Inky Phat - Display Doesn't update - I'm stuck!

Support
1

Hi team - So I’m not the type to admit defeat but maann I’m stuck.

Got a new Raspberry Pi Zero W along with a Yellow/Black Inky Phat

Fresh install of Raspberry Pi OS Lite - Followed the install guide from Pimoroni.

All install completes sucessfully, no errors.

When I run

python name-badge.py --type "phat" --colour "yellow" --name "Inigo Montoya"

Nothing happens - no error - simply says…

Inky pHAT/wHAT: Hello… my name is:

Use Inky pHAT/wHAT as a personalised name badge!

but nothing displays.

Checked the ribbon cable, reseated it. New SD card. All installed from scratch. The same everytime

I’m thinking the display is faulty but didn’t want to return without checking with you guys.

Config

No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Raspbian
Description: Raspbian GNU/Linux 10 (buster)
Release: 10
Codename: buster

Package: python-inkyphat
Status: install ok installed
Priority: extra
Section: python
Installed-Size: 519
Maintainer: Phil Howard phil@pimoroni.com
Architecture: all
Source: inkyphat
Version: 1.0.1
Depends: python-numpy, python-pil, python-rpi.gpio, python-spidev, python:any (<< 2.8), python:any (>= 2.7.5-5~)
Suggests: python-requests
Description: python library for the Pimoroni Inky pHAT
Ideal for name badges or displaying statutes and notifications.
.
This is the Python 2 version of the package.
Homepage: https://github.com/pimoroni/inky-phat

I’ve tried
– sudo pip install --upgrade inkyphat

I’m just super stuck - what am I missing?

Thanks in advance

Dan

2

Make sure SPI is enabled and that is is firmly attached to the GPIO.
If its a Pi Zero, did you solder on the header?

3

No - I bought it with the header already on.

And SPI is defo enabled

4

Tried again from the very beginning. baby steps.

It doesn’t work. Gonna return it.

5

Ok, that’s was one of those have to ask questions. Poor soldering can really mess things up.
PiOS with desktop or Lite?
Try running the following and then have one last go at the name badge example.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install python-rpi.gpio python-spidev python-pip python-pil python-numpy
sudo apt-get install python3-rpi.gpio python3-spidev python3-pip python3-pil python3-numpy

How are you running the examples, command line or IDE?

6

Thanks for your help with this - much appreciated.

Answers to your questions

  • PiOS with desktop or Lite? - Currently PiOS with Desktop but I have tried Lite also and I get the same result.
  • How are you running the examples, command line or IDE? - Command Line

I’ve executed your commands below

pi@raspberrypi:~/Pimoroni/inky/examples $ sudo apt-get update
Hit:1 http://archive.raspberrypi.org/debian buster InRelease
Hit:2 http://raspbian.raspberrypi.org/raspbian buster InRelease
Reading package lists... Done
pi@raspberrypi:~/Pimoroni/inky/examples $ sudo apt-get install python-rpi.gpio p                                ython-spidev python-pip python-pil python-numpy
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
python-numpy is already the newest version (1:1.16.2-1).
python-numpy set to manually installed.
python-pil is already the newest version (5.4.1-2+deb10u2).
python-pil set to manually installed.
python-pip is already the newest version (18.1-5+rpt1).
python-rpi.gpio is already the newest version (0.7.0-0.1~bpo10+1).
python-spidev is already the newest version (20190221~182651-1).
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 52 not upgraded.
pi@raspberrypi:~/Pimoroni/inky/examples $ sudo apt-get install python3-rpi.gpio                                 python3-spidev python3-pip python3-pil python3-numpy
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
python3-numpy is already the newest version (1:1.16.2-1).
python3-pil is already the newest version (5.4.1-2+deb10u2).
python3-pil set to manually installed.
python3-pip is already the newest version (18.1-5+rpt1).
python3-rpi.gpio is already the newest version (0.7.0-0.1~bpo10+1).
python3-spidev is already the newest version (20190221~182651-1).
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 52 not upgraded.
pi@raspberrypi:~/Pimoroni/inky/examples $ python name-badge.py --type "phat" --c                                olour "yellow" --name "Inigo Montoya"
Inky pHAT/wHAT: Hello... my name is:
Use Inky pHAT/wHAT as a personalised name badge!

Same result. No change :(

7

Ok, try python3 name-badge.py etc.
You could also try running the name-badge.py from thonny, that might get you an error message.
It does sound like it defective though.

8

Hi,
I have the same issue (Raspberry Pi Zero W + Raspberry Pi OS Desktop).

I just tried with “auto” instead of “phat” and…it’s working.

What about you dano ?

9

See also my thread, here.

Using auto instead of phat worked for me. But why, what’s the underlying problem here?

1 Like
10

Sorry I’m updating so late. I needed a break - it stressed me out! haha

So back to it - baby steps. Perfectly. STILL DOESN’T WORK! Arrghh!!

Antho - thanks for the suggestion man. But alas, nothing. :(

This MUST be broken, and it sounds like a few people having the same issue!