Purchased Digilent Zedboards not working

[Dimple]

Hello,

We have two ZedBoards in our lab, purchased from Digilent. They both have stopped working. The apparent issue is the VADJ voltage on the regulator MAX15021ATI+ is 0V, instead of the expected 1.8V.

1. What could be a possible reason for such a problem to occur? (The same issue is seen with both the boards)

2. Is a replacement/repair possible for the boards ?

Thanks,

Dimple

 

 

[Bianca]

Hi @Dimple,

Can you tell me if you used a FMC connector, which one and how were you using the board when this happened?

Best regards,

Bianca

[Dimple]

Hi Bianca,

Sorry for the delay  in my reply.

We use the FMC-LPC connector J1 to connect the zedboard to a custom board. 

However, when the problem occurred, the Zedboard was being used standalone; with only two USB connectors for programming and UART.

Thanks,

Dimple

 

 

[JColvin]

Hi @Dimple,

What leads you to believe that the problem occurred while the Zedboard was being used in a standalone mode? The 1.8V is not readily physically accessible except through the FMC port, hence Bianca's question on if you used it since it is present on VADJ (controlled by J18 on the Zedboard). Can you provide additional details about the custom board you mentioned?

Thanks,
JColvin

[Dimple]

Hi @JColvin,

We are two people using one board each. One person uses the Zedboard with the custom board, and I use the Zedboard as a standalone board. The custom board simply has camera sensors which are fed to the Zedboard for processing. 

The reason I feel the problem occurred while using it independently is because the board couldn't be programmed when I tried to use it in standalone. When I then tried the other board to check if that was working, I came across the same issue with that board too.. I couldn't program both the boards, and both had partially lit LEDS on power ON, which is not the case if the board is functioning well. It is strange that this happened very suddenly..The boards were working fine when we were using them in the exact same way, and suddenly stopped functioning.

Please help me on this issue. I am stranded with both the boards not working.

Thanks,

Dimple

 

 

 

 

[JColvin]

Hi @Dimple,

I have a few more questions and some things that I would like you to test so that I can I have a better understanding of the situation.

What type of power supply (i.e. voltage and current) are you using to power the board?

Have you tried fully moving the power supply switch on and off a few times to ensure the board is fully "switched on"? I know that switches can sometimes be finicky in this way.

When you say the LEDs are partially lit, are you referring to LED 13 (the power LED)?

Could you measure the voltages across the following capacitors?

• The following are all present around IC27, located in the southwest region of the backside of the board
• C329 (should be 5V)
• C334 (should be 3.3V)
• C339 when J18 is set to 1.8V (should be 1.8V and I'm pretty sure you measured this already, but I'll feel better if you measure it again)
• C339 when J18 is set to 2.5V (should be 2.5V)
• The following are present around IC30, located on the top side of the board beneath the audio input/outputs
• C362 (should be 5V)
• C366 (should be 1.8V)
• C369 (should be 5V)
• The following are present around IC34, located on the backside of the board in the northeast region
• C388 (should be 12V)
• C394 (should be 5V)

Thanks,
JColvin

[Dimple]

Hi @JColvin,

Thanks for helping out.

I have answered your questions below:

What type of power supply (i.e. voltage and current) are you using to power the board? 

I am using a 12V -3A power supply.

Have you tried fully moving the power supply switch on and off a few times to ensure the board is fully "switched on"? I know that switches can sometimes be finicky in this way.

Yes, I ensured the power supply switch is fully on.

When you say the LEDs are partially lit, are you referring to LED 13 (the power LED)?

No, I am talking about the eight LEDs on the board; LD0 to LD7. They usually never light up when the board is turned on. 

Strangely, now when I powered On the board to measure the voltages you asked me to measure, the board does not turn on at all. Neither the power LED LD13, nor the LEDs LD0 to LD7 light up. I am not able to measure any voltage now. However, I had recorded a few voltages before; I am writing them down here.

Capacitors around IC27

C329 (should be 5V) : 5V

C334 (should be 3.3V):  3.3V

C339 when J18 is set to 1.8V:  0V

C369 around IC 30(should be 5V) : 5V

Thanks,

Dimple

[JColvin]

Hi @Dimple,

I apologize for the delay in responding. Do any of the IC's feel hot when you have the external power supply connected or previously when you were able to measure the voltages?

And as some clarification questions, what do you mean when you say you are not able to measure any voltage now? Do you mean that you weren't able to measure voltages at that particular moment, or did they all read as 0V? Is this the case for the all the locations I asked about or just the ones you listed? Which zedboard do these voltages apply to, the stand alone board or the one with the extra FMC connector? Additionally as a confirmation, has the standalone board ever been used with the custom FMC connector?

Could you provide a link to what power supply you are using for the boards and have you happened to try using a different power supply (to help rule out the possibility that the power supply decided to stop working)?

And as one more clarification question (sorry for having so many), when you say you are not able to program it, does that mean you are not able to detect it in Xilinx's Vivado/ISE or do you get some sort of error? Are you able to see the Zedboard in Digilent's Adept software?

Thank you,
JColvin

[Dimple]

Hi @JColvin,

Sorry for the long delay. My answers are in red below.

Do any of the IC's feel hot when you have the external power supply connected or previously when you were able to measure the voltages?

And as some clarification questions, what do you mean when you say you are not able to measure any voltage now? Do you mean that you weren't able to measure voltages at that particular moment, or did they all read as 0V? Is this the case for the all the locations I asked about or just the ones you listed? Which zedboard do these voltages apply to, the stand alone board or the one with the extra FMC connector? Additionally as a confirmation, has the standalone board ever been used with the custom FMC connector?

The board does not power on at all. The power LED does not glow when I turn on the Power-switch.  As a result, all the voltages now read 0V. 

Since both the boards had issues, we have used both the boards in both ways,  standalone and using the FMC connector.  

Could you provide a link to what power supply you are using for the boards and have you happened to try using a different power supply (to help rule out the possibility that the power supply decided to stop working)?

The power supply seems to be working fine. The Adaptor is 12 V, 3A adapter, from Powertron Electronics Corp. The model number is PA1045-120HIB300. 

And as one more clarification question (sorry for having so many), when you say you are not able to program it, does that mean you are not able to detect it in Xilinx's Vivado/ISE or do you get some sort of error? Are you able to see the Zedboard in Digilent's Adept software?

The board could be detected in Vivado, however I couldn't program the bit-stream or the C-code from SDK.

Is there a possibility that the boards be shipped to you for repairs or is a replacement possible? I am really held up with my work on the boards and it would be great if something could be arranged. 

Thank you very much,

Dimple

 

 

[JColvin]

Hi @Dimple,

I have sent you a PM about this.

Thanks,
JColvin

[Warden]

Hi @JColvin

My zedboard has the same issue,the power led does not light up, C339 and C340 is 0V, LD0 to LD7 are all light up when I turn on the switch(They usually never light up when the board is turned on),I guess I have the same issue as @Dimple .

Can you please share the PM.

Thanks

Edited December 24, 2021 by Warden