Electron disconnects frequently

Troubleshooting
1

I power on the device, and it connects to the cloud right away. However, once I press the button I added to execute that part of the code, it works, but then it occasionally disconnects. I am not even sure how to debug this. If it was something wrong with my code, wouldn’t it be disconnecting each time?

I’ve reworked 5 dev boards and I am about to put them in plastic enclosures to do some beta testing, but I am afraid of the reliability. Please help.

2

If you can show your code, we may be able to spot critical sections.

3

Here is the code

PRODUCT_ID(*hidden*);
PRODUCT_VERSION(*hidden*);

int led1 = D6; // LED is connected to D6
int led2 = A0; // LED is connected to A0
int led3 = A5; // LED is connected to A5
int led4 = D0; // LED is connected to D0
int pushButton = D5; // Push button is connected to D5


// This routine runs only once upon reset
void setup() 
{
  pinMode(led1, OUTPUT); // Initialize D6 pin as output
  pinMode(led2, OUTPUT); // Initialize A0 pin as output
  pinMode(led3, OUTPUT); // Initialize A5 pin as output
  pinMode(led4, OUTPUT); // Initialize D0 pin as output
  pinMode(pushButton, INPUT_PULLUP); 
  // Initialize D2 pin as input with an internal pull-up resistor
}

// This routine loops forever
void loop() 
{
  int pushButtonState; 

  pushButtonState = digitalRead(pushButton);

  if(pushButtonState == LOW){ //If we push down on the push button
    digitalWrite(led1, HIGH);  // Turn ON the LED
    digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);  // Turn ON the LED
    digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);  // Turn ON the LED
    digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);  // Turn ON the LED
    Particle.publish("*hidden*", PRIVATE);
    // Add a delay to prevent getting tons of emails from IFTTT
    delay(10000); 
  }
  else
  {
    digitalWrite(led1, LOW);   // Turn OFF the LED 
    digitalWrite(led2, LOW);   // Turn OFF the LED 
    digitalWrite(led3, LOW);   // Turn OFF the LED 
    digitalWrite(led4, LOW);   // Turn OFF the LED 
  }

}
4

I would not use such long delay() periodes.
If you want a simple solution you could use this alternative delay

inline void softDelay(uint32_t d) {
  for(uint32_t ms = millis(); millis() - ms < d; Particle.process());
}

to see if this changes anything.
But I’d suggest you try to adapt non-blocking programming techniques to keep your code free running as much as possible.

Additinally how much current are your LEDs drawing when they are all on?
Do you have suitable current limiting resistors in place for your LEDs?

2 Likes
5

I actually plan on having the delay be for an hour. The idea is that they can only press the button once an hour and the LEDs stay on for that hour.
What is the disadvantage to using such a long delay period?

I don’t really know how much current my LEDs are drawing when they are all on.
These are the LEDs I am using:
http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Kingbright/WP7113SGD5V/?qs=58z0TXQGVSRrtvlqJJ4ZQw%3D%3D

I’m kinda figuring this out as I go along, don’t have experience with this stuff.g

6

Also, there are much better ways to process button presses and only publish an event once.

This thread should help: