while following the soldering tutorial for the ice tube clock kit i passed the first and the second test, but the third test failed.
so i checked the forums and saw that the soldering joints are the common problem so i reflowed them all so that the joints are all good.
i also checked the resistor values and there correct.
so this is where it goes wrong, at the third test instead of measuring a voltage of 40-75v i only got 0.6v.
it does beep when i plug it in, but after a while it beeps again, sometimes with a extra beep in a slightly different sound.
any help with this problem would be greatly appreciated
~~~mechbot~~~
ice tube clock voltage boost converter 0.6v
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- adafruit_support_bill
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Re: ice tube clock voltage boost converter 0.6v
Post clear photos of the front & back of the board and we'll take a look.
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- Posts: 9
- Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:01 am
Re: ice tube clock voltage boost converter 0.6v
i forgot to solder the inductor ....
the tube is lighting up, during the startup sequence all digits light up, but the 4th digit from the left is very dim
when it stops the startup sequence and just displays the time in 1 sec intervals or something, the 4th digit doesnt light up
its late now so im gonna test tomorrow with the schematics and post the results
the tube is lighting up, during the startup sequence all digits light up, but the 4th digit from the left is very dim
when it stops the startup sequence and just displays the time in 1 sec intervals or something, the 4th digit doesnt light up
its late now so im gonna test tomorrow with the schematics and post the results
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Re: ice tube clock voltage boost converter 0.6v
i just finished soldering the last things like the buttons so that i could increase the brightness to max
i don't have the time to test it right even though i had the time for it, i made some pictures so maybe you might be able to tell me which connections i need to test
the pictures are made with max brighness of the tube
also when i was done soldering it i noticed i was missing some parts, the parts i'm missing are:
12mm 3V lithium coin cell
Nylon 4-40 Hex nut X 10
Nylon 4-40 1/2" machine screw X 8
icsp 6 pin header, 0.1"x0.1" spacing
so even if we find the problem with the tube i can't finish the case
i don't have the time to test it right even though i had the time for it, i made some pictures so maybe you might be able to tell me which connections i need to test
the pictures are made with max brighness of the tube
also when i was done soldering it i noticed i was missing some parts, the parts i'm missing are:
12mm 3V lithium coin cell
Nylon 4-40 Hex nut X 10
Nylon 4-40 1/2" machine screw X 8
icsp 6 pin header, 0.1"x0.1" spacing
so even if we find the problem with the tube i can't finish the case
- Attachments
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- normal function of clock
- IMG_20121026_123734.jpg (758.35 KiB) Viewed 4248 times
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- startup sequence looks a bit hazy, but u can see the missing digit from the first photo show up
- IMG_20121026_123714.jpg (743.99 KiB) Viewed 4248 times
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88041
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: ice tube clock voltage boost converter 0.6v
Missing digits are usually due to soldering problems between the VFD chip and the tube. Post clear photos of the solder side of both boards and we will check them.
If you are still missing parts, contact [email protected] with a link to this thread for replacements.
Check the packaging, sometimes these small parts get lost in the packing materials.also when i was done soldering it i noticed i was missing some parts, the parts i'm missing are:
12mm 3V lithium coin cell
Nylon 4-40 Hex nut X 10
Nylon 4-40 1/2" machine screw X 8
icsp 6 pin header, 0.1"x0.1" spacin
If you are still missing parts, contact [email protected] with a link to this thread for replacements.
-
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- Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:01 am
Re: ice tube clock voltage boost converter 0.6v
here are the photo's
- Attachments
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- IMG_20121030_203941.jpg (936.33 KiB) Viewed 4204 times
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- IMG_20121030_203929.jpg (798.05 KiB) Viewed 4204 times
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- IMG_20121030_203800.jpg (892.69 KiB) Viewed 4204 times
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88041
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: ice tube clock voltage boost converter 0.6v
Soldering on the main board looks pretty good. There are a few joints on the tube board that look either solder-starved, or have not flowed well onto both the pin and the surrounding pad. Read through this guide and touch up any joints that look suspicious.
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Re: ice tube clock voltage boost converter 0.6v
i've touched up the joints and there is still no improvement to be seen
- adafruit_support_bill
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Re: ice tube clock voltage boost converter 0.6v
The missing 4th digit is controlled by the VFD5 signal on pin 17 of the tube. Carefully, locate pin 17 and short it to pin 16 (VFD3). The 4th digit should then display the same thing as the 2nd digit.
http://www.ladyada.net/make/icetube/design.html
http://www.ladyada.net/make/icetube/design.html
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- Posts: 9
- Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:01 am
Re: ice tube clock voltage boost converter 0.6v
so im done with my other projects and now have time for my clock
so ive shorted the clock as you said, but the result is that the wrong one lit up
i took a screenshot of the brd file and highlighted the ones i shorted with purple
my phones pictures are to high res, so ive edited it with paint xD
so ive shorted the clock as you said, but the result is that the wrong one lit up
i took a screenshot of the brd file and highlighted the ones i shorted with purple
my phones pictures are to high res, so ive edited it with paint xD
- Attachments
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- IMAG0035 mini.jpg (375.74 KiB) Viewed 3887 times
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- shorting.png (73.99 KiB) Viewed 3887 times
- adafruit_support_bill
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Re: ice tube clock voltage boost converter 0.6v
Which digit(s) changed when you shorted the pins?ive shorted the clock as you said, but the result is that the wrong one lit up
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- Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:01 am
Re: ice tube clock voltage boost converter 0.6v
on the picture in the post before the tube say -12 8016
the fix was supposed to do it like -12 08 16
the fix was supposed to do it like -12 08 16
- adafruit_support_bill
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- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: ice tube clock voltage boost converter 0.6v
So, before you shorted the pins it read "12__8_16" ?
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- Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:01 am
Re: ice tube clock voltage boost converter 0.6v
when i dont short it it says: -12__8_58
after i short it it says: -12__8058
after i short it it says: -12__8058
- adafruit_support_bill
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- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: ice tube clock voltage boost converter 0.6v
Hmmm. Looks like you found VFD7 instead of VFD5. (These pins are really hard to trace )
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.