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Ethernet Drops offline

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(@oakbarn)
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I have a Mega with a built in Ethernet Shield 2.   

It has dropped offline a few times today. 

If I Power Cycle the Mega, it connects right away.

It is currently off line.

I have rebooted the computer.

I have rebooted the Router.

I can Ping the Mega fine.

The Port is set at 5000.  I connected to the same RJ45 from my previous BCS.

Any ideas?  I am worried that if I was in the middle of a Brew Day Script, this would not work very well.

 


   
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(@pbruno3)
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Definitely should not do that. First place to inspect is the power supply... How is it powered? Next is the Ethernet cable(s) from both the interface and computer, then router. 


   
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(@diebeerery)
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Slightly off topic, but not. I have found sometimes my mega on power up will stay offline, the lights on the NIC do a quick flash on the link light, and continue in this sequence. If I remove the mega from the DIN carrier and power cycle it will work just fine ( link and activity lights blinking).  Sometimes if I then power down the mega, reseat it into the DIN, and power it back up it will resume normal activity. Sometimes I have to remove the mega from the DIN, power it down, then power it up, it will work, then I have to "hot" seat it, meaning mega powered up and putting it in the DIN carrier.

Of my 2 megas in the DIN carriers, they both seem to randomly do this. I have another mega that doesn't use a DIN, and doesn't exhibit this. I have not tried to really troubleshoot it at this point. 


   
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(@vacationland)
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I have seen this behavior with the MEGA not "powering up" properly occasionally in terms of of what I estimate to be the Ethernet portion.  I have found that it can be affected by the order in which the MEGA is powered up in relation to the order some of the other power supplies are powered up in my setup.  I use a dedicated 12V power supply that has a UPS battery backup to power the controller and I do not use the MEGA to supply 5V to anything.  There is 5V coming in to the MEGA via the AREF and when the 12V is removed from the MEGA, the AREF 5V input seems to "partially" power the controller (I don't know if that is supposed to happen).  By partial I mean the unit LEDs are on but they are at a much lower intensity.  

Specifically, the important one seems to be the 5V power supply that I use to power the RP RTD amplifier and other 5V sensors.  The RP amplifier seems to be the key for my setup.  I have found that utilizing RTDs has brought about some complications just in general.  It has been a few weeks but as I recall, if I powered up the 5V power supply prior to the he MEGA unit, things came online as expected most often but if the MEGA and the 5V power supply are powered up at the same time, things could end up in the blinking Ethernet loop scenario without communication to BruControl established. 


   
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(@pbruno3)
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Interesting to hear this info. Unfortunately it’s tough to debug this remotely.

A few random questions/comments in response:

1. It would be helpful to get some debug info from the MEGA via the serial port when this happens. You’ll need to enter the debug control code, “%1&14;” without the quotes.

2. When it occurs, does pressing the reset button resolve it?

3. The AREF should be tied to the 5V off the MEGA, not a separate PSU. 

4. When the “blinking Ethernet” thing happens, can you ping the interface from the BC computer?

 

 


   
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(@diebeerery)
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Joined: 6 years ago
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Posted by: pbruno3

Interesting to hear this info. Unfortunately it’s tough to debug this remotely.

A few random questions/comments in response:

1. It would be helpful to get some debug info from the MEGA via the serial port when this happens. You’ll need to enter the debug control code, “%1&14;” without the quotes.

2. When it occurs, does pressing the reset button resolve it?

3. The AREF should be tied to the 5V off the MEGA, not a separate PSU. 

4. When the “blinking Ethernet” thing happens, can you ping the interface from the BC computer?

 

 

for my instance

2. no

3. mine are

4. no


   
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(@pbruno3)
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Not sure what you mean by "for my instance". But this helps.

I would need to duplicate the problem... any tips how do get it to loop?


   
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(@diebeerery)
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Posted by: pbruno3

Not sure what you mean by "for my instance". But this helps.

I would need to duplicate the problem... any tips how do get it to loop?

Just stating for me, @vacationland also responded. Like I said I have not really troubleshot it, it's intermittent at best. I will get some details next time it happens though.


   
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(@vacationland)
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Joined: 6 years ago
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Posted by: pbruno3

Interesting to hear this info. Unfortunately it’s tough to debug this remotely.

A few random questions/comments in response:

1. It would be helpful to get some debug info from the MEGA via the serial port when this happens. You’ll need to enter the debug control code, “%1&14;” without the quotes.

2. When it occurs, does pressing the reset button resolve it?

3. The AREF should be tied to the 5V off the MEGA, not a separate PSU. 

4. When the “blinking Ethernet” thing happens, can you ping the interface from the BC computer?

 

 

1.  No info to provide yet but I can try to get some.

2. It hasn't with regularity.  Perhaps on occasion but I can't recall.

3. Even if the Mega is not providing the 5V for any 5V sensors for which it would need the 5V reference?  I.e. for an analog input that is running off of 5V and that 5V is not coming from the MEGA, the 5V reference (AREF) should be the 5V output from the MEGA rather than what the sensor is using for 5V?  I mean, that is easy enough to do but isn't that potentially comparing two slightly different 5V values and therefore the MEGA would be comparing things a bit out of context?  The MEGA in my setup does not supply 5V to anything, hence why I tied the AREF to the external 5V power supply as it is the sole provider of 5V in my entire panel.

4.  No 


   
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(@pbruno3)
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You make a legit point on #3. I don't like the idea however that one is being powered without the other.


   
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(@vacationland)
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I was just removing the whole concern around drawing too much current through the MEGA by doing it that way.

In my scenario, is there a modified way to wire it that would be preferred?  Other than running 5V from the MEGA to everything that currently is powered by the external 5V power supply.  

I guess it would therefore be the case that most folks are not going to have a differential power on/off scenario for the 5V powered RP-3 and why I might be having some unique problems coming about.  I will say that even with the MEGA powered via the 12V input, if the RP-3 was not powered (as the 5V power supply was off simulating a power outage to the panel), communication with BC would be lost.   Restoring power to the RP-3 would often not get things going again either.  Hence how I came to the understanding on the power up sequence of having the 5V powered up (and the RP-3) first before the MEGA.

Honestly, I solved that problem using an Adafruit PowerBoost charger and Lipo battery I had on hand.  The RP-3 gets a 5V battery backup and the MEGA gets a 12V battery backup.  Now power drops and the MEGA stays happy and can communicate with BC if it still has power or does without incident once the power comes back on.  This was important as I am using my panel for brewing and fermentation control.


   
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(@pbruno3)
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I would make sure there is not a big differential between the onboard and external 5V PSU. Put a VOM across those two and make sure it is as close to zero as practical.

I think you can safely power the RP-3 through the internal 5V, but don't hate the idea of keeping it separate as you have it now. Alternatively, if your 5V PSU is good and clean, you can power the MEGA through it, and skip the 12V input.

Sounds like you figured out a good approach.


   
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(@vacationland)
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Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 6
 

OK, I'll check it out.  It is a average Meanwell PSU but voltage has looked good and steady so far. I used in my previous BCS panel without issue.


   
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(@vacationland)
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Posts: 6
 

Got it within 3.2 mV (there was a 87 mV difference initially).  I suspect that is close enough 🙂


   
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(@oakbarn)
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Joined: 5 years ago
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Topic starter  

I repowered last night and it is still on.

 

I power with a 9 volt PSU (Wall Wart Type).

The Ethernet is via a Cisco SR 2016 16 Port 10/100/1000 Dumb Switch.

It is configured with a Static IP and DHCP (n).

 

I will keep an eye on it.  

 

I assume when you mean attach the Serial to run the Termite 3.2 with the USB Plugged in?

 

 


   
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