Switch Your Hardware to “Exported Animation” mode

Head over to the hardware tab. With your Bottango Solar connected, in the “status” menu, you should see an option to switch between “Live Computer Control” and “Play Exported Animations.”

Switch USB

Keep both the USB connection plugged into the board for troubleshooting, as well as the power supply plugged in.

Press the “Play Exported Animations” button to switch the hardware over to play the animation files you exported onto the SD card. If you exported the files and put the SD card back in Bottango Solar, you should see it switch to “Exported Animation Mode.”

Switch Exported

Testing Exported Playback

Your Bottango Solar is now set to play animations off the SD card. The connection status light will glow purple.

In export state

If you set up an animation to play on startup, it should start playing right away. You should be able to trigger animations using the buttons as you configured while exporting as well.

While playing an animation, the data light will glow purple as well.

Export, currently playing

Troubleshooting tips:

  • Double check that the files you exported are in the right place on the SD card. There should be an “anim” folder at the root of the SD card.
  • Try exporting again and make sure your triggering settings are what you expect.
  • Check the Bottango hardware log, and reach out to support for more help if needed.

If the SD card can’t be found, or required animation files can’t be found on the SD card, the data light will glow red.

Export, bad SD

Removing the Computer

You now no longer need the computer to serve up the animations. However, you will still need to power both the USB and the Servos/Speakers.

If your Bottango Solar board is version 1.4 or earlier, when playing without a computer, BOTH Bottango Solar and the servos/speakers need to be separately powered.

  • Power the servos/speakers with the kit’s power adapter.

  • Power Bottango Solar using the USB cable and a USB power adapter (like a USB C phone charger, or a portable usb power bank, etc.)

If your Bottango Solar board is version 1.5 or later, you can provide power just through the power adapter and you do not need to provide USB power for standalone playback.

Back To Live Control

To go back to live control, and edit animations or play back animations using hte computer, just re-connect Bottango Solar to your computer, and then click the “Live Computer Control” to reverse the process.