Comments: ArduinoOBI

[utterances-bot]

ArduinoOBI - DONE.LAND

Diagnostic Tool for Makita LTX Batteries to Test, Query, and Unlock

https://done.land/components/power/powersupplies/battery/toolbatteries/makita/makitaltxdigitalinterface/arduinoobi/

[supeeertramp]

I cannot make it work! i need some help. when i run OpenBatteryInformation.exe. i get this error "Failed to get a valid response after 2 attempts". I have an Arduino Nano 3.0 clone from Aliexpress, on the chip is written Atmel MEGA328PB. I have tried to write to firmware with latest version of Arduino IDE selected Atmega 328P processor, compiled and uploaded with no errors! but when i open OpenBatteryInformation.exe same error. I have check to see if the bootloader is the problem, i have uploaded an basic Blink Sketch from Examples, and everthing worked fine. I have tried Arduino IDE ver.1.8.19, installed MiniCore package with support for Atmega 328PB i get this error when uploading:

"Error: connected part ATmega328P signature does not match -p ATmega328PB's (override with -F or use -p ATmega328P)
Error: unable to read signature data for part ATmega328PB (rc = -1)
Error: unable to read signature data (rc = -1)
use -F to override this check
the selected serial port use -F to override this check
does not exist or your board is not connected"

Then i had tried Manually Creating PlatformIO Project in VS Code, selected Arduino Nano Atmega328, also New Bootloader, then selected Atmega 328/PB (microchip) and i get this error:

"*** [upload] could not open port 'COM14': PermissionError(13, 'Access is denied.', None, 5)
Using manually specified: COM14"

after this i got another error:
"avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x9f
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x9f"

i have swapped cables, other PC, the tried on my Macbook with no success!

[TobiasPSP]

I built this myself using an Arduino clone from AliExpress, and it worked like a charm. What grts me is the series of errors you receive during firmware upload. This indicates there may be some underlying issue with the board you use. However, in most cases, ehen you step back, do something else for one day, and then revisit your project, loaded with new energy you often spot the issue more easily.

Also make sure you are using the latest OBI software. Older versions did not yet support Arduino Nano and its clones.

[TobiasPSP]

Another thing to look into is the board you are using: ATMEGA328PB. This is an extended version of the more commonly found 328P. You may need a different board package for it. Just guessing. I used a 328P clone with no issues. Sorry about the issues you are experiencing.

[supeeertramp]

Hi, and thank you for the reply! Yes i know, the amount of errors i got is mind boggaling! And after some more trials and errors, i got to the conclusion that the CH340 chip is bad, loosing connections! So i've ordere some new board, from some other seller, advertised as 328P, but surprise, they are actually Atmega 328PB also, the market is full with this bad clone, But the upload of the sketch worked with no errors with VS Code. Ive also tried with Arduino IDE. All good, but the OBI.EXE it still gives me the same errors:" Failed to get a valid response after 2 attempts". Flashed multiple times, changed cables, pc...same result! Any suggestions?

[TobiasPSP]

Can you verify your wiring, especially for the yellow Makita connector? Are you positive you connected the correct pins? This got me at first.

[supeeertramp]

All looks fine, i've rechecked once again everything now. The soldering points are fine, not connecting other pads, Obi.exe it detects the module, it connects, but then it doesn't pull any information, i get the error and debug information shows FF FF FF FF FF.....

[jackalbones]

I bought a 3 pack of elegoo nano boards and built 2 of these. 1 works perfectly and 1 has the issue of "Failed to get a valid response after 2 attempts" on one i built. Both are assembled identically and soldering is fine

[TobiasPSP]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Is this specifically related to this sketch, or do two out of three boards generally have issues and cannot run any sketch?

I‘d like to figure out what’s happening here with these cheap clones. I use these types of dev boards all the time, and quality is generally good.

Then again, we just discovered a whole batch of ip5306-regulators to be defective, and last year it was a batch of esp32-c3 superminis that had the antenna positioned wrong. However in these cases ALL boards fail.

So any detail you can provide might help us pinpoint the issue.

[jackalbones]

Dont have any other sketches to test so not sure about that but uploading it to the board works. I haven't assembled the third board yet, i'll yet you know if it works when i do. But presumably all boards from a 3 pack would be from the same batch and identical?

[supeeertramp]

I've also tried other modules with the same 328PB chip, and uploading the sketches went fine. The problem is the same Obi.exe it detects the module, it connects, but then it doesn't pull any information, i get the error and debug information shows FF FF FF FF FF.....

[mejdi92]

Tak sie dzieje bo podłaczacie mase czyli zero do wyjścia obok plusa a nie do minusa.

[supeeertramp]

Tak sie dzieje bo podłaczacie mase czyli zero do wyjścia obok plusa a nie do minusa.

As you can see in the following images

https://freeimage.host/i/q2NiNEP
https://freeimage.host/i/q2NiO41

The ground from the board is conected at the Negative pole of the battery through the pin with the withe wire, exactly as it is in the schematics

[TobiasPSP]

I have reviewed all the resources, and largely re-organized this article to help you pinpoint issues. Specifically:

• building the adapter is so simple, if this fails than it is related to defective/incompatible clones or wiring issues.
• HOWEVER the hard part with ArduinoOBI is getting the software to run correctly. So maybe some of you are experiencing software issues, and the arduino/adapter may not be at fault at all.

Here is what I found:

• openbatteryinformation.exe comes with all dependencies, and if you get it to run before your Antivirus eats it, things should work
• if you run main.py instead, while this is a much more robust way security-wise, you must install pyserial or else the "Interfaces" combo box remains empty. Once you install the lib, running the python script directly is so much nicer than using the executable.

In the revised article above, I included PowerShell scripts that do all the setup work for you. Simply choose whether you'd like to use the binary, or the python script, then follow the instructions in the article.

So regarding issues with the adapter, let's all restart from here. Make sure you run the OpenBatteryInformation software in one of the two ways illustrated in the article above. If you then continue to have issues, describe your findings.

That said, while we'll all happily help solving these issues, they will most likely be related to the specific Arduino Clone you use, since adapter schematics are just two wires and two resistors, and the software dependency issues have been resolved in above article.

I keep fingers crossed you all get it to work now. It's super useful, I just investigated a Makita battery clone with this adapter. Very helpful indeed.

[TobiasPSP]

Just wanted to add: if you get an error message like Failed to get ... after 2 attempts, then this is most likely due to a Makita battery clone/repaired Makita battery that has no genuine Makita BMS and does not support the digital interface.

I am currently reviewing a Chinese Makita replacement, and it works ok as a battery, even charges on Makita charger, but won't communicate through the digital port. Likewise, if you have original Makita batteries where in the past you may have replaced the BMS with some generic PCB, same thing.

So in these cases, neither ArduinoOBI nor your Arduino clone is at fault.