Hi Gordon,

Don’t worry I’ve worked it out. It appears that the default firmware is too old. I used hexxeh’s rpi-update to grab the latest github version and all the Piface sprung into life. Also, in Raspian, it appears spi-bcm2708 is blacklisted by default.

Thanks again for the great code. The Piface looks like a good fun piece of hardware!

Felix.

Hi Gordon
I received a piface I/O board 7 days ago and I can’t get it working.
It arrived with no info just a PCB in a padded packet.
Tried phoning and email the supplier without success.
Found you excellent items. Downloaded and installed wiringPi.
Using Raspbain.
Hashed out spi-bcm2708 in /etc/modprobe.draspi.blacklist.conf
sudo ./piface
It apears to run as displays wiringPiFace test program.
I press the buttons on the I/O board and nothing.
Any ideas please
thanks

Hi
I am using raspbain
lsmod does not show any spi modules

changed to raspberryPi debian
lsmod also does not show spi modules

also tried firmware update
https://github.com/Hexxeh/rpi-update
sudo wget http://goo.gl/1BOfJ -O /usr/bin/rpi-update && chmod +x /usr/bin/rpi-update

failed chmod changing permissions Operation not permitted.

many thanks

I tried to make a binary to behave like the Gordon’s GPIO executable to control the PiFace from the Shell but it resets I/O at each command.

I’d like to have shell commands (called from PHP code) such as:
“piface in 1” or “piface out 1 0”
Python-Django/Apache provided with PiFace is not a solution for me.

Here is my C code:

int main ( int argc, char *argv[] )
{
char value;
value = 255;
// Check pin number
if ( ( argc > 2) && ( atoi( argv[2] ) 7 ) ) {
printf( “\nPIN number ‘%s’ is out of the range [0..7].\n”, argv[2]);
exit ( 128 ) ;
}
// Check digital value
if ( ( argc > 3) && ( atoi( argv[3] ) 1 ) ) {
printf( “\nValue ‘%s’ is out of the range [0,1].\n”, argv[3]);
exit ( 128 ) ;
}
// Initialize the PiFace board
if ( wiringPiSetupPiFace () == -1 ) {
printf( “\nFail to initialize the PiFace board.\n”);
exit ( 255 ) ;
} else {
printf( “\nPiFace board initialized.\n”);
}
// Read input pin
if ( strcmp( argv[ 1 ], “in” ) == 0 ) {
if ( argc > 2 ) {
value = digitalRead( atoi( argv[2] ) );
printf ( “Pin ‘%s’ read to ‘%d’\n”, argv[2], value );
exit( value );
}
}
else
// Read/Write output pin
if ( strcmp( argv[ 1 ], “out” ) == 0 ) {
if ( argc > 3 ) {
digitalWrite( atoi( argv[2] ), atoi( argv[3] ) ) ;
printf ( “Pin ‘%s’ set to ‘%d’\n”, argv[2], argv[3] );
exit( argv[3] );
}
}
// Default
value = 128;
printf ( wArg );
return value;
}

Many thanks

Ok – sorry for the delay in the exchanges and Many thanks for your help.
Yes, I managed the GPIO over the PiFace by soldering pins (piggy back connector)
Yes, I would like to use softPwm module.
For the dimmer I will use a MOSFET IRFD123.
Sensors are T° + RH (DHT22).
For RTC I use the RTC module from CJE Micro’s

BTW, I still had in mind 8x GPIO on the RPi but the new Rev has 4x more, isn’t it? Pins 3, 4, 5 & 6.
Because I need the I2C for the RTC and future uses, can I get the pins 5 & 6 only (GPIO9 & 11) as extra GPIOs ? That would help to solve this PWM issues.

Hi Gordon,

right now I’am working with the PiFace. I’am going to use the PWM-Signals on the LED’s 3-8 and put the Relais on and off at the same time… When I switch the Relais on it should stay on but instead it’s always switching the state (on, off, on, off and so on). Do you have any idea, how to fix it?

Before the if-case I check which button on the keyboard has been pushed.
Here the peace of the relevant code:

if(ch==’s’)
{
iRelais=!iRelais;
softPwmWrite(LED1,iRelais);
printf(“iRelais %i\n”,iRelais);
}

My other question is: can I use 6 different PWM-signals at the same time?

Thanks!
Adam

HI. Really good projects and tutorials for the Raspberry Pi Gordon, they have been really helpful thanks. Now I am trying to find out if the PiFace and Gertboard can be used together. Do you know its that possbile. Thanks in advance.

Steve, Also from Devon 🙂

______________________________________
/ Only Devon knows how they make it so \
\ creamy.. /
————————————–
\ ^__^
\ (oo)\_______
(__)\ )\/\
||—-w |
|| ||

Gordon,

I’ve got some 12v automobile relays that I’m wanting to power from the PiFace, they probably pull a constant 50mA when powered. Can you directly connect the common return of the relay to one of the general purpose output pins of the piFace, or do I need add an external transistor or darlington driver. The online documentation seems to suggest that the input voltage to the 2803 can be up to 30V, but I’m not sure if its safe with the other components on the PiFace.

Cheers!