I got started with MSP430 development using TI’s ez430. The low $20 price was very alluring.
But now I’ve got two dead ez430’s. They failed in different ways. Interestingly, when I started analyzing them, I measured the value of R3 to be 900 ohms, not 100 ohms as shown on its schematic.
So now I’m wondering if I was unlucky or if I fried the boards by doing something dumb. My target did have its own 3.3V linear regulator. Anybody think that could fry my ez430’s?
I am thinking about buying a MSP430-JTAG-ISO. The isolation circuitry makes it sound more robust. Is this true? If I am doing something wrong, would the MSP430-JTAG-ISO have a better chance of surviving it?
And, if I do manage to fry my MSP430-JTAG-ISO, will the manfacturer care? Is there a warranty? Can I send it back? Could I at least send it in and get an assessment of what went wrong?