hand) display header may have shorts between neighbor pins or pins shorted to the ground.


3. Getting SD card error in "Quote" mode:
  • faulty SD card; check the SD card itself by reading it in a PC; must be formatted FAT16 (therefore 2GB or smaller);
  • the required text files may be missing; check for their presence in the root directory;
  • SD card may not be powered; check 3V3 power on the third pin from the left (second pin from the left is connected to the ground);
  • check voltage divider resistors R5, R6, R7 (under the processor) and make sure they are 4K7.


4. A button press does not trigger the expected action:
  • button may be defective; check if the specific button shorts the processor pin to the ground when pressed.


5. Communication error when trying to upload a sketch:
  • make sure you plugged the FTDI cable/breakout the correct way/orientation, with the Ground/Black terminal to the right;
  • check the Rx/Tx connections to the processor (pins 14 and 15); make sure that they are not cut or shorted to the ground.

[original story: Wise time with Arduino]

Wise time with Arduino 25 Mar 15:46
wise clock 3  wise clock 4  

Troubleshooting guide for Wise Clock 3/4

This should really be a chapter of the assembling instructions for Wise Clock 3/4. Until I integrate everything into a single document, it is just another post that begged to be written (long ago, as a matter of fact).


1. Right after power up, the clock should make a beeping sound. If that does not happen, here are possible causes:
  • missing input 5V power; the optional power LED may be useful in this case, turned on when the power is present;
  • reset pin may be shorted to ground (the processor won't execute any code);
  • processor may not be powered: check that pin 10 has 5V and pin 11 is connected to ground;
  • faulty or missing the 16MHz clock for the processor; check crystal connections to the pins; if everything looks good electrically, try to upload a sketch; it that still doesn't work, test by replacing the processor or replacing the crystal;
  • buzzer may be disconnected; check connections between processor's pins and buzzer, shorts to the ground, terminal soldering.


2. The display does not light up at all (assuming the display is not defective):
  • faults in the connections to the display (right-hand header): look for shorts between neighbor pins in the display header; look for shorts between any signal pins in the display connector and ground;
  • output header (left-hand) display header may have shorts between neighbor pins or pins shorted to the ground.


3. Getting SD card error in "Quote" mode:
  • faulty SD card; check the SD card itself by reading it in a PC; must be formatted FAT16 (therefore 2GB or smaller);
  • the required text files may be missing; check for their presence in the root directory;
  • SD card may not be powered; check 3V3 power on the third pin from the left (second pin from the left is connected to the ground);
  • check voltage divider resistors R5, R6, R7 (under the processor) and make sure they are 4K7.


4. A button press does not trigger the expected action:
  • button may be defective; check if the specific button shorts the processor pin to the ground when pressed.


5. Communication error when trying to upload a sketch:
  • make sure you plugged the FTDI cable/breakout the correct way/orientation, with the Ground/Black terminal to the right;
  • check the Rx/Tx connections to the processor (pins 14 and 15); make sure that they are not cut or shorted to the ground.


[original story: Wise time with Arduino]

Wise time with Arduino 25 Mar 15:46
wise clock 3  wise clock 4