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Troubleshooting can be encountered with Embedded Projects

Embedded Projects are made with considerations and concentration. You might encounter with numerous problems and sometimes, a different and new type of problem can occur and then, you will have to analyze your project or circuit from the starting. There are many forums or skilled persons from which you can ask your questions and discuss problems.

I am discussing the usual problems or trouble can occur during your embedded projects and generally students do not recognize these types of trouble shooting in their projects. Here, is a list of generally occurred trouble shooting in the projects and how one can get rid of it:-

1. Make careful and tactile inspection:- Lets start from the begging of your project. As, i have discussed in previous post that projects are made up of hardware and software integration. One has carefully analyze the hardware carefully and the circuit he has implemented.

  • Check for the components that are excessively hot. It shows that IC or component has been incorrectly configured or soldered. Then, you have to reanalyze your circuit again.
  • Check different ICs that have been soldered correctly or placed in their socket correctly and immobilize.
  • Check for broken wire and lose connections in your hardware.
  • Check and Trace the shorted paths in your circuit that you have soldered.
So, above inspection will help you carefully find the errors in early stage of your project. If all of the above inspection are up to the mark then, go for the next steps.

2. Check the Power Supply:- Check the power supply of individual ICs and different components using a digital multimeter. You have to check whether every IC is getting proper or minimum power supply according to your circuit diagram that you have implemented. If not, then you have found the faults in the circuit and re-correct it.

3. Check Key signals:- If all goes well after analyzing the above faults or trouble shoots, now check the key signals of your microcontroller you are using. Firstly, check the clock frequency around the microcontroller your are using. 8051 microcontroller generally uses approx 12 MHz crystal oscillator.

4. Check Trouble shoot with CPU:- One of the most difficult servicing problems you can face when servicing a microcontroller based product is making sure that CPU is running well. If the CPU is not running and compatible, you can not check memory or Input/Output signals.

5. Check Program:- Now, checking all the above and replacing and correcting components. You have to run your hardware by burning hex file generated by your software. Carefully install a hex file in the memory of microcontroller and then, check the proper working of your project.

If your project is not giving the desired output, you have to analyze and recheck the program as you know that hardware correction has been done. Now, problem is left with your coding part and make sure that coding you have implemented is written by you only using your own concept. Don't prefer Internet and don't copy - paste the code as most of the code on Internet are not correct and proper. You can take help of your senior who has already done these types of projects or your experienced teacher or mentor.
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