Ice tube clock seconds digit getting dimmer by the day

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davevolt
 
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Ice tube clock seconds digit getting dimmer by the day

Post by davevolt »

Picture of my ice tube display, to show the very dim seconds fault.
Picture of my ice tube display, to show the very dim seconds fault.
icetube.jpg (18.35 KiB) Viewed 664 times
I received my Ice tube clock kit on Feb 18 and assembled it the following evening. For the first few days everything was fine, and then the seconds digit starts loosing brightness, and now, March 9 the seconds digit is so dim, that even on the brightest setting, if there are any lights on in the room, it can't be seen.
The boost voltage is measuring 24-26 volts, so I don't think that is the issue.
Bad tube?

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jarchie
 
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Re: Ice tube clock seconds digit getting dimmer by the day

Post by jarchie »

Usually a dim final digit is due to insufficient current across the tube filament and not a bad tube. Did you install a ZVP3306A or ZVP2110A for Q3? (Q3 is labeled Q4 on newer boards, but those boards also have no Q3.) Since it sounds like you have a volt meter, what is the voltage on both sides of R3 when the tube is plugged in and lit?

Just to rule out soldering and build issues, would you post photos of the front and back of the boards?

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davevolt
 
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Re: Ice tube clock seconds digit getting dimmer by the day

Post by davevolt »

top of board
top of board
front.jpg (67.6 KiB) Viewed 627 times
Q3 is a zvp330
Voltage on R3 with respect to ground is 3.352 on one side and 2.241 on the other.
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Bottom of board
Bottom of board
back.jpg (62.95 KiB) Viewed 627 times

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jarchie
 
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Re: Ice tube clock seconds digit getting dimmer by the day

Post by jarchie »

A dim final digit was common with the ZVP3306A, and this part was recently replaced with the ZVP2110A. Adafruit has an open offer to replace the ZVP3306A with a ZVP2110A. If your kit did not include a ZVP2110A, I would suggest emailing Adafruit for a replacement.

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