I Cooked my Arduino 3G module? SIM5320E - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: BoomBrush
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2017, 04:16:23 pm
content: So I was playing around with my SIM5320E module which is like the SIM900 but uses 3G. Long story short I may of shorted the antenna signal wire with the Arduino's 5V. Or the signal wire with GND. Or maybe I accidentally connected the arduino's 5V to the modules GND. I have no idea but it immediately let of a nasty smell but I could not see any visible smoke. The reason they touched were my fault, I had the antenna tucked under some wires for convenience so that it wouldn't just flap around in the breeze. I'm using an arduino nano taped to the back of the module and as I was moving the it either the antenna's signal or gnd made a connection with either the arduino's 5V or gnd.This was powered using my motherboard's USB port though the arduino. The module itself has a built in usb port but I wasn't using it. It was connected to cell towers during the moment of time they were touching (thus the antenna was probably transmitting), all the LEDs went completely off. I immediate removed power and moved the antenna away from the arduino. Upon further powering the arduino on, the LEDs on the arduino are noticeably dimmer and is not recognized by my computer anymore. The modules leds dont turn on.I mentioned before the module had a usb port. I tried plugging it into the computer through that but no leds light up and the computer doesnt recognize anything. What I'm hoping is that there is some sort of diode that I can just replace to get it working. This module costs $80aud so I'd rather not buy a new one but it may of been an $80 mistake I made.If it's some component on the PCB that failed I can replace that. But if it's the SIMCOM module itself, I'm screwed. I won't have access to any multimeters or lab equipment until the weekend. Any advise? Thanks!

author: danadak
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2017, 10:16:36 pm
content: A high res in focus picture might help. Also your nose might be able to identifywhich end of module had over stressed part.A magnifying glass exam of board might provide clues.Regards, Dana.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2017, 02:29:00 am
content: Are you sure it's not the Arduino that smoked? Antennae are usually capacitively coupled and supplied with ESD protection.

author: BoomBrush
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2017, 07:17:35 am
content: I can no longer smell anything from the PCB. There is no visible damage to any of the components on either the arduino or sim module. It's possible there was a spark produced and the smell is a result of the ozone, but I highly doubt that given it's 5V. It's likely from one of the components if not the chip itself.I found this schematic for a different but similar SIm5320E module sold by adafruit. In this schematic you can see the GSM antenna goes directly into the module with nothing else attached.I thought I'd take the RF shield off and have a look inside:So according to the pinout, that pin is gsm antenna input (makes sense, its pretty close to that area). There does seem to be some sort of component there, not sure whether it's a capacitor or not. Sorry about that shot I don't have any sort of magnifying glass around apart from a phone camera.Quote from: amyk on August 30, 2017, 02:29:00 amProbably. The arduino doesn't get recognized by the computer anymore when powered from USB, although the leds light up but much dimmer than before. The SIM module also doesn't work when powered from USB (it has a small usb port on the side with a build in serial interface). If it's only the antenna side of things, I should at least be able to communicate with the SIM module. However my computer doesn't recognize it, nor do any of the LEDs turn on.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2017, 11:19:02 pm
content: Is that a shield inside the can?