Ice Tube Clock: One Weak Digit

[paulpenn]

My Ice Tube Clock is working fine, except for the minutes digit, which is much dimmer than the others. It's not a subtle problem—it’s the first thing people notice and comment on when I show off my clock. The clock is set for low brightness now, but the same digit is always much dimmer, even at the brightest setting.

I have attached pictures of the display, tube socket, and header solder joints. Let me know if there is anything else you'd like me to check.

Otherwise, I'd like to request a new tube. I guess I'll need the small PC board and right angle header also. I'd be glad to send in the defective tube assembly.

--Paul

[wildtang3nt]

It looks like there are three pins on your VFD driver socket that aren't fully flowed with solder. Maybe try touching that up and see how it looks.

Otherwise there are a couple firmwares that allow you to change the brightness of each digit. This however requires a programmer, or an Arduino to flash the new firmware to the clock.

[adafruit_support_bill]

Interesting. Typically, the seconds digit is dimmer than the rest. This is a function of how the tube is driven and is mentioned in the FAQ: http://learn.adafruit.com/ice-tube-clock-kit/faq

The solder looks mostly very good. But as mentioned above, there are a few pins that could use a bit more solder. Touch them up and see if anything improves.

[paulpenn]

OK -- touched up the solder on the three pins on the MAX6921 socket. No change at all in the brightness of the unit minutes digit.

I looked in the FAQ as suggested but did not find anything about this problem. There seems to be some confusion about which digit is dim: I am not having any problem with the seconds digits, only the units, not tens, of minutes. Please refer to the picture.

What now?

--Paul

[adafruit_support_bill]

Contact [email protected] with a link to this thread for a replacement tube & side board.

[paulpenn]

Bill;

Will do -- thanks.

--Paul