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The first step to bringing up the HCS_C board is to verify there are no power supply shorts.

There are four power supply voltages, +5V, +3.3V, +2.5V and +1.8V. Before turning on

HCS_C for the first time, use a low-voltage ohm-meter to check for shorts to ground or

among each other (especially check that there is no short from +5V to +3.3V or you will

be throwing this board away!)

Next, you should *ALWAYS* turn on a new board for the first time with a current limited

power supply, set to about 600mA for the base HCS_C board. Note that the loaded boards

I have shipped have already been checked, but it still is generally recommended for any

development system to use a current limited supply--it is frustratingly easy to blow up boards

due to power misconnects. Always measure twice (ie, check supply connections) or even

three times before flipping that power switch!! Working late at night, too long hours, when

tired or stressed out, are prescriptions for disaster. Be especially careful any time the power

supply setup changes.

OK, now turn on the power, and check the power LED is on and that the current and

voltages are correct. Immediately check all four voltage levels, check for hot parts

(carefully, you could burn a finger!) smoke, funny smells, etc. Anything out of the ordinary,

shut down IMMEDIATELY and recheck power connections.

Once you pass this test and breathe a sigh of relief, check the oscillator output. You should

get a pulsing 29Mhz signal there. If you do, next check that the FPGA processor reset

is asserted when you press the reset button, and goes back high about a second or two

later. If it is low all the time, probably the FPGA didn't come up. At this point, you are

probably in good shape and are ready to hook up the emulator.