ShrimpKey – Troubleshooting

Date: 14 August 2013 Author: Sjoerd Dirk Categories: ShrimpKey 2

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Because you’ve made the ShrimpKey yourself, there’s the possibility that it doesn’t work the first time.

On this page you can find a couple of problems and some hints to solve them.
I hope this will help you finding out what went wrong.

If you can’t figure it out, please contact me. Maybe I can help you (without guarantees).

De hints are in RANDOM order!

I’ve noticed that a new ShrimpKey isn’t always recognized by your computer
If you’ve checked that everything is soldered at the right place, you didn’t short circuit anything and you’ve uploaded the software, please try the following.
This will be the easiest when you’re using Windows, because you here a sound when an USB-device is properly connected and you will get an error-message if it isn’t recognized.
Disconnect the ShrimpKey and connect it to another USB-port.
Repeat this a couple of times (if necessary).

Uploading the ShrimpKey-sketch gives errors

When uploading the ShrimpKey-sketch, disconnect the ShrimpKey-shield first.
Maybe you’ve made an error in the ShrimpKey-shield, which prevents a proper upload.
Try again.

The LED on the Shrimp blinks not, when connect the Shrimp to my computer.

• Do you have an ATmega328P-PU with the Uno Bootloader on it? If not, you have to unsolder the chip.
• Check if the CP2102 is properly connected to the Shrimp.
• Does the light on the CP2102 turn on? If not, try another USB-port.
• Check that you didn’t short circuit the copper strips or components accidentally. If you did, remove it with your soldering iron.
• Check (using the design) if you cut the copper at the right places.
• Check (using the design) if the components are soldered on the right places.

The LED blinks, but I get an error-message in the Arduino IDE.

• Check if the CP2102 is properly connected to the Shrimp (especially the TX and RX).
• Check that you didn’t short circuit the copper strips or components accidentally. If you did, remove it with your soldering iron.
• Check (using the design) if you cut the copper at the right places.
• Check (using the design) if the components are soldered on the right places.
• Check your libraries-folder of the Arduino IDE. Does it contain a folder called USBKeyboard.
• Restart the Arduino IDE.

The ShrimpKey doesn’t work

• Check that you didn’t short circuit the copper strips or components accidentally. If you did, remove it with your soldering iron
• Check (using the design) if you cut the copper at the right places.
• Check (using the design) if the components are soldered on the right places.
• Check if you cut the copper properly between the small pins of the USB-connector.
• Replace the USB-cable.
• Try another USB-port.