buzzer on monochron doesn't work

[Jesse625]

I Recently got my monochron into the mail today and started working on it. I copied the directions and yet the piezo buzzer will not beep when I plug it up. Hopefully someone can help me solve this problem. I also did the 5v test and still got 5v.

[adafruit_support_bill]

Looks like you have all the components in the right places. And the soldering looks good for the most part. The solder on the buzzer leads looks a little suspect. Re-flow any joints you see that don't look smooth and shiny. Also make sure that the microprocessor chip is firmly seated in the socket.

[Jesse625]

The chip I can assure you the chip is all the way down and I re-flowed some of the joints and still nothing.everything was going smoothly untill this part. Is it possible I got a bad buzzer or chip?

[adafruit]

maybe but we suggest continuing the kit, see if you can get the next step working!

[Jesse625]

Ok will do currently installed the led and that seems to work hopefully the rest will

[Jesse625]

I finished the kit and Still no luck. Power is running through it yet nothing at all pops up on the screen. I can change the contrast the little led works, but no beeping from the speaker.I am new to soldering, but I have done a few other kits such as the ybox2 and the nebulophone with no problems at all. any ideas? my guess it's the chip. should I try to program it I don't know how yet but I did get a FTDI cable.

[adafruit_support_bill]

I suppose it is possible you got an un-programmed chip. If you have the FTDI cable, the programming instructions are here: http://www.ladyada.net/make/monochron/bootload.html

[Jesse625]

I followed the guide and got the drivers installed for the cable but when I tried to connect to the clock I got this error. any ideas on what I should do?

[adafruit_support_bill]

Try without the brackets around the COM3 as in the screenshot:

[Jesse625]

Thanks I sould of looked at the pic closer, but now I just get the not in sync error. The cable is in right and was held at angle. I tried multiple times with the same results. I would reset but no image displays on the screen best I can do is unplug it.

[adafruit_support_bill]

Hmmm. Not sure what is up there. Contact support@adafruit.com for a replacement monochron processor & link this thread in your message.

[Jesse625]

Thanks for the help it was the chip. as soon as I poped it it and turned it on. Also I noticed that there are some faint lines that appear vertically at the paddles, the center, and at the edge of the numbers. I was just curious if that was normal?

[adafruit_support_bill]

I noticed that there are some faint lines that appear vertically at the paddles, the center, and at the edge of the numbers. I was just curious if that was normal?

Some ghosting is normal with LCD displays. You can try tweaking the contrast to minimize it.

[danshahin]

I just got my monochron and I am having the exact same problem. The power is good and the chip is seated well, but it just won't beep. Quite frustrating, I think I may have a bad chip. Can you help? I really wanted to make this as a christmas gift for someone. Can you save Christmas??

dan shahin

[adafruit_support_bill]

@danshahin - Post some good clear photos of the front and back of the board and we'll have a look.