lcd problem

[malc-c]

Personally I don't think it's the code - this has been running fine in the development board (see the 4ch thermostat post under the code section), and the PIC seems to be running OK when used on the stripboard as the LEDs indicate the PID routines work when the temperature detected by the probes are increased / decreased. My hunch is that it has to be something with the stripboard, I might try re-soldering the wires as it could be something as simple as a dry joint ?

[malc-c]

Personally I don't think it's the code - this has been running fine in the development board (see the 4ch thermostat post under the code section), and the PIC seems to be running OK when used on the stripboard as the LEDs indicate the PID routines work when the temperature detected by the probes are increased / decreased. My hunch is that it has to be something with the stripboard, I might try re-soldering the wires as it could be something as simple as a dry joint ?

Uhmm... well I just belled out each wire pin fo pin and it all checks out.

[Jerson]

Could be even simpler - decoupling caps 0.1uF? since you mentioned using strip board

[malc-c]

Yep, have one fitted across the supply lines next to the pic - might put a few more in

I've just breadboarded the pic (pic, xtal, caps and the lcd) and it's running fine... must be a fault somewhere on the board...

Thanks guys for all your inputs

[Archangel]

Try allowing D0 : D3 to float without grounding them and ground pin 3 of the LCD instead of the pot(I always do this).

[malc-c]

We'll I couldn't work out what the actual fault was so I started again with a fresh stripboard, and this time built the board up as I went rather than try and plan it out first. Net result is that the LCD is displaying the data as it did when on the EasyPIC5 board.

However......
I'm now having strange issues with the DS18B20 sensors. The code (listed in the code section under 4ch Thermostat) should show NC if there is no sensor connected, but ch3 shows up as 655.4c... If I connect is sensor to Ch3 it correctly reads the right temperature, but then Ch2 displays 655.4c... but if both have sensors connected both read correctly. Ch1 and Ch4 work perfectly. I've checked the board, replaced the resistors between the data and +ve, even re-made the links between the PIC and the sensor input.

I'm testing the board by hooking it up to the Expansion port on the EP5, and have decoupling caps across the supply lines.

Any suggestions.... at least I've made some progress over the 1st prototype

Oh... and is there any difference in addressing the NXP PCF8583 RTC and the Maxim DS1307 RTC ? - I used the DS1307 module when developing the code, but the shop supplied this

which is based on the NXP chip. - The clock can be read, but it doesn't update (shows 10:10 all the time)

[malc-c]

I'm now having strange issues with the DS18B20 sensors. The code (listed in the code section under 4ch Thermostat) should show NC if there is no sensor connected, but ch3 shows up as 655.4c... If I connect is sensor to Ch3 it correctly reads the right temperature, but then Ch2 displays 655.4c... but if both have sensors connected both read correctly. Ch1 and Ch4 work perfectly. I've checked the board, replaced the resistors between the data and +ve, even re-made the links between the PIC and the sensor input.

I'm testing the board by hooking it up to the Expansion port on the EP5, and have decoupling caps across the supply lines.

Any suggestions.... at least I've made some progress over the 1st prototype

Reprogrammed the pic as it did the same on the development board - Now working fine