The micro text appears inverted compared to other kits I’ve seen, but those were from 2020. When the micro fits into place on the PCB, the index cut doesn’t match the silkscreen.
Which part is wrong, the silkscreen or the micro pin?
Thanks.
Unfortunately it’s the part that’s wrong, they cut pin 28 when they were supposed to cut pin 14.
However, you’re in luck because the kit doesn’t need pin 28 to function!
What I’d do is flip the chip around to match the silkscreen and bend out or cut off the pin that has the missing hole in the board and you should be OK.
Thanks, I appreciate the help!
I clipped Pin 14, but there is a trace leading to the as-shipped clipped Pin 28, so I metered it out and found Pin 28 goes to the A5 header, which must be for an extra piece that I don’t have or need.
However upon powering it up, there’s no function. I grabbed the schematic and I have 3.2 volts at the proper micro pins, and can confirm continuity at the GND pins, so I’m guessing the micro wasn’t programmed, or was put into the programmer upside down (if the wrong pin was clipped to begin with). I don’t have much microcontroller programming experience, so I’m going to have to crash course it to see if I can get it working for the kids.
Thanks for your help.
No problem!
A5 just goes to a header if you want to hack the board later. The chip not being programmed is a possibility and might not be easy to program without the proper tools and know how but it is doable.
You might try the returns form, I’m Sparkfun should send a replacement kit since yours was defective.
I found the code online and tried to load it via the serial port and Arduino IDE… but I only received some AVRdude responding back about errors, regardless of which “board” tried to trick the AIDE into thinking I was programming. My limited research says it’s likely because there’s no bootloader on the micro. I tried wiring to the MOSI/MISO pins and burning a bootloader and had even less luck with that. I will take your advice and see if I can get another kit coming.
^ Yep, file for a return and we’ll get ya fixed up 