Re: How should we wire the photoswitchs?
 

It sounds like you put the sensor input on the right pins.

It might be a programming issue. Do you see the inputs changing on the Dashboard display when the sensors activate?

Re: How should we wire the photoswitchs?
 

Yes, the gpio state on the dashboard slot 4 changes when the sesor is over the tape. we just created a whole new robot project with the "robot framework with game code" and it did a pre progammed drive. then we did it it just the "robot framework" and it just did nothing at all.

be back tomorrow. i have to go play in a bsketball game now.

Re: How should we wire the photoswitchs?
 

Brown +
Blue -
White (sig) to digital side car
Black nothing

If the Sensor is Green: Sensor is powered, but is to far away to sense. no output on blk or wht.

If sensor is Orange: ON sensor is recieving at least 2.5 times the signal strength needed to trigger and output and green will turn off. May have to adjust the sensitivity adjustment on top of the sensor to get an orange on if already mounted. Do this by placing over reflective surface and adjust until it comes on. Sensitivity is the screw on top. If orange is not on there will be no output on blk or wht.

If sensor is Yellow: the output has been energized meaning it sensed reflective object. becareful most bright objects can be sensed regardless of color.

Typical sensor indication is the following
Green OFF, Orange ON, Yellow OFF over dull surface wht low and blk high
Green OFF, Orange ON and Yellow ON over bright surface wht high and blk low

Hope this helps

Re: How should we wire the photoswitchs?
 

Does that make alternating orange and yellow does that mean that sensor is going on and off or what?

Re: How should we wire the photoswitchs?
 

Pay attention. It means that you have probably miswired one of the outputs to a power pin.

Re: How should we wire the photoswitchs?
 

If you have a flashing LED, the sensor has gone in to short circuit protection mode becasue one of the outputs is shorted to ground or it is not wired up correctly. Make sure the black wire is not connected ianything. Make sure the white is connected to the signal pin on the digital side car pwm input and not the + or -. Best way to prevent the shorting out of the black wire is to clip the stripped wire and then wrap it with electrical tape. Inspect the sensor cable for any nicks. I will try and post a quick video by the end of today to show how it works and how to connect it.

Re: How should we wire the photoswitchs?
 

Thanks for the help guys. Turns out that one of our wires was not fully connected

Re: How should we wire the photoswitchs?
 

Brown + (connected to red power connector on PDB)
Blue - (connected to black power connector on PDB)
White to the white wire of a PWM connected to the digital side car
Black nothing

The green LED is on.

No matter where we place the sensor in relation to the gaffer tape, and no matter how we turn the adjustment screw, we never see an orange LED on the sensor.

I've read all the posts in the thread and I think I am doing everything right. Not sure what to try next. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks

Re: How should we wire the photoswitchs?
 

That is a good thing. Orange means short circuit protection is coming on. It is possible that you have a defective yellow LED. Check by measuring the white pin as it enters the DSC. It should normally be 5 volts. If not, you may have not powered the DSC. All three LEDs on the DSC need to be on and bright. Have you checked the black output of the sensor?

Re: How should we wire the photoswitchs?
 

Based on your description, it would appear that the sensor is bad. With just the brown and blue wired you should be able to get the orange light to come on by spinning the adjustment screw.

My question is: have you tried the other two sensors? One bad sensor is possible, two bad sensors is highly unlikely. Just hook up Brown and Blue and mount them looking down. Ensure the lights change before hooking up the white.

Re: How should we wire the photoswitchs?
 

Thanks Al and Phil,

My next access to the robot will be Wednesday, will check out both of your suggestions.

Re: How should we wire the photoswitchs?
 

Okay, so I am here with rsisk. When we got to the robot and turned it on, poof! The sensors were giving me an orange light, then went green with distance. Like it is supposed to. After being excited and happy. I notice that after a power restart of the robot, they stopped going orange. Any ideas or reasons why? Nothing had changed from the previous weekend when we first wired them up and nothing changed after giving it that power restart. I am completely stumped on what is going on. No shorts, no PWM connections. Just the power is hooked up.

Re: How should we wire the photoswitchs?
 

Anyone notice in Team update 5 this addition?
<R60> Solenoid Breakout outputs shall be connected to pneumatic valve solenoids or photoelectric sensors, PN 42EF-D1MNAK-A2 only. No other devices shall be connected to these outputs.
Thanks to some of the discussion here, it was noted that sagging batteries would cause a brown out condition on the sensors. R60 now allows a team to add a 9472 solenoid module connected to the +24 volt output of the PD to power the line following sensors with a regulated +24 volts. Thank You FIRST Engineering for the great find and fix.

Re: How should we wire the photoswitchs?
 

Did you calibrate the sensors? If not, maybe it's just changing light conditions or where you have the robot located.

Calibrate the sensors on an appropriate section of floor after putting in fresh batteries.

Re: How should we wire the photoswitchs?
 

I would expect that the light condition shouldn't matter. These are very sensitive sensors. I am going to look into the post before this one. I think that might be the key.