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Author Topic: Replacing an ATMEGA32A AU  (Read 1965 times)

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Offline opioid

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 6
Replacing an ATMEGA32A AU
« on: Thu, 26 November 2020, 16:46:16 »
Unfortunately, after moving into a new house where we have a carpeted office, my HB85 has taken a series of ESDs and now even after flashing fails to function properly. I can hold F3 to get it into a bootloader mode in which I can flash with QMK. Even after flashing however it will sometimes act like the right arrow key is being held down, other times like 7,4,1 are being held down.

I'm thinking the microcontroller has been damaged with these shocks.
I have the skills to solder switches but soldering the 11 pins per side of the ATMEGA chip is a bit beyond my skill level.  I was considering hiring someone in my city with experience in micro electronics to exchange it for a new ATMEGA32A - AU chip.

If they do this swap, will I still be able to flash it through the same method? Holding F3 while plugging it in which will send a command to the chip to be ready for flashing a new ROM?
Or is there a second level of programming the chip requires before it is able to be flashed using the QMK Toolbox?

Thanks!
- also the plan is now to rip up the office carpet and polish the concrete underneath in an office reno.... better for the ESD, better for the office chairs!
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Offline nevin

  • Posts: 1646
  • Location: US
Re: Replacing an ATMEGA32A AU
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 26 November 2020, 19:50:12 »
You'll probably have to find a secondary way to get the new chip into bootloader mode as it will not have the programming that the current one does to be able to do the qmk reset.

Once you get the new chip into bootloader mode, proceed as usual.
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Offline piit79

  • Posts: 382
Re: Replacing an ATMEGA32A AU
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 27 November 2020, 00:50:05 »
That's correct - a brand new ATMega32A chip is actually completely blank, it does not have a bootloader. The bootloader needs to be flashed using a programmer (e.g. USBasp) using the ISP pins (MISO, MOSI, SCK, Vcc, GND).

Holding F3 to enter bootloader is a bit unusual - usually there are extra reset/boot microswitches to enter the bootloader. You would have to find the bootloader version for ATMega32A with the F3 key trigger.
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Offline nevin

  • Posts: 1646
  • Location: US
Re: Replacing an ATMEGA32A AU
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 27 November 2020, 01:09:12 »
good to know. thanks @piit79
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Offline ruohki

  • Posts: 8
  • Loc: Germany
Re: Replacing an ATMEGA32A AU
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 27 November 2020, 03:22:34 »
You could get a Pro-Micro derivate, one with the AU version. Flash everything and then use a heat gun to desolder it and put it on your board; that way, you don't have to fiddle with a programmer
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