Conductor PCB Test

Run the tests in this section after assembling the conductor PCB to ensure all the components on the PCB are soldered and functional. Any defective electronic component on the conductor PCB will need to be replaced before completing the project.

Prerequisites

Test the LED and Motor Segments

  1. From Visual Studio Code:
    • (A) Select the File -> Open Folder menu.
    • (B) Select the conductor folder.
    • (C) Click the Select Folder button.
      testpcbactuator-prerequisite
  2. On the Conductor and Digit 1 PCB:
    • (A) Plug the USB cable from your computer into the USB port on the Raspberry Pi Pico W 2040.
    • (B) Connect a motor actuator to the TOP-LED1 with the white wire Dupont connector plugged into the CW pin and the black wire plugged into the CCW pin.
      controllerpcbtest-2
  3. From Visual Studio Code:
    • (A) Select the digit_colon.py file.
    • (B) Select MicroPico vREPL from the terminal pane menu.
      controllerpcbtest-3
  4. From the Visual Studio Code status bar:
    • (A) Verify the Raspberry Pi Pico W is connected.
    • (B) Click the Run button to start the conductor PCB test application.
      controllerpcbtest-4
  5. The console test application shows various options that relate to the top or bottom colon:
    • The TOP-LED1 is 0, and the LWR-LED1 is 1.
    • Extend TOP-LED1 by typing e0 in the console.
      controllerpcbtest-5
  6. Following the picture below:
    • The TOP-LED1 LED lights up, and the motor briefly turns on.
    • From the terminal session, type r0 to retract the TOP-LED1.
      controllerpcbtest-6
  7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for COLON-LWR.
  8. Unplug the USB from the Raspberry Pi Pico W 2040 upon completion.

Test the Light Detection

  1. On the Conductor and Digit 1 PCB: Plug the USB cable from your computer into the USB port on the Raspberry Pi Pico W 2040.
  2. From Visual Studio Code:
    • (A) Select the file photoresistor.py.
    • (B) Click the Run button in the status bar.
      LDRpcbtest-1
  3. The terminal pane will print the light level, ranging between 0 and 9, depending on the brightness of the light detected by the LDR.
    LDRpcbtest-2
  4. Unplug the USB from the Raspberry Pi Pico W 2040 upon completion.

Test the Humidity and Temperature

  1. On the Conductor and Digit 1 PCB:
    • (A) Plug the USB cable from your computer into the USB port on the Raspberry Pi Pico W 2040.
    • (B) Connect the DHT22 sensor by ensuring the - Data + pins in the DHT1 silk screen align with the + out - pins on the DHT22 sensor.
      dhtpcbtest-1
  2. From Visual Studio Code:
    • (A) Select the file dhttest.py.
    • (B) Click the Run button in the status bar.
      dhtpcbtest-3
  3. Verify the output in the terminal shows the temperature and humidity readings.
    dhtpcbtest-4
  4. Unplug the USB from the Raspberry Pi Pico W 2040 upon completion.