Modifying the Cluster HAT 2.3/2.2/2.0 for standalone (micro:bit,etc) use

[Chris Burton]

Hi,

I've seen a couple of queries about this so here's my (if it doesn't work the pieces are yours) guide to reconfigure the Cluster HAT 2.2 or 2.3 for standalone use :).

You basically need to take care of 4 things.

1) Change default power on state to ON - cut the POS link on the back of the board.

2) Prevent the USB hub from being held in reset by adding a 10k SMD/through hole resistor between the gate (top right) pad of Q4 to ground on either C2 or C3 (left hand pad).

3) Get 3v3 power to the I2C I/O expander - connect a wire from the 3v3 regulator within the USB hub (right hand pad of C2 - NOT C3) to the 3v3 rail used by the expander (top right pin (8) of the EEPROM).

4) Change the source power for the micro USB sockets from Pi GPIO socket to the USB cable - solder the centre pad with the right hand "USB" pad on the "PWR" solder jumper.

To use the Cluster HAT back with a RPi you MUST remove the 3v3 link wire and optionally change the source of power back to "RPi" on the "PWR" solder jumper and bridge the POS solder jumper if you want power to be off by default (the 10k resistor won't affect functionality).

It above steps should work with Cluster HAT 2.3 or 2.2, for 2.0 you would need to change step 3 and connect the 10k resistor between pin 3 (bottom right) of U1 to ground making sure you don't bridge it to the neighbouring pins.

Chris.

p.s. there is no public Cluster HAT v2.1.

[David Sopas]

Hello,

What you mean by "cut the POS link on the back of the board"? Can't see it on the picture :-)

Thanks!

[Chris Burton]

Hi, 

What you mean by "cut the POS link on the back of the board"? Can't see it on the picture :-)

Their is a link on the PCB between the solder pads of POS, you should be able to cut it with a knife

Chris.

[David Sopas]

True. Thanks!

David Sopas

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[David Sopas]

So I modified the Cluster HAT according with the specifications mention in this thread but I must have did something wrong.

When I connect the USB it shows a blue light on alert led. Power led is on.

Any idea?

sexta-feira, 25 de Janeiro de 2019 às 14:24:44 UTC, David Sopas escreveu:

True. Thanks!

David Sopas

On Fri, 25 Jan 2019 at 14:02, Chris Burton <bur...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi, 

What you mean by "cut the POS link on the back of the board"? Can't see it on the picture :-)

Their is a link on the PCB between the solder pads of POS, you should be able to cut it with a knife

Chris.

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[David Sopas]

Done! POS link wasn't properly cut.

Thanks guys!

David Sopas

On Mon, 28 Jan 2019 at 14:51, David Sopas <david...@gmail.com> wrote:

So I modified the Cluster HAT according with the specifications mention in this thread but I must have did something wrong.

When I connect the USB it shows a blue light on alert led. Power led is on.

Any idea?

sexta-feira, 25 de Janeiro de 2019 às 14:24:44 UTC, David Sopas escreveu:

True. Thanks!

David Sopas

On Fri, 25 Jan 2019 at 14:02, Chris Burton <bur...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi, 

What you mean by "cut the POS link on the back of the board"? Can't see it on the picture :-)

Their is a link on the PCB between the solder pads of POS, you should be able to cut it with a knife

Chris.

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[Barry Byford]

Hi Chris,

I have bought the v2.4 cluster hat for helping test bluetooth communication between the RPi and BBC micro:bits. While it is still very early days, I have been able to control the powering on and off of the micro:bits and communicating with them over USB serial without making any physical modifications to the board so I was confused when I came across this post.

I have got things working by writing my own Python drivers for the board. Am I missing something? Should I have to do some physical mods on the v2.4 board?

This is a great physical product and I'm really excited about the possibilities this is opening up for my testing.

Thanks,

Barry

[Chris Burton]

Hi,

I have bought the v2.4 cluster hat for helping test bluetooth communication between the RPi and BBC micro:bits. While it is still very early days, I have been able to control the powering on and off of the micro:bits and communicating with them over USB serial without making any physical modifications to the board so I was confused when I came across this post.

I have got things working by writing my own Python drivers for the board. Am I missing something? Should I have to do some physical mods on the v2.4 board?

This is a great physical product and I'm really excited about the possibilities this is opening up for my testing.

The mod was for those wanting to use the Cluster HAT standalone as just a USB hub (without a Controller Pi), if you're using it on a Pi you won't need to change anything.

Chris.

[Barry Byford]

Brilliant! Thanks for clarifying.

Thanks again for a great product.

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