Possible help programming a Picaxe 08?

[irishluck]

So I have a project I am trying to build but still learning about the Picaxe software programming.
I am just getting into programming and someone had pointed me to this Picaxe IC chip for my project.
Theres alot to learn about it obviously but needing alot of help

I attempted to start to write some of the programming which sort of works but not really ha

Ive drawn out a schematic of what I'm building and need some help

Basically I need C.1 to always be high.
Between C.1 and C.2 will be a LDR sensor. A laser will always be pointing at this.

When the light in broken it should set C.2 as a high.
When C.2 is high I need it to activate C.4 as a high which will turn a relay on for about 15 seconds.
After 15 seconds, I need it to make C.4 and C.2 as a low again which will turn off the relay and start over again.

This is how far I somewhat got...

main:
high b.1
if input2 = 1 then high 4 endif
if input2 = 0 then low 4 endif


LDR:
wait 3
if input4 = 1 then low 4 low 2 endif
goto main

 

[CDRIVE]

So I have a project I am trying to build but still learning about the Picaxe software programming.
I am just getting into programming and someone had pointed me to this Picaxe IC chip for my project.
Theres alot to learn about it obviously but needing alot of help

I attempted to start to write some of the programming which sort of works but not really ha

Ive drawn out a schematic of what I'm building and need some help

Basically I need C.1 to always be high.

That makes little sense. If it's "always" high what's the point of wasting a uC pin to do it? In logic if a node is always high you just tie it to the 5V rail. This does not mean that you should tie C.1 to +5V though.

Between C.1 and C.2 will be a LDR sensor. A laser will always be pointing at this.

This makes no sense either. You only need one pin for LDR input. When using LDRs you need to input it as analog, IE:

ReadAdc 2,B1

. Which translates to "Read Analog Value On Port C.2 and store it in the Variable Name B1". I don't think you spent enough time reading the help files. They describe typical LDR input and supply sample code.

When the light in broken it should set C.2 as a high.
When C.2 is high I need it to activate C.4 as a high which will turn a relay on for about 15 seconds.
After 15 seconds, I need it to make C.4 and C.2 as a low again which will turn off the relay and start over again.

This is how far I somewhat got...

No, this code needs a lot of help. Read the pdf files.

main:
high b.1
if input2 = 1 then high 4 endif
if input2 = 0 then low 4 endif


LDR:
wait 3
if input4 = 1 then low 4 low 2 endif
goto main

Again, the help files will show proper relay interface. You have no protection diode across the coil.

 

[irishluck]

Well I didn't think about that. That I could just tie the LDR to the source voltage. So then basically I just need 1 lead of the LDR connecting to pin 1 so when the beam is broken it can turn on a 2nd pin triggering the relay.

I haven't been reading any pdf files. Ive been trying to watch the youtube clips on programming the Picaxe and also reading the Picaxe manual.

 

[CDRIVE]

The PDFs are the help files. While in Picaxe Editor 6 click File then Help. You'll then see a list of PDFs ..
Manual 1 "Getting Started"
Manual 2 "Basic Commands"
Manual 3 "Interfacing Circuits"
Manual 4 "Flowcharts"

Manuals 1 - 3 are the most important. For typical LDR use see Manual 3 page 29 but for what you're trying to do you could use a Phototransistor as a switch. This way you're not dealing with analog input. Also see Manual 3 page 8 for Relay interfacing.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[CDRIVE]

Here's a tip for you. The pdf help files contain sample code for every command, directive, statement, etc. Usually you can simply copy & paste the sample code into the picaxe editor with no issues. However be aware of code snippets that include ASCII text. This requires the text to be enclosed in quotation ("Hello World") marks. The pdf quotation marks are not recognized by the editor and will throw an error when doing a syntax check, running a simulation or downloading the program. The fix is simple.. Just remove the quotes and type them back in.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[irishluck]

Appreciate the tip.

I just really new at programming and coding so its like learning Chinese to me lol
Just trying to get this project I have Im working on done as soon as possible

Is there a command that you might be able to help me with?

Its a command that would constantly watch pin 1 to see if its set high and if so then would goto the next commands I set.
Im still trying to read the different commands but theres a lot lol

 

[CDRIVE]

Is there a command that you might be able to help me with?

Its a command that would constantly watch pin 1 to see if its set high and if so then would goto the next commands I set.

OK, we'll start with some basic code.

When you run this in the 'Simulator' click C.1 (Animated Chip Image) with your mouse. This will bring C.2 High. Click C.1 again and C.2 will go Low. The state of the pins will be simulated by changing pin color. A clicked pin will change from light Grey (PinC.1=0) to Yellow (PinC.1=1). An output pin will change from dark Grey (Low) to Green (High).

;Picaxe Editor Version:  6.0.8.0 (Beta)
;Chipset: PICAXE 08M2
; *******************************

Main:
   If PinC.1=1 Then
        High C.2
   Else
        Low C.2
   EndIf
GoTo Main

Chris

 

[irishluck]

Ok okay. I didn't know you could click on the pins on the simulator to turn them off and on. Good to know.

So the Else command is used to test multiple input pin variables so it can execute what to do next

 

[irishluck]

I think I also got the LDR backwards. I always thought that these photocells use light to block the current but the light actually allows the current to pass.

That being said, i think I came up with a code and it seems to work. Let me know what ya think.

main:
    if input1 = 0 then high 2 endif
    if input1 = 1 then goto main
   

LDR:
    high c.2
    wait 5
    if input2 = 1 then low 2 high 1 endif
    reset

It seems to work.

Except when blocking the LDR it doesn't do anything. My LDR holds at 5.07v when not blocked. When I block it the value changes to 4.65v i do believe. I think I found a code to use this that will watch for the values so that if it goes below 5v that it will turn on pin 2. Its the INPUTTYPE mask code.

I also need a little input on an IC chip. Need 12vdc to turn on that relay on and Im only getting 5v from the IC chip. Found this on digikey.com a ST662ABD-TR. http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/ST662ABD-TR/497-6541-1-ND/1865349

Looks like it will convert 4.5v(min) to 5.5v(max) into a 12v source.

Last thing im looking into on the coding is a safety feature.
I want to incorporate a code into the Picaxe so if say it trips on like 5 times in 2 minutes I want it to turn off and I will have a red LED that turns on when that happens. I'm still reading into the manuals for that code at the moment.

 

[CDRIVE]

Ok okay. I didn't know you could click on the pins on the simulator to turn them off and on. Good to know.

So the Else command is used to test multiple input pin variables so it can execute what to do next

No not quite. In that code the "If" statement tests if C.1 is high (= logic 1) or low (= logic 0). The "Then" statement specifies what to do if it is high (= logic 1). The "Else" statement is an instruction of what to do if C.1 is low (= logic 0).

EDIT: I should mention that in the world of programming (Basic Languages) the "If" and "Select Case" statements are considered to be the most powerful and most often used code block.

Learn to use the simulator to familiarize yourself with the Picaxe programming environment. It's beats the hell out of always downloading to the chip to test your code. It's a hell of a lot faster too!

Capice?
Chris

 

[irishluck]

Oh I've been testing it with the simulator, which is btw a really cool feature with that software.
Ill mess around with the "else" statement to familiarize myself with that. I see what your saying now about the difference between the "then" and "else" statements though.

Thanks for the input!

About the rest of my post that I put above your comment, is that "INPUTTYPE mask" statement sound like that would work with the voltage differences from the LDR?
When I read about it, it looked like what I needed. Going to try it out.

EDIT: I correct myself on the "INPUTTYPE mask" statement. Fro what Im reading its mainly used for logic highs and lows.

 

[CDRIVE]

LDRs are not a good choice for digital inputs. They're generally used with a Picaxe by using an ADC ("A"nalog to "D"igital "C"onverter) pin. Hover your mouse over each pin (Tool Tips) of the 08M2 image and you will see which pins accept ADC input. Typical code and circuitry is found in both manual1 & 2. Read up on the ReadAdc command.

Cheers
Chris

 

[irishluck]

Well I have the LDR on the right pins. C.1 and C.2 are ADC.

I tell you one thing I really dont understand is this general purpose variables.
I read the manuals and some other stuff online about this but not making 100% sense to me.
I know what bits and bytes and kinda see how to use them with time? sort of. But yea do not get this code at all.

 

[irishluck]

Would this code not work if when the LDR light was cut from it that it would go to the LDR: code and trip the relay on for 5 seconds?

main:
    if input1 = 0 then high 2 goto LDR endif
    if input1 = 1 then goto main
   
LDR:
    high c.2
    wait 5
    if input2 = 1 then low 2 high 1 endif
    reset

 

[CDRIVE]

I can't imagine how that code can't be puking up errors.

I told you more than once that LDRs are NOT digital devices. They're ANALOG! Did you lookup the ReadAdc command?

I will make a deal with you. If you agree to loose the LDR and replace it with a PhotoTransistor I will draw the circuit and write the code for you.

What say you?
Chris

 

[irishluck]

I can't imagine how that code can't be puking up errors.

I told you more than once that LDRs are NOT digital devices. They're ANALOG! Did you lookup the ReadAdc command?

I will make a deal with you. If you agree to loose the LDR and replace it with a PhotoTransistor I will draw the circuit and write the code for you.

What say you?
Chris

Idk but it works. I even have it built on a solderless breadboard. It works except for the fact that theres still always current flow through the ldr. When light hits it it measures 5.07v. When there is not light it measures around 4.65v.

I read up on the readadc code yes. But i dont understand the b1 or yhe general purpose variables. I dont 100% understand how the readadc statement works. But i did look up the 08m2 chip and pin 1 and 2 are capable an adc pin.

I dont want someone to write it for me. I mean it would be nice but i wanna learn this. Ive never done any type of programming before.

Ive never used a phototransistor before so im going to look it up.

 

[CDRIVE]

Read Manual 3 (Interfacing Circuits), page 29 for proper LDR interfacing. A sample ReadAdc code snippet is on the same page.

The ReadAdc code includes a variable or variables that are needed to store Byte data.

You can read Manual 1 (Getting Started), page 53 to help understand variables.

Think of variables as data that's stored in a folders in a file cabinet that you will need to retrieve when needed. For example:

B0 = 4    ;  Store the number "4" in the B0 folder
B1 = 2    ;  Store the number "2" in the B1 folder
If If PinC.4 = 0 Then
    B2 = B0 + B1   ; If PinC.4 is low the B2 folder will now contain the value "6".
Else
    B2 = B0 - B1    ; If PinC.4 is high the B2 folder will now contain the value "2"
EndIf

Chris

 

[irishluck]

Well starting to read manual 3 a little bit and had to learn how transistors worked exactly. Those things are pretty neat and what they can do.
So much to still learn.

 

[CDRIVE]

I ran your code and was shocked that it didn't throw multiple errors. I can tell you this though. Placing multiple commands on a single line is not good programming SOP. It will make debugging longer programs harder to read and harder to fix. It will also inhibit the simulator's ability to pause over each command. In most other languages this practice would be rejected by the programming editor with only few exceptions.

I consider this OK because the program branches to another code block as soon as it's executed and is one of the few instances that EndIf isn't required.

If PinC.1 = 1 Then GoTo main

This structure, on the other hand, should be avoided.

If PinC.1 = 0 Then High 2 GoTo LDR EndIf

Also note that in both examples I changed your "Input" command to "PinC.1". This is because you're using "Input" for something it wasn't intended to do. Why the editor doesn't upchuck on it I don't know. I suggest that you read up on the Input command more thoroughly.

Regarding LDRs:
Microcontroller Inputs treat LDRs the same way they treat Potentiometers, Variable Resistors (Rheostats), Thermistors, or just about any device that produces an Analog voltage. These devices are never simply logic 0 or logic 1. The ReadAdc command reads discrete voltage levels broken down into 255 parts and stores each value measured in a Variable. You then tell your program do something when the Variable's value is equal to (=), higher than (>), lower than (<), not equal to (<>) or unchanged from a value you specify or even another variable that changes value somewhere else in your program.

This block of ReadAdc code was taken from Manual 2 (Basic Commands). In plain English it says "Test the Analog Voltage on PinC.1. Divide the chip's supply voltage (5V) into 255 parts and store the value in the Variable B1. If the value of B1 is greater (>) than 50 Then Go To the flsh block and execute the code there. When finished executing the flsh code go back to main. On the other hand ..If the value in B1 is not greater (<) than 50 Then Go To main instead and keep testing B1 until it's greater than 50.

main:
readadc C.1,b1 ; read value into b1
if b1 > 50 then flsh ; jump to flsh if b1 > 50
goto main ; else loop back to start
flsh:
high B.1 ; switch on output B.1
pause 5000 ; wait 5 seconds
low B.1 ; switch off output B.1
goto main ; loop back to start

I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that the simulator provides for simulating the ReadAdc command by providing you with a Values panel that you can enter the C.1 value. Look in the lower left corner of this screenshot to see this panel. In your case this panel is mimicking an LDR connected to PinC.1 input. I set the value to be 38, which is less than the required 50, so the program never jumps to flsh:. Also look up in the right hand corner to see the current value of B1. You'll see that it's what I set the ADC (C.1) value too.

Use the Up-Down scroll bar arrows to increase the LDR value to 50 and see what the program does. Then change it to 51 and you will see the program jump to the flsh block.
This panel is designed to be interactive, so you can change the C.1 value while the program is simulating.



Have FUN!
Chris

 

[Martaine2005]

Patience of a saint with scabs...
Are you mended dear Uncle Chris..