Flowcode Support Board

Hi
I'm delivering a course using Flowcode and Matrix EBlocks kit for the first time.
I've ran into an issue with the B L0127 actuator board today and could do with some guidance.

I wasn't able to find the actuator board in the component library but had been able to get the DC motor working (forward, reverse, stop) by outputting 3, 5 or 0 to the connected port. I'd come up with a few different scenarios based around this to use with my class this morning but upon trying my 'demo' set up briefly started to smoke and there was a noticeable smell of burning.
A couple of the quicker students had tried my example exercise and, while they didn't report the same symptoms as me, their actuator boards (or rather the DC motor, no longer functions.

Can anyone advise how I should have approached this please?

Apologies if I've missed any important details.

Hello Matt,

Oh dear this doesn't sound good, sorry to hear you've had this problem.

It shouldn't be possible to damage the board by simply outputting values to the port. Out of interest what voltage are you applying to DC power supply input on the actuators board? Voltage should be 5V and the actuators switch should be in the on position.

Your port values for the DC motor don't quite sound right: forwards, reverse, stop should be 2, 4, 0 respectively. Saying this 3 and 5 shoud also work but the servo motor control pin will also be active.

You can also try the example firmware here, specifically the motor test firmware for the corresponding upstream E-block.
https://www.flowcode.co.uk/wiki/index.p ... _Tutorials

If the DC motor (or any other motor) on your board is dead then it's probably worth contacting Matrix support via phone or email to obtain a replacement and allow us to test the board and see what went wrong. Your firmware program might also be useful.