Circuit Debugger

Systematic approach to diagnosing hardware issues in maker projects.

Resources

This skill includes bundled tools and references:

• scripts/generate_debug_sketch.py - Arduino sketch generator for I2C scanner, GPIO tester, ADC checker, PWM tester
• references/measurement-procedures.md - Comprehensive multimeter and oscilloscope guide

Quick Start

Generate I2C scanner:

uv run --no-project scripts/generate_debug_sketch.py --i2c --output i2c_scanner.ino

Generate GPIO tester:

uv run --no-project scripts/generate_debug_sketch.py --gpio --pins 2,3,4,5 --output gpio_test.ino

Generate all debug sketches:

uv run --no-project scripts/generate_debug_sketch.py --all

Interactive mode:

uv run --no-project scripts/generate_debug_sketch.py --interactive

Trigger Phrases

• "My circuit doesn't work"
• "Component is getting hot"
• "No power to the board"
• "Sensor not responding"
• "Intermittent/random failures"
• "Works sometimes, not others"

Debugging Protocol

Phase 1: Power System Check (Do First!)

Visual Inspection (30 seconds)

□ Check for smoke, burn marks, or melted plastic
□ Verify power LED on microcontroller is lit
□ Look for loose wires or cold solder joints
□ Confirm correct polarity on polarized components (LEDs, caps, diodes)

Multimeter Tests (Set to DC Voltage)

Test Point              | Expected Value  | If Wrong
------------------------|-----------------|------------------
VCC to GND on MCU       | 3.3V or 5V      | Check regulator, power source
Sensor VCC pin          | Match datasheet | Check wiring, broken trace
Motor driver VCC        | Logic + Motor V | Separate supplies needed?
Battery terminals       | Rated voltage   | Dead/discharged battery

Common Power Issues:

Symptom	Likely Cause	Fix
No voltage anywhere	Disconnected power, blown fuse	Check continuity from source
Low voltage (< 4V when expecting 5V)	Overloaded supply, bad regulator	Reduce load, check current draw
Voltage drops under load	Undersized power supply	Calculate total current, upgrade PSU
Reverse polarity	Swapped wires	Check all connections, may have damaged components

Phase 2: Ground Continuity

Critical Rule: All grounds must be connected together.

Multimeter: Set to CONTINUITY (beep mode)

Test these pairs - ALL should beep:
□ Arduino GND ↔ Sensor GND
□ Arduino GND ↔ Motor driver GND  
□ Arduino GND ↔ Display GND
□ Arduino GND ↔ Power supply negative
□ All breadboard GND rails connected

Ground Problems Cause:

• Erratic sensor readings
• I2C/SPI communication failures
• Motors behaving randomly
• Displays showing garbage

Phase 3: Signal Verification

Digital Signals (Set multimeter to DC Voltage)

// Add this debug code to verify pin states
void debugPins() {
    Serial.println("=== Pin States ===");
    Serial.print("D2: "); Serial.println(digitalRead(2) ? "HIGH" : "LOW");
    Serial.print("D3: "); Serial.println(digitalRead(3) ? "HIGH" : "LOW");
    // Add more pins as needed
}

Expected Readings:

Signal Type	HIGH	LOW	Floating (Bad!)
5V Logic	4.5-5.5V	0-0.5V	1-3V unstable
3.3V Logic	2.8-3.6V	0-0.3V	0.8-2V unstable

I2C Troubleshooting:

// Run this I2C scanner first
#include <Wire.h>

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(115200);
    Wire.begin();
    
    Serial.println("I2C Scanner");
    for (uint8_t addr = 1; addr < 127; addr++) {
        Wire.beginTransmission(addr);
        if (Wire.endTransmission() == 0) {
            Serial.print("Found device at 0x");
            Serial.println(addr, HEX);
        }
    }
}
void loop() {}

I2C Problem	Check
No devices found	SDA/SCL swapped? Pull-ups present? Correct address?
Address conflict	Two devices same address? Check AD0/AD1 pins
Intermittent	Weak pull-ups (try 4.7kΩ), long wires, noise

Phase 4: Component Isolation

The Divide-and-Conquer Method:

1. Disconnect ALL external components
2. Verify MCU works alone (blink LED)
3. Add ONE component at a time
4. Test after EACH addition
5. When failure occurs, problem is last added component

Component-Specific Tests:

LEDs:

□ Correct polarity? (long leg = anode = positive)
□ Current limiting resistor present? (330Ω-1kΩ typical)
□ Test LED alone with battery + resistor
□ PWM pin? Try digitalWrite first

Motors/Servos:

□ Never connect directly to MCU pin (use driver!)
□ Separate power supply for motors
□ Flyback diode on DC motors
□ Check stall current vs driver rating

Sensors:

□ Correct operating voltage (3.3V vs 5V!)
□ Level shifter needed for mixed voltage?
□ Decoupling capacitor (100nF) near VCC pin
□ Pull-up resistors for I2C (4.7kΩ typical)

Phase 5: Software vs Hardware

Quick Software Test:

// Minimal test - does the MCU even run?
void setup() {
    pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);
    Serial.begin(115200);
    Serial.println("MCU is alive!");
}

void loop() {
    digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);
    delay(500);
    digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);
    delay(500);
    Serial.println("heartbeat");
}

If This Works	If This Fails
Hardware likely OK, check your code	Check USB cable, bootloader, board selection

Quick Reference: Common Failures

Symptom	First Check	Second Check	Third Check
Nothing works	Power supply	USB cable	Board selection in IDE
Gets hot	Short circuit	Reversed polarity	Overcurrent
Works then stops	Power brownout	Overheating	Memory leak
Erratic behavior	Floating inputs	Missing grounds	Noise/interference
I2C fails	Pull-ups	Address	Wire length
Motor jerky	Power supply	PWM frequency	Driver current

Multimeter Quick Guide

Measurement    | Setting      | Probes
---------------|--------------|------------------
DC Voltage     | V⎓ (20V)     | Red=signal, Black=GND
Continuity     | ))) or Ω     | Either direction
Resistance     | Ω            | Component out of circuit!
Current        | A or mA      | IN SERIES (break circuit)

When to Ask for Help

If after this protocol you still can't find the issue:

1. Take clear photos of your wiring
2. Draw a schematic (even hand-drawn)
3. List exact components with part numbers
4. Share your complete code
5. Describe what you expected vs what happened

References

• See references/multimeter-guide.md for detailed measurement techniques
• See references/common-mistakes.md for beginner pitfall gallery