Can’t connect to TCB, blinking red light

This forum relates to the Open Source Tank Control Board (TCB). Please read the sticky and visit the main site to find out all about the board and how to install it.
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Jib
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Can’t connect to TCB, blinking red light

Post by Jib »

Hey, I’ve been connecting to the TCB regularly no problem, but last night I tried to connect as normal and I can’t. Couple of things:

The com port comes up normally, but when I try to connect it hangs for a bit and then says disconnected.

The red LED blinks slowly, nothing from green

The receiver gets power and connects to the transmitter as normal

The orange lights flash briefly at start up, but then nothing.

Dip switches are all in the ON position

Any idea what’s going on here?

https://youtube.com/shorts/wR10kGS782U ... BUrdWelo-V
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LukeZ
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Re: Can’t connect to TCB, blinking red light

Post by LukeZ »

Hi Jib - I'm unable to access your video, but your description is enough. The only time the red LED blinks slowly and the green does nothing, is when the board has no firmware. Typically no one will see that, since the board is sold with firmware already loaded. And I can't explain how your board might have lost it.

However I would recommend that you try flashing the latest firmware to it using OP Config and see if that restores it. Your saved settings will probably be lost, so hopefully you have an OPZ file saved to restore them after the firmware is back on.
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Jib
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Re: Can’t connect to TCB, blinking red light

Post by Jib »

So I can’t connect to the board in OPConfig, will I still be able to install the firmware?

The COM port comes up, but when I try to connect it hangs for a bit and then says disconnected.

Here is the link again. I had it listed as private, I thought if I shared the link people could view it but I guess not. Hopefully this works.

https://youtube.com/shorts/wR10kGS782U ... Y-B-YcdKW4

I will say the micro usb port seems a little “wiggly”? Like if I jiggle the cord in it the power cuts in and out, and if the micro usb plug is inserted in the “wrong” angle the TCB doesn’t get power.
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tankme
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Re: Can’t connect to TCB, blinking red light

Post by tankme »

I was going to say that exact same thing. The micro USB on my boards is a little loose. Sometimes I have to really work at positioning the cable in just the right way to get it to connect.

By the way, if you don't want your board just hanging out there and you have a 3D printer, there is a free 3D file for a case to put it in.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2666669
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Re: Can’t connect to TCB, blinking red light

Post by Sub »

Hi,
The master has spoken,
If all else fails here's A couple of things to try.
1, try a different cable to connect it to the PC, i have had a cable failure previously after it worked for ages.
2, try to connect using Snoop on firmware tab, then wait a while if it connects in snoop then try normal connect.
3, turn dip switches to off EXCEPT 5 .
4, make sure your Pc hasn't decided to turn off your com ports in the root hub to save energy, (description is on the Wiki.)
Just a few ideas
Sub.
Jib
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Re: Can’t connect to TCB, blinking red light

Post by Jib »

tankme wrote: Tue Jul 01, 2025 9:48 pm I was going to say that exact same thing. The micro USB on my boards is a little loose. Sometimes I have to really work at positioning the cable in just the right way to get it to connect.

By the way, if you don't want your board just hanging out there and you have a 3D printer, there is a free 3D file for a case to put it in.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2666669
Thanks for the link! Just got a printer, so this will probably end up being the first thing I print.

Will probably try to fiddle with the angle of the connector and see if this gets me anywhere
Jib
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Re: Can’t connect to TCB, blinking red light

Post by Jib »

Sub wrote: Tue Jul 01, 2025 11:13 pm Hi,
The master has spoken,
If all else fails here's A couple of things to try.
1, try a different cable to connect it to the PC, i have had a cable failure previously after it worked for ages.
2, try to connect using Snoop on firmware tab, then wait a while if it connects in snoop then try normal connect.
3, turn dip switches to off EXCEPT 5 .
4, make sure your Pc hasn't decided to turn off your com ports in the root hub to save energy, (description is on the Wiki.)
Just a few ideas
Sub.
Will probably try #1 if fiddling with the angle of the connector doesn’t work.

Already tried #2, nothing happens, will try #3, #4 the com port pops up in OPConfig, it just doesn’t succeed in connecting to it.

Hoping this is just the angle of the connector or something else simple as I can’t think of anything that I had done directly to the TCB since the last time I fiddle with the settings via OPConfig.

Thanks for the suggestions!
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