Cannot detect I2C on Arducam PTZ B0167B12 with FocuserExample.py Remote I/O error

Raspberry Pi Cameras
1

Hi everyone, hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I’ve got an Arducam PTZ Pan Tilt Zoom Camera (B0167B12, the 12MP camera with the rotating base) hooked up to a Raspberry Pi. I’m trying to run FocuserExample.py, but it can’t detect the I2C device and fails with:

[Errno 121] Remote I/O error

I’ve been messing with this setup for a while now, and I also have a feeling the middle daughter board control is acting up. I’ve seen a few people report the same thing online, and some have said it could be a factory daughter card problem. Anyone seen this before?

2

Thanks for the details. A [Errno 121] Remote I/O error on the I2C bus is very often power-related before we jump to a board fault. What power supply are you using for the Raspberry Pi? Could you share the voltage and current rating?

3

I’m running it off a battery at the moment. Let me check the exact specs on it. I think I can also send a photo of the power setup if that helps.

4

Please do. For reference, the recommended supply for the Pi with this PTZ module is 5V 3A. If you’re on a 2.5A supply, or a battery that can’t sustain the current under load, the camera and motors can drag the rail down and the I2C device drops off - which shows up exactly as that Remote I/O error.

5

I’ve sent over the photo of the power setup. It is a battery, but I’m not 100% sure of the sustained current rating. What should I try next?

6

Got the photo, thanks. Since you’re on a battery, my first suggestion is to try a proper 5V 3A wall adapter if you have one available, just to rule out power sag. I’ll review the photo and the info you provided and follow up with you.

7

Just following up - it’s been a little while now. Any update on next steps? I’d like to know how to proceed, especially if it does turn out to be the control board.

8

Apologies for the wait. I’ve reviewed the power photo and the test details you sent over. Based on everything so far, this looks like a hardware fault on the PTZ module’s control board rather than a software or power-supply-only issue. The I2C bus isn’t responding properly, so the control board itself will need to be replaced.