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  1. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    One rat's nest! :) Engine switch is working. Light activates when switch open (i.e. tank is picked up) Status buttons toggle appropriate Status (Stunned, Shaken, Immobile) I've colour-coded as much as I can, but don't have unlimited wires in unlimited length and colour combinations. For the...
  2. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    Progress Report: 2 output shift-registers connected Speed Selector Working Hull Points +/- working Status Lights working (Stunned, Shaken, Immobilised) Immobile Status over-rides speed selector (Speed = 0 when immobile!) to do: 3 outputs available for 3 guns. (using 1 analogue input) 1 output...
  3. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    These analogue inputs are a lark, aren't they! :) Speed-Selector working. Hull-Points +/- working. I know I won't be able to use quite as many inputs as shift-registers, but there should be plenty of room for all the ones I need! :) NEXT: Status effects and movement (simple on/off buttons). I...
  4. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    Yup, I'm remembering voltage ladders now (after some research). I've built a test circuit using a 10k protection resistor with 6.8k and 2.2k on the switches (it's what I have handy). I'm getting analogue values of 512, 412 and 250. Should be fine. I'm catching up on TV now. Will update you as...
  5. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    Something like this pic? Sounds good. Better than my idea of shorting 5V to GND! ;) I can read/display the values to adjust the code (I'm sure you're values are right, but my circuit may be a little off :) ) This means I can put all 3 guns on one button, too! :) (Again, should only press one...
  6. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    (Was typing when your reply came in!) 3-way speed-selector wired into analogue input on "real" circuit. Have had to remove all wiring and code for all other inputs. NEXT: Analogue Input for HP +/- I was going to have the input wired to the centre of two 10K resistors (holding it at 2.5V) and...
  7. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    Thanks for your continued help. It is much appreciated. I am moving on from Shift Register inputs*, and have wired/coded a proof-of-concept Analogue input. I have a 3-way switch connected to a voltage divider, giving Analogue values of ~0, ~512, ~1023 (actually pretty solid, stable values!)...
  8. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    Pin List for 166: (I'm really struggling with Eagle and ExpressSCH, so no schematic, sorry) Pin 1 (DS - Serial input) Not Connected Pin 2 (D0 - Input) - Button 1 (Stop) Pin 3 (D1 - input) - Button 2 (Slow) Pin 4 (D2 - input) - Button 3 (Fast) Pin 5 (D3 - input) - GND (Unused) Pin 6 (/CE) - GND...
  9. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    Yes, I've got Pin 9 HIGH. I'm about ready to give up on this thing! I'm blaming my less-than-full understanding of Shift Registers, and the 166 being a lot less documented/discussed than the 165. I've had some ideas on how to save pins using Analogue inputs: e.g. for the stop/slow/fast, have...
  10. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    Built a new circuit on a different breadboard, using a 2nd Arduino and spare components. I am getting very similar results. :( //Define Variables here int latchPinInput = 7; int clockPinInput = 9; int dataPinInput = 10; byte incoming; int state; void setup() { // put your setup code here...
  11. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    I have checked voltages at numerous points on the board. The +ve rail is 5V at all points. PE is called latch in the examples I am looking at, and is Pin 15.The Arduino is supplying it with 5V. Pin 6 (Clock Inhibit) is connected to ground. I have now connected all unused input pins on the 166...
  12. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    OK, still getting nowhere. I'm now convinced that my wiring is OK. I've checked the datasheet and double-checked the board. I've just found a blog that says Arduino is incompatible wtih 74HC166, and to use 74HCT166 instead. Is this true? They don't explain why...
  13. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    Latest news: New Arduinos arrived. Shift-registers for input and output wired up and coded. Something up with wiring. Gently touching some of the jumper cables affects the inputs Also, all input bits seem to be the same. Mostly 11111111, occasionally 00000000 Will rebuild circuit, and see if...
  14. Crystal Wizard

    Apple vs the FBI

    Depends what I'm talking to my mother about! ;) There are many legitimate uses of encryption. "being in contact with a known (to the authorities, not necessarily to me) terrorist" is not a Criminal Offence. Agreed, it is a very complex topic. I think the balance of supporting law enforcement...
  15. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    New Arduinos arrived! :) (If I'm spamming the forum with all my updates, or in the wrong place, please let me know! I'm just excited about getting this project up and running! :) )
  16. Crystal Wizard

    Apple vs the FBI

    How can you tell if encryption has been used for criminal activity, without bypassing the encryption?
  17. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    It's an Arduino Nano clone. £3.50 from ebay. I've ordered a few more :) The annoying thing is that they won't arrive until after the weekend! :(
  18. Crystal Wizard

    Greetings from the Crystal Wizard!

    One pro-tip I'd like to share: Don't short-circuit the 5V and GND pins of an Arduino! All the Magic Smoke escapes, and while it looks fun for a moment, you then have to wait ages for a replacement to arrive! :(
  19. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    Well, that was fun! Built my input shift-register circuit and ... it all went wrong! Input not working right, and also output seems to have gone wrong. I've removed the input register, rewired the output and am going back to my previous code. And ... BOOM! :( I accidentally shorted 5V to GND...
  20. Crystal Wizard

    How do I multiplex lots of switches/LEDs with my Arduino

    Thanks. I can just use a different pin. :) I might be interested in the cunning trick, but not for this project! By offloading my Inputs and Outputs onto shift-registers, I should have plenty of pins left on the Arduino.
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