Support for VL600S panel?

[thoby1]

I tested the software against a VL600S panel. It seems to give the correct status messages, but when I try to send commands the display stops working. Then only a gray background is displayed without any text. When this happens, I have to turn off the power and disconnect the circuit board with the Arduino. Then when I turn on the power again with the original setup, the display works fine. Have tried the "stop" and "reset" function, but it has no effect on the issue.

[MagnusPer]

To start somewhere...

General Which example code are you running - MQTT or Read?

Output data If you change the temperature on the display does the SetTemp message change accordingly?

Input data If you press the display button when the circuit board is connected, does e.g. jets starts or temperature change? by this I want to understand if the connection is OK between the controller unit and the display when the circuit board connected.

Is the display behavior "gray background" the same for all commands?

[thoby1]

I am using the MQTT example.

Looks like the same thing happens when you press the control panel. Also managed to provoke the error by just waiting a few minutes without pressing a single button or sending any command. I think you are on to something about there not being a good connection between the control unit and the display, when the circuit board is connected. I have tested the TP cables with a network cable tester and they worked fine. Also tested the circuit board with the same cable tester. There I got connection on all pins except for pin number 3.

[MagnusPer]

Yes - something is wrong since you not manage to press the display button.

• Have you used ordinary TP cables? They normally have crossed lines, these one shall be straight!
• You can not measure line 3 since the optocoupler requires 5V to open. you could provoke that by manually add 5V ”simulate display button pressed” and GND on the bench to check the functionality.
• Maybe a stupid question - are you using the correct connector to the display? The circuit board needs to be plugged to the control system and the display in just one way, see the wiring diagram
• When reading the wiring diagram it's maybe not obvious how the connect the 5V to the optocoupler!? It shall be connected to the Red PIN 7 line, same as the Wemos D1 mini!
• When reading the wiring diagram it's maybe not obvious how the connect all gnd!? all black lines and gnd symbols lines shall be connected together!

[thoby1]

• I’m using the original flat cable that comes from the display and my own twisted pair cat 6 straight cable to the control system. The cables has a straight connection on etch pin. Should I use only flat cables and not the one that has twisted pairs? The two cables work together if I disconnect the circuit board and connect them with a RJ45 cable extender.

• Tested the optocoupler by giving it 5V from line 3 on RJ1. That gave me a signal on line 3 from RJ2.

• I have wired the display the RJ1 connector (it is marked with “Display” on the circuit board) and the control system to RJ2.

I see that I am using version 3 of the Wemos D1 mini, but in your wiring diagram it shows version 4. Will that be a problem?

To be more specific in the issue. The system seems to be working fine during the hot tub startup sequence when I turn the fuse on. Then I get MQTT messages with water temperature and pump status etc. After the startup the display begins to flash between showing the water temperature and just a gray background. Eventually just ending up in showing a gray background. This happens regardless of me sending any commands or not. To correct the issue I have to put everything back to the origianl setup. Since the cables work fine with just a cable extender and not on the circuit board could there be too much resistance on some of the pins?

[MagnusPer]

Seems the TP-cables are ok when a RJ45 cable extender is used. I think it's more likely something with the circuit board. If we suspect the Wemos then you can disconnect that from the board since the board should work without it, check the wiring diagram. Once disconnected the board should act the same as when you use the RJ45 cable extender.

When reading the difference between version 3 and 4 for Wemos D1 mini it should not be any problem related to that.

[thoby1]

Tested a circuit board without Wemos and it worked fine. All buttons and display worked as they should.

Should the Wemos have an external power supply? While testing I have only connected the two TP cables. They have 5V on pin 7 and ground on pin 4. I was wondering if the Wemos draws too much power.

[MagnusPer]

Ok, we are closing in! Now we need to understand why the Wemos fails, below are some ideas to check, not sure they will help but we need to start somewhere...

• External power shall not be needed, at least I'm not using that.
• To be sure about the Wemos you are using. Is this the ESP8266 or the newer ESP32 version?
• The best guess is the Wemos restarts and might cause the problem. To check this connect your computer and log via the serial monitor to see what’s happening
• You can also try with the Balboa_RS_Read example to see if there is any difference. Using this code you need to have the computer connected via serial monitor. Input data can be written to control temperature and pumps.
• Long shoot, but attached are my settings when I compiling the code

[thoby1]

I have now tested the Balboa Read example software and connected it to a PC for debugging.

It worked fine from the software side. I saw the status and could start and stop the pump, turn lights on and off, etc.

When I pressed the display, it behaved strangely. It didn't always react and if it did it seemed as if the buttons had been given a different function. If I pressed “Pump 1” it looked like I pressed “Temp up”. Finally, I ended up with the same error. Showing a gray background in the displayed again.

The difference in this test scenario is that Wemos is supplied with external power from the USB cable and that this software do not use the WiFi module. So maybe there is something with the power?

Also, if I used the board “LOLIN(WeMos) D1 R1” the software did not work. I ended up using the “LOLIN(WEMOS) D1 R2 & mini” board config.

[MagnusPer]

I just thinking about the VL600S (6 button) panel and the difference compared to the VL700S (7 button) I have - when reading the Balboa-GS510SZ documentation there are some jumper settings to configure the control system depending on display panel configuration. Question is If this affects the way the commands is sent or not? But when reading your comment it seems at least the commands is correct!

It worked fine from the software side. I saw the status and could start and stop the pump, turn lights on and off, etc.

Need to double check this, because this is really positive. Do you mean when entering the write commands using the PC serial monitor the activations is correct?

When I pressed the display, it behaved strangely.

This is really strange since the signals should go straight through the optocoupler - see the wiring diagram. Like when the Wemos was dismounted. But it seems the Wemos D8 pin or the OR-gate logic in someway disturbs.. when this happens and you have the serial monitor on, does the Wemos reset?

Did you order more then one circuit board, have you tried another one?

Can you please send me a picture of your board where I can read the type of optocoupler and Wemos used

[thoby1]

I have limied knowlage about this but I think there is something wrong with the circuit board. When I tested with voltage on the Wemos, it outputs 5V on pin 7 and 4 (ground) (RJ2). If I did the opposite and put voltage on pin 7 and 4 at RJ2, I only got about 1V on pin 8 and 7 on the Wemos. Suspect that there may be something wrong with the common ground somehow. Because if I tested pin 8 on Wemos against pin 4 on RJ2, I got 5V. Tried different places where I had access to common ground such as on one side of R3 I also only got 1V.

When it comes to the jumper settings on the motherboard such as J12, I interpret it as which software should run. I use this setting:

Jumper must be on Pins 1 and 2 for GS51xZ/GS52xZ/GS5xxSZ/GS5xxDZ software.

I have a spare circuit board that I have tested without Wemos and it works fine. Have ordered a new Wemos v4.0 now. Will test again when I get it. I believe that it will work then, because when I tested with the Read example and sent commands via the serial interface, I was able to set the temperature, turn the pump on and off and turn on the light. The Wemos never seemed to restart.

[MagnusPer]

Tricky when I not myself can measure the circuit board. What I at least have done is to update the wiring diagram to clarify the Vcc +5V and ground connections.

You are on the correct track, verifying piece per piece, at least we have learned and have zoomed in where the problem is located. If possible, please take a picture on your board with the Wemos mounted and paste it here.

Give me an update when you have tested with the new Wemos.

[thoby1]

I got the same error now with a new circuit board with v.4.0 of Wemos. My problem is that I don't get enough voltage to the Wemos from RJ1 or RJ2. My test setup is a USB mobile charger which provides 5v. It works if I connect the USB to the Wemos, but if I apply voltage to pins 7 and 4 on RJ1 or RJ2, I only get about 1v on the Wemos. I have soldered all the pins from the Wemos firmly to the circuit board, although from the drawing only pins 3, 4, 7, 8 and 15 needs to be connected. Will that be a problem? Holes have been made for all the pins on the circuit board, so I assumed that the ones that are not in use are isolated.

Have attached a picture of the first circuit board. The soldering doesn't look so good after I've tried soldering the Wemos off and on again.

[MagnusPer]

The unused pins is not connected to anything, no problems to solder them.

When measure with a standard multimeter it takes the average of the voltage, since it is a communication line you will never have 5V since this is the peak value.

I need to do my own bench test setup to guide you further. I will be back home on Sunday, so expert som days until I have some data to provide.

But until then - I tried to zoom in on the Wemos board to look after some data, can you read ESP8266 or ESP32 on the chip?

Please send a mail to magnus_p@live.se with your contact information so we can take a Teams meeting or similar to fault trace together.

[thoby1]

Installed version 4 of Wemos LOLIN D1 mini https://www.wemos.cc/en/latest/d1/d1_mini.html on a diffrent circuit board and now it is working as expected. Guess I was just unlucky with either my old Wemos or the circuit board. Regardless. The VL600S display panel can also be used with this project.