Hi. I received my Plasma 2040 a couple of days ago and haven’t been able to get it to enter bootloader mode by holding Boot and pressing Reset. I’ve tried 3 different USB-C cables in multiple USB ports of 2 PCs - Windows 10 and KDE Neon Linux. Any ideas?
I’ve had no trouble getting my Pi Pico to enter bootloader mode by holding Boot then connecting.
Thanks,
Ben.
Hi MCMBen,
I haven’t seen the schematic for this board. So this is a guess. The reset is equivalent to powering up where the processor looks to see if the Boot button is pressed. If so it goes into boot mode. There is no reset button on the pico, so that is why they say hold down the boot button when plugging in.
Try just holding down the boot button whilst plugging in the c connector. As you might do with a pico, instead of pressing the reset button on this board.
If it does come up in boot mode, it may be some link you need or something else.
Worth a try?
PeeWee1
Thanks @PeeWee1 , I have also tried that, to no avail. I’m assuming the reset button is essentially the same as the Captain Resetti button you can add to the pico - effectively powering off then on instead of using cable removal.
Hi MCMBen,
I agree on the reset theory. Which does pose the question is the hardware faulty?
Re your C cable connector, I think if it works on other devices it does suggest it’s not that.
Aside from looking at the board for anything obviously unsoldered or short circuited you would be best to raise a support ticket on email to Pimoroni. If it’s new and it’s never worked it could be a QA problem.
I don’t own a Plasma, but I do have a PICO with a Reset button added.
With it powered up I can
Press Boot & Reset,
then release Reset
then release Boot
and it goes into boot loader mode, no having to unplug the USB cable.
Just a FYI post.
I can confirm this was a faulty board, and has been replaced very quickly by Pimoroni. :)
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If it’s just a broken Boot Button, shorting the contacts on either side of the button should put it into Boot mode. Worth a try anyway. If you can get it into Boot mode you can drop the UF2 file onto it.
Hi. I believe my board is also faulty.
I have a bug in my code which is in main.py
led_strip = plasma.WS2812(200, 0, 0, 0)
led_strip.start()
led_strip.set_rgb(201, 0, 0, 0)
This causes a crash. you can’t stop the code via thonny. You get Device is Busy error.
reset buttons works, but holding boot does nothing (i hold boot, plug in USBC, main.py runs anyway).
any advice?
What version of the Pimoroni uf2 is it?
If you’re seeing hangs when you try to time.sleep() or use led = Pin("LED", Pin.OUT) or wireless functionality, then this is the release for you.
Release Version 1.23.0 - Bugfix 1 · pimoroni/pimoroni-pico (github.com)
I can’t use the bootload button, so i can’t upload a new uf2.
I’m pretty sure it crashes on the following code:
led_strip = plasma.WS2812(200, 0, 0, 0)
led_strip.start()
led_strip.set_rgb(201, 0, 0, 0) #this is the problem. 1st variable is higher than number of leds specified in led_strip
If it’s actually “just the button” that has failed, shorting it out with a paper clip might get you into boot mode? Just bridge the solder pads on each side of the button. Connect the two on one side to the two on the other. Shorting one of each set of two together should do it.
I have tried this and it doesn’t work - the same technique on the reset button works predictably. Thanks for your advice and help though.
That’s a bummer. The schematic is here if you want to try and poke around and try to get it into boot mode.
plasma2040.sch (shopify.com)
Lower right page 1/2.
How long have you had it?
I’ve had one of my plasma sticks go weird / wonky on me, random lock ups. A power supply failure may have been the cause though? It may have seen more that 5V in?
I am 90% sure the bug is trying to set a LED higher than those specified in led_strip = plasma.WS2812()
led_strip = plasma.WS2812(200, 0, 0, 0)
led_strip.start()
led_strip.set_rgb(201, 0, 0, 0)
Reliably locks up the plasma 2040. Not having any problems with voltage and the code still runs reliably until it reaches that part. Not sure how long I’ve had it - I’ve bought various. I’ll probably get the new version that’s just come out, but it would be great if that bug in the library was fixed.
I’ve done what you’ve done, messed up my code and locked up an RP2040. It hasn’t, as of yet, stopped me from getting into Boot mode to reflash it though. I “think” you have a hardware glitch, on top of your software glitch. I’m thinking something in the Boot Mode circuit has failed. That’s my best guess anyway. It worked in the past hasn’t it?