Using AUX pins as relays for CHDK

I'm confused and a bit frustrated, would appreciate any help as I'm not sure how to proceed.

Setup: I have a pixhawk autopilot running Arduplane 2.77, using Mission Planner 1.2.95

I've been following this guide to get my CHDK enabled camera working with my pixhawk. I'm interested in getting the camera triggering based on distance traveled.

Obviously the guide was written with APM in mind, so it needs to be adapted a bit for pixhawk; specifically the setting for RELAY_PIN. I've kept the rest of the settings the same as in the tutorial.

Pixhawk has 6 AUX ports according to the quick start guide, I am assuming that the numbers above the pins correspond to the AUX port numbering. When you mouse over the RELAY_PIN parameter, it says that pin 54 corresponds to Pixhawk FMU AUX1.

Tried setting RELAY_PIN to 54, no joy. Did a bit more looking, discovered in the release notes for 2.77:

"Improved relay code
The relay and servo set code has had a major overhaul, with up to 4 relays now supported for MAVLink control and much better support for the DO_SET_SERVO, DO_SET_RELAY, DO_REPEAT_SERVO and DO_REPEAT_RELAY MAVLink commands. Along with these changes is a new parameter BRD_PWM_COUNT which allows you to specify how many auxillary PWM outputs to enable, with the remaining outputs being available as digital relays. This allows you to re-assign some of the aux servo outputs on Pixhawk for use as relays, by setting the RELAY_PIN, RELAY_PIN2, RELAY_PIN3 and RELAY_PIN4 parameters. The pin numbers for these pins start at 50 for the first aux servo pin, and go to 55 on Pixhawk."

Additionally,I found this github issue about this same problem that states that the Pixhawk can't trigger CHDK because its relay pins operate at 3.3V instead of 5V.

So i suppose my specific questions are:

1) Is AUX1 pin 50 or 54?

2) Can anyone confirm that the relays, when working properly, won't be able to trigger CHDK?

Replies

- - Developer
    Marco Robustini > arga firmansyah March 2, 2015 at 12:42am
    
    Here the S2 multiport pinout:
    
    0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1
    6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5
    +-------------------+
    \ /
    +-----------------+
    1 2 3 4 5
    
    USB connection:
    
    01 VBUS (+5Vin, max <2A)
    02 D-
    03 D+
    04 USB_ID
    05 GND
    
    Multiport connection:
    
    06 +3.1V (LANC_DC)
    07 res.
    08 res.
    09 res.
    10 res.
    11 Focus
    12 Shutter
    13 n.c.
    14 GND
    15 res.
Reuben February 27, 2015 at 11:05am

Ok guys who knows this info ?

I have been trying to find out how much load (current in ma) the aux pins can handle .. I have been sourcing some micro relays that are very tiny and can be easy for people to make and will work with Apm and Pixhawk without the need for the transistors and resistors and I need the info .. I tried to look here ( http://planner.ardupilot.com/wiki/common-analog-and-digital-pins-fo... ) but no info on this page . perhaps it should be added for all boards?

Pixhawks 3.3v Aux digital signal line max milliamps

Apm 5v signal lines Max milliamps
- Rob Dunbar > Reuben February 27, 2015 at 11:35am
  
  Looking at the STM32 F4 data sheet page 77 and not the schematics of the pixhawk it is either 25mA on 3.3v or 5 mA on 5 volt tolerant pins. The APM with the Atmel 2560 mega can handle 40mA per the data sheet page 367.
  
  Regardless of which one you go with they can't handle very much current. I would look into using relay switches you can buy fairly inexpensive which work off the 3.3 pwm signal. You need to make sure there is 5 volts provided on the servo rail. I would provide this with a separate 5v power source such as a SBEC or UBEC.
  - Reuben > Rob Dunbar February 27, 2015 at 1:12pm
    
    Thanks Rob ..
    
    I have found some tiny relays avail in 500ma contact rating and 6ma coil rating .. also some 1amp contact rating and 16ma coil rating .. It might be easier for people to use these to make their trigger cables.
    
    see compared to a mini relay and a servo plug.
    - Reuben > Reuben February 27, 2015 at 1:19pm
      
      I did also find this on page 92 ..
      
      seems its true the I/O pins can only take 25ma max.
opiq February 26, 2015 at 5:30pm
Hi..

I have built Marco's circuit, but it didn't work to trigger the Camera with Pixhawk

I measure Signal pin voltage after plugged in the circuit was 0.0 volts, then I push Trigger Camera Now from MP the voltage jump only to 2,.. volt. If the circuit didn't plugged in, signal pin have 3,..volt. Is that normal?

In MP, I have set :
- CAM_DURATION: 1
- CAM_TRIGG_DIST: 3 (indoor test)
- CAM_TRIGG_TYPE: 1
- RELAY_PIN: 54
If there's something wrong with CHDK setting ?

Thanks
- opiq > opiq February 26, 2015 at 8:17pm
  
  Maybe I have solved it....in accidentally way :)
  
  No need any circuit... just connecting red cable from USB to (+) pin and black cable to Signal pin in AUX port. I have tested it and can trigger camera based on distance....
  - Lin Han Wei > opiq March 31, 2015 at 9:23pm
    
    Hi..opiq
    
    I want to trigger my camera with Pixhawk by CHDK such as your method.
    
    So, I try to make a cable myself such as attach files. Is that right?
    
    And the setting of MP is
    
    CAM_DURATION: 1
    
    CAM_TRIGG_DIST: 2
    
    CAM_TRIGG_TYPE: 1
    
    RELAY_PIN: 54
    
    And the connection of Pixhawk and my canon S100 also like attach files.
    
    actually, I am not sure whether the connection is right or not...
    
    The script of CHDK I use is E38_APM.bas.
    
    BUT!!
    
    The camera still cannot work, no matter how I try to do!!
    
    Is there something wrong with CHDK or MP setting?
    
    or
    Is there something still need to set I ignore?
    
    THX!!
    
    2015-04-01 12.00.27.jpg
    
    2015-04-01 12.01.46.jpg
    
    2015-04-01 12.02.03.jpg
  - Reuben > opiq February 26, 2015 at 11:09pm
    
    This is a very bad idea ..as you could blow the board ..or cause it to brown out and you will crash, The signal pin on the Pixhawk is only 3.3v signal line and must not take a high load, you must use this circuit i have provided ..
    - This reply was deleted.
      - Reuben > opiq March 3, 2015 at 10:47am
        
        Hi For Canon use this one

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Using AUX pins as relays for CHDK

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