Debugging

Things aren’t working? Chances are it’s because of something super silly like an unplugged wire or off by one error.

Software Bugs

TODO make checklist

Hardware Bugs

TODO finish checklist

  1. Is everything plugged in properly?
    • Did you double check?
  2. If the issue is with your color sensor, did you have the SDA and SCL lines flipped?
  3. Did you try using a multimeter to diagnose the issue?

What is a short circuit?

A short circuit is the connection between two different nodes that are at different voltages via a path of very low resistance.

Why Should You Avoid a Short Circuit?

A short circuit causes a surge of high amounts of current to flow through both nodes, which is very dangerous. This could cause potential injuries such as a shock or a burn as well as damage electronics nearby. Hence why it is preferable to avoid shorting anything.

How to Avoid a Short Circuit:

  • Disconnect power from any electronic device when interfacing with its hardware.
  • Do not have microcontroller connected to power when moving around cables
  • Make sure that there are no open cables near an electronic device with power.
  • Make sure to not connect cables to the wrong pins.
  • I.e. you should never directly connect VCC to GND with no resistance in between.
  • Make sure to connect resistors of the necessary resistance to any electronic devices you will interface with.
  • Not doing so will a high amount of current through the electronic device and potentially damage it (or make it burst into flames)
  • Don’t touch an electronic part with a metal
  • Avoid having any type of metal near electronic devices
  • Make sure that all cables are safely connected and cannot disconnect when the device is in use.
  • When soldering electronics, make sure that solder does not cover two pins at once, or be somewhere it’s not supposed to.
  • Don’t be distracted when working with electricity.