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[SXRguyinMA]

didn't work. and now with the diode removed and the jumper wire reinstalled like it was the caps don't seem to be charging at all

:edit: it helps if you put the jumper wire into the right breadboard socket

I got it to work with the diode, but it still jitters and rotates as the caps discharge

[x88x]

Doh! Sorry, I didn't even think to look back at what the circuit was originally.. You'll want the diode and resistor back in place, configured like they were. That portion of the circuit is, iirc, so that you don't overcharge the capacitors, not backflow. Not sure about the sudden discharge problem at the end, I'll take a better look at it once I get home.

[dr.walrus]

once you finalise your circuit diagram, post it and I'll do my best to clean up your PCB layout

[SXRguyinMA]

cool thanks!

[SXRguyinMA]

crenn where ARRREEEE YYYYOOOOUUUUU!?!?!?!?

[SXRguyinMA]

ok so upon further testing, at full charge the total cap voltage sits right @ 4.94VDC. when I turn the PSU off and the residual voltage bleeds out and the relay shuts, it takes 67 seconds for it to drop to 3.3VDC, at which point the servo does it's random 180º sweep

[crenn]

I'm currently unavailable due to exams (Mmm.... Laplace Tranforms, State Space Anaylsis and other things I need to learn in a day)

[SXRguyinMA]

good luck on your exams crenn!!!

I think I've figured it out. I simplified it quite a bit. I put the vreg, 15ohm resistor and diode back in, and took out the relays altogether. I've got it breadboarded exactly this way right and and it works fine! I did put a small ramsink on the vreg though, and even still that ramsink burnt my finger very quickly.

Here's the current layout. the only thing the 5v line does is hook to the sense pin to tell the atmega to run the code if the computer is on, and run the close code when it is off. The 12v line goes straight into the 5v reg, then off to the caps and the rest of the circuit. Now when I shut off the PSU, the servo makes a little noise from time to time as the caps drain, but it doesn't randomly sweep 180º anymore either

[x88x]

Good to hear. I've been meaning to ask, what are those dark green lines?

[SXRguyinMA]

those are what firtzing thinks should be connections. It's retarded. If I make connections to all those green lines, the circuit will blow up lol. On that scren in fritzing it tells me I still have 5 connections left to make. Stupid program