Sunday 11 May 2014

Sainsonic Arduino Mega 2560 SD Card Shield SDFat Config

If you've tried to get your sainsonic SD shield to work with sdfat you would have probably read about people modifying there board to match the pins of software.


DON'T BE SO SILLY!
EVERY PIN CAN BE CONFIGURED!

1. Got to your arduino libraries folder and go to your SDFAT Folder

2. Open File SdFatConfig.h

3. Got the last few lines and change you're to match this -

#define USE_SOFTWARE_SPI 0
// define software SPI pins so Mega can use unmodified 168/328 shields
/** Default Software SPI chip select pin */
uint8_t const SOFT_SPI_CS_PIN = 53;  
/** Software SPI Master Out Slave In pin */
uint8_t const SOFT_SPI_MOSI_PIN = 52;
/** Software SPI Master In Slave Out pin */
uint8_t const SOFT_SPI_MISO_PIN = 50;
/** Software SPI Clock pin */
uint8_t const SOFT_SPI_SCK_PIN = 51;
#endif  // SdFatConfig_h


4.  Now edit any SDFAT demo file to initialize on pin 53 -
      sd.begin(53, SPI_HALF_SPEED)


Sainsonic Mega 3.2" TFT LCD Fault arduino Pixelation glitch won't display UTFT

Hi Guys,
 I've had a few problems with my Sainsonic Arduino Mega 2560 board with the 3.2" Touch screen. Most of them are related to the undersized voltage regulator on it once it had got a bit hot a few times for too long.

By using my Freetronics Eleven boards regulator bridging to the Sainsonic board I  have completely eliminated the glitched pixels while drawing, which once I had a big program running on the unit would become apparent.




 The Sainsmart Mega Board below can be seen with the smaller voltage regulator.  You should also notice that it still retains reference layout for the pin holes around the regulator for convection and cooling, despite having a different size and location regulator...

You get what you pay for people!  If you have a Sainsonic  arduino mega product and have obvious screen draw errors, or a white screen I'd recommend upgrading to an external regulator and you probably have a much better experience with your unit.