Mendel Ramps 1.4 Arduino - no connection

I completed the assembly and wiring of my Prusa Mendel i2.

Having installed all the software on my PC, I connected the Arduino USB cable to the PC.

No lights were shown on the Arduino and the PC didn't detect any new hardware.

I have disconnected all the wiring from the RAMPs so it is now a bare board.

When connecting the USB the Arduino LEDs now light up, the green LED on the RAMPs board flashes and the PC has detected the hardware. I've managed to install the Arduino driver and a COM port has been assigned.

However, pronterface is unable to connect to the printer. I have checked and double checked all the settings. The command line shows, "Connecting ..... Can't read from printer (disconnected?)."

Is it possible that the hardware fault when wired up (I assume there is a short) hosed the firmware? Should I re-flash the firmware? Any other suggestions / diagnostics appreciated.

Thanks.

James.

Yes reflash. Also, when you say all wiring removed, do you mean you unplugged the RAMPS from the Arduino, or just the motor/end stop/fan/heater wiring?

Thanks - I have unplugged the motors, heaters and end stops (I don't yet have any fans connected up) but I still have the RAMPS plugged into the Arduino and the PC is now able to detect that the Arduino is connected.

Many thanks.

James.

I suspect, based on past history, that you had you endstops connected to the wrong pins on the header and were shorting Vcc to ground (not unlike holding the reset button).

-Jay

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/20/2014 04:53PM by jaydmdigital.

That would fit ..... I originally connected the Arduino (with the fully wired up RAMPS) to the PC there were no LEDs on the Arduino. With the RAMPS board disconnected the Arduino was detected by the PC. When I re-connected the Arduino and the RAMPS all the lights were out again. I then started unplugging the wires and when I disconnected one of the end stops both the Arduino and the RAMPS suddenly lit up.

James.