Tims PCA 9685 Controller

This is a little application I made to control Servo and LED via the PCA9685 LED controller chip.

PCA9685 16x Servo Driver

Tims_PCA_9685_Controller.zip

With this application, it is possible to control 64 PCA9685 devices, each with 16 servo or LED attached.

A total of 1024  items (Servo/LED).

The devices need to be connected to an Arduino, communicating via I2C.

The Arduino requires the firmware installing that is included in the Tims_PCA_9685_Controller.zip

With the Application you can run scripts of pre determined positions of all the Servo/LED connected.

If you have more than one PCA9685, you can quickly switch between them.

There are some setting where you can adjust the Min, Max and Centre of each Servo.

In Tims_PCA_9685_Controller.zip  there is a little program called XLoader.

Just choose the HEX file to Upload:

Tims_PCA9685_16_LED_Servo_Controller_UNO.hex is for the Arduino UNO.

Tims_PCA9685_16_LED_Servo_Controller_NANO.hex is for the Arduino NANO.

Tims_PCA9685_16_LED_Servo_Controller_NANO_Old.hex is for the Arduino NANO with Old Bootloader.

Select which Arduino you are uploading to.

Select the port it is connected to.

Click Upload.

Here is a demonstration of controlling Servo

Here is a demonstration of controlling LED.

I have done a version 2, version 2 allows for controlling both LED and Servo on the same PCA9685 breakout board.

Also has a Pre-Set window, where you can have 20 pre-sets stored and values and re-send them at a click of a button..

This window can be resized to suit your own preferences.

Version 2 download

The current version is: 2.0.0.11 (firm updated at 2.0.0.8)

If you install this version 2 over a previous version 2 under 2.0.0.5

you will need to load default pre-sets, the file is included in the zip.

I had to change a few things in the original pre-sets code so that; when a pre-set is sent, it also moves the sliders to the settings sent.

This is so adjustments can be made from known setups.

The file it saves settings to is just a basic rtf text file.

I am currently working on a project, that uses servo and LED, and I am altering the tool as needed to help me with the project.

If I think other things will help, I will update it.

I will add more about it if I am asked.

If you like it let me know.

I have recently found a great video showing how to use the software.

Controlling robot movements using Tim's PCA servo controller software | Hash Robotics

Do you have a bad PCA9685

I have done a video of three bad PCA9685 controllers I bought of eBay

Using you own application, to communicate with the Arduino:

I use Visual Basic.
I send data like this:

If OKtoSendData And SerialPort1.IsOpen Then
OKtoSendData = False
SerialPort1.Write(New Byte() {86,
BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_00)(0), BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_00)(1),
BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_01)(0), BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_01)(1),
BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_02)(0), BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_02)(1),
BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_03)(0), BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_03)(1),
BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_04)(0), BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_04)(1),
BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_05)(0), BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_05)(1),
BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_06)(0), BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_06)(1),
BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_07)(0), BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_07)(1),
BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_08)(0), BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_08)(1),
BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_09)(0), BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_09)(1),
BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_10)(0), BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_10)(1),
BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_11)(0), BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_11)(1),
BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_12)(0), BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_12)(1),
BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_13)(0), BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_13)(1),
BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_14)(0), BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_14)(1),
BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_15)(0), BitConverter.GetBytes(Value_15)(1),
13, 10
}, 0, 35)
}
Threading.Thread.Sleep(100) 'wait a little for comunication to end.
End If

The above:
86 = ASCII for V.
BitConverter splits the values(16bit) in the array(16) into two bytes(8bit).
13 = ASCII for Carriage Return.
10 = ASCII for Line Feed.

As you are only turning on or off, your values will be 0 or 4095
To change to a different PCA I send the address-64 and the frequency I want it set at.
My basic code looks like this:

If OKtoSendData And SerialPort1.IsOpen Then
OKtoSendData = False
Dim frequencyBit0 As Byte = BitConverter.GetBytes(Convert.ToInt16(My.Settings.Frequency_NumericUpDown))(0)
Dim frequencyBit1 As Byte = BitConverter.GetBytes(Convert.ToInt16(My.Settings.Frequency_NumericUpDown))(1)
My.Settings.DeviceAddress = DeviceAddress
SerialPort1.Write(New Byte() {65,
DeviceAddress,
frequencyBit0, frequencyBit1,
13, 10}, 0, 5)
End If

65 = ASCII for A.
DeviceAddress is only 1 byte as I have reduced the value by 64.
frequency needs to be split into two bytes.
13 = ASCII for Carriage Return.
10 = ASCII for Line Feed.

It has to be bytes (8 bit values) you send.
V or A followed by numbers wont work, that would just be send as text values.

So for example:
To send command to change PCA at address 64 and set frequency to 1000 Hz, would need the following:

ASCII A = 65, to let Arduino know its an address change. (ASCII for V would let Arduino know 16(32) values are coming)
Address = 64 - 64 = 0
frequency = 1000, split this 16 bit value in to 2 8 bit values, LSB and MSB.
1000 16bit binary = 0000 0011 1110 1000.
LSB = 1110 1000 = 232
MSB = 0000 0011 = 3
A carriage return and line feed. 13 and 10.

So sent would be: 65 0 232 3 13 10

Your app must send it as bytes not text.

When Arduino receives a correct command it will confirm it in normal ASCII text, also Arduino will send an "ok".
When your app. receives an "ok" from Arduino, your app. knows that it can send another command.

An example of sending values would be:
As my script shows it: V 4095 4095 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
as it is sent in bytes: 86 255 15 255 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 10