Atmel ICE passed away

Log in or register to post comments
Go To Last Post
21 posts / 0 new
Author
Message
ixremedy
ixremedy's picture
Level: Wannabe
Joined: Sun. Nov 11, 2012
Posts: 98 View posts
#1
Posted by ixremedy: Mon. Sep 28, 2015 - 04:24 PM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

Hi!

 

It's very common for us that our AVR Dragons die repeatedly but we've got the repair elements to fix them, so that's not a problem.

 

But a couple of days ago we've got an Atmel ICE dead and can't figure out what to do.

A six-pin power element gets a frying pan hot and the device doesn't get detected by the OS.

I've attached an image and highlighted the heating element with a red rectangle.

 

If you know what/why this happens and what elements we should replace to get it up and running, 

I would be very thankful to get to know from you.

 

Thanks a million!

Attachment(s): 

Image icon IMG497_mod.jpg

Tags:

Tools, In-System Debuggers and Programmers
Top
meslomp
meslomp's picture
Level: Raving Lunatic
Joined: Wed. May 2, 2007
Posts: 5810 View posts
Location: Nieuwegein, Netherlands
Posted by meslomp: Wed. Sep 30, 2015 - 05:47 AM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

for a start.

have you build a dragon liar lair to protect the dragon? or are you using them as is?

building the liar should keep teh dragons up and running better in harsh conditions.

 

on the ice....

judging on the trackwork going into and comming out of that chippy in combination with surrounding components it looks like a SMPS regulator.

normally these things do not die easy. My first guess would be that something else has died and now the current drain is so high that this regulator gets to its boiling point.

are you sure no other components get hot in the process?

I would expect the inductor to also get hot as that is also then handling a lot of current.

 

 

EDIT: typo fixed

Last Edited: Thu. Oct 1, 2015 - 06:54 AM
Top
ixremedy
ixremedy's picture
Level: Wannabe
Joined: Sun. Nov 11, 2012
Posts: 98 View posts
Posted by ixremedy: Thu. Oct 1, 2015 - 06:27 AM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

Hi!

 

Thank you for the response. We are using AVR Dragons as they come, but that's less embarrassing since we've found out what to do when they die. Years of expertise of fixing them in 10 minutes :) We always take care that we have replacement components. And they don't die more frequently than once in 3 months or so. And that's with several guys heavily using them for work each an every day for programming and debugging :)

More embarrassing is the situation with Atmel ICE because we don't have proper schematics for them and can't trace what to fix. If we find the source of problem, that would be fine. Atmel ICE can upload the firmware (which in our case for one of the projects that we make is huge) in one tens of seconds, whereas with AVR dragon you would wait for several minutes.

 

May it be that someone has schematics for Atmel ICE? We would trace what's wrong with it.

Top
M_Bek
M_Bek's picture
Level: New Member
Joined: Mon. Nov 14, 2016
Posts: 10 View posts
Posted by M_Bek: Mon. Nov 14, 2016 - 01:44 PM (Reply to #3)
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

Hi!

I have the same problem with Atmel ICE! Element that you colored on board is heated highly( Want to ask, did you solve the problem? If you did, can help pls. Don't know what to do(

Thanks!

Top
jgmdesign
jgmdesign's picture
Level: Moderator
Joined: Mon. Mar 19, 2007
Posts: 16145 View posts
Location: Long Island New York
Posted by jgmdesign: Mon. Nov 14, 2016 - 02:05 PM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

MY first question is your ICE a bare bones board only, or is it in a case?

 

I have a couple of ICE units - In cases, and I have yet to kill one(now I jinxed myself).  I would question what you are doing that would cause these units to pop.

 

Jim

I would rather attempt something great and fail, than attempt nothing and succeed - Fortune Cookie

 

"The critical shortage here is not stuff, but time." - Johan Ekdahl

 

"Step N is required before you can do step N+1!" - ka7ehk

 

"If you want a career with a known path - become an undertaker. Dead people don't sue!" - Kartman

"Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load?"  - Lee "theusch"

 

Speak sweetly. It makes your words easier to digest when at a later date you have to eat them ;-)  - Source Unknown

Please Read: Code-of-Conduct

Atmel Studio6.2/AS7, DipTrace, Quartus, MPLAB, RSLogix user

Top
M_Bek
M_Bek's picture
Level: New Member
Joined: Mon. Nov 14, 2016
Posts: 10 View posts
Posted by M_Bek: Mon. Nov 14, 2016 - 02:14 PM (Reply to #5)
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

It is in case. Measured temperatur with thermal imager, it was above 150'C. It worked normally, suddenly began burning without unnecessary movements(

Top
jgmdesign
jgmdesign's picture
Level: Moderator
Joined: Mon. Mar 19, 2007
Posts: 16145 View posts
Location: Long Island New York
Posted by jgmdesign: Mon. Nov 14, 2016 - 03:08 PM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

What else is plugged into your USB ports on your PC.  What did you have it connected to for programming?  Were you using the ICE to power your board?(thats a big no no)

 

Just telling us "MY ICE DIED" is not going to get you much help.  Regardless if we know what the part number is, it would help to know what your setup is for others that may run into your problem.

 

JIm

I would rather attempt something great and fail, than attempt nothing and succeed - Fortune Cookie

 

"The critical shortage here is not stuff, but time." - Johan Ekdahl

 

"Step N is required before you can do step N+1!" - ka7ehk

 

"If you want a career with a known path - become an undertaker. Dead people don't sue!" - Kartman

"Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load?"  - Lee "theusch"

 

Speak sweetly. It makes your words easier to digest when at a later date you have to eat them ;-)  - Source Unknown

Please Read: Code-of-Conduct

Atmel Studio6.2/AS7, DipTrace, Quartus, MPLAB, RSLogix user

Top
ki0bk
ki0bk's picture
Level: Raving Lunatic
Joined: Mon. Sep 8, 2014
Posts: 5965 View posts
Location: Olathe KS
Posted by ki0bk: Mon. Nov 14, 2016 - 05:50 PM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

Could you post your solutions for the dragon! 

Click Link: Get Free Stock: Retire early! PM for strategy

share.robinhood.com/jamesc3274
get $5 free gold/silver https://www.onegold.com/join/713...

 

 

 

 

Top
jgmdesign
jgmdesign's picture
Level: Moderator
Joined: Mon. Mar 19, 2007
Posts: 16145 View posts
Location: Long Island New York
Posted by jgmdesign: Mon. Nov 14, 2016 - 06:14 PM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

ki0bk wrote:

Could you post your solutions for the dragon! 

This is a thread resurrected from a year ago.  If you search the site (use Google) there are many threads on fixes.

 

JIm

I would rather attempt something great and fail, than attempt nothing and succeed - Fortune Cookie

 

"The critical shortage here is not stuff, but time." - Johan Ekdahl

 

"Step N is required before you can do step N+1!" - ka7ehk

 

"If you want a career with a known path - become an undertaker. Dead people don't sue!" - Kartman

"Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load?"  - Lee "theusch"

 

Speak sweetly. It makes your words easier to digest when at a later date you have to eat them ;-)  - Source Unknown

Please Read: Code-of-Conduct

Atmel Studio6.2/AS7, DipTrace, Quartus, MPLAB, RSLogix user

Top
M_Bek
M_Bek's picture
Level: New Member
Joined: Mon. Nov 14, 2016
Posts: 10 View posts
Posted by M_Bek: Tue. Nov 15, 2016 - 06:57 AM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

jgmdesign wrote:

What else is plugged into your USB ports on your PC.  What did you have it connected to for programming?  Were you using the ICE to power your board?(thats a big no no)

 

Just telling us "MY ICE DIED" is not going to get you much help.  Regardless if we know what the part number is, it would help to know what your setup is for others that may run into your problem.

 

JIm

 

Ok! Just keyboard and mouse are plugged into ports. Using my ICE for programming ATTiny44, board is powered separately from power supply 24V. Board converts 24V to 5V for working with proc. So when i used spi  mode for programming,  target voltage was 5,8V, and atmel studio prints warning: voltage above 4,8 and 5,5V, do you want to continue? But if continue, ICE works normally, it programms board and in debug mode no errors occur. Before i did not notice that it heated, yesterday i discovered it. Heats exaxtly that element on picture colored red. So what i have to do?( Thanks!

P.S. Sorry for my english. I'm working on it)

Attachment(s): 

Image icon IMG497_mod.jpg
Last Edited: Tue. Nov 15, 2016 - 06:58 AM
Top
DAFlippers
DAFlippers's picture
Level: Resident
Joined: Mon. Sep 12, 2011
Posts: 713 View posts
Location: UK
Posted by DAFlippers: Tue. Nov 15, 2016 - 08:33 AM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

target voltage was 5,8V, and atmel studio prints warning: voltage above 4,8 and 5,5V, do you want to continue? But if continue, ICE works normally​....

.... until the component dissipating the power gets very hot and fails.  Your regulator is not producing 5V and that is causing the problem.  You were warned about the problem and you seem surprised that the ICE has died.  What more could have been done to stop you blowing up your ICE?

 

David  

Top
M_Bek
M_Bek's picture
Level: New Member
Joined: Mon. Nov 14, 2016
Posts: 10 View posts
Posted by M_Bek: Tue. Nov 15, 2016 - 09:12 AM (Reply to #11)
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

Thanks for answer! But the thing is that ICE works and didn't die. I found the problem which can cause complete breakdown. Now i don't touch it, so came here for help to solve problem before it'll die)

Top
DAFlippers
DAFlippers's picture
Level: Resident
Joined: Mon. Sep 12, 2011
Posts: 713 View posts
Location: UK
Posted by DAFlippers: Tue. Nov 15, 2016 - 09:24 AM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

I found the problem which can cause complete breakdown.

So what was the problem and how have you resolved it?

 

David 

Top
M_Bek
M_Bek's picture
Level: New Member
Joined: Mon. Nov 14, 2016
Posts: 10 View posts
Posted by M_Bek: Tue. Nov 15, 2016 - 09:36 AM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

DAFlippers wrote:

I found the problem which can cause complete breakdown.

So what was the problem and how have you resolved it?

 

David 

Atmel ICE heated highly(abnormally) - problem!

So don't know what to do(

 

My english is terrible, sorry that misled you)

Top
DAFlippers
DAFlippers's picture
Level: Resident
Joined: Mon. Sep 12, 2011
Posts: 713 View posts
Location: UK
Posted by DAFlippers: Tue. Nov 15, 2016 - 10:01 AM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

Check what your '5v' rail actually is with a meter.  The ICE thinks it is 5.8v which is likely to be the problem.

 

David  

Top
M_Bek
M_Bek's picture
Level: New Member
Joined: Mon. Nov 14, 2016
Posts: 10 View posts
Posted by M_Bek: Tue. Nov 15, 2016 - 10:21 AM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

DAFlippers wrote:

Check what your '5v' rail actually is with a meter.  The ICE thinks it is 5.8v which is likely to be the problem.

 

David  

 

Checked on proc voltage, it is 5V. The ICE heated always even it is not connected to board.  When just connect ICE to the PC it starts to warm up.

Top
DAFlippers
DAFlippers's picture
Level: Resident
Joined: Mon. Sep 12, 2011
Posts: 713 View posts
Location: UK
Posted by DAFlippers: Tue. Nov 15, 2016 - 12:28 PM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

Are you saying it gets too hot to touch with just a USB connection?  Do you see the same effect if you try a different PC? 

 

David

 

Top
M_Bek
M_Bek's picture
Level: New Member
Joined: Mon. Nov 14, 2016
Posts: 10 View posts
Posted by M_Bek: Tue. Nov 15, 2016 - 01:39 PM (Reply to #17)
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

Exactly! I tried 5 different PCs, all the same( 

Top
DAFlippers
DAFlippers's picture
Level: Resident
Joined: Mon. Sep 12, 2011
Posts: 713 View posts
Location: UK
Posted by DAFlippers: Tue. Nov 15, 2016 - 01:49 PM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

In that case, it sounds like the ICE might be faulty. 

 

David

Top
DAFlippers
DAFlippers's picture
Level: Resident
Joined: Mon. Sep 12, 2011
Posts: 713 View posts
Location: UK
Posted by DAFlippers: Tue. Nov 15, 2016 - 01:53 PM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

Just to be clear when I said 'just a USB connection​' that means only USB and no ribbon cables. 

 

David

Top
M_Bek
M_Bek's picture
Level: New Member
Joined: Mon. Nov 14, 2016
Posts: 10 View posts
Posted by M_Bek: Tue. Nov 15, 2016 - 02:04 PM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

DAFlippers wrote:

Just to be clear when I said 'just a USB connection​' that means only USB and no ribbon cables. 

 

David

 

Yeap, just usb connection! So just change in store? Or try to fix it up?

Top