Ice Tube Clock Problem

[Baxy]

Hi everyone !

I just just finish to solder all the component but I have a problem.

When it says :
"Now it is time to test the boost converter.

Clear off the desk and make sure there are no stray wires hanging around. Plug in the board and be careful not to touch the right hand side of the PCB. If you need to hold the PCB, hold it by the left hand side near the DC jack. This way you will not risk touching the boost converter. Use a nonconducive vise if necessary.

Set up your multimeter to measure around 60VDC. Touch the black (negative) lead to the ground tab of the 7805 and the red (positive) lead to the striped end of the diode. You should measure around 60VDC. It may be as low as 40V but not lower. It should not be higher than 70V.

If the voltage is higher than 75V, check the wall-power supply. You may need to use one that is lower voltage and/or current rating. Do not continue if the voltage is higher than 75VDC"

I have a voltage of only 9.7VDC what did I do wrong ? Why the voltage is so low ?

Otherwise everything works the tube lights but very low.

I hope somone can help me and sorry form my english I am from switzerland.

[adafruit_support_bill]

Post some photographs of the front and back of the board and we will look for any assembly problems.

[Baxy]

Ho sure here you are.

http://img51.imageshack.us/i/06042011386.jpg/

http://img198.imageshack.us/i/06042011387.jpg/

[adafruit_support_bill]

The boost converter test is supposed to happen before you install the Q3 or VFD controller chip. Do you get the same reading without the chip installed?

A few other things to check:
What is the part number on Q3. (This has changed in recent kits, but you might have an older one if it was from a European supplier)
Double-check all the resistor values (The photo is too dark to see the colors, and we can't see the bands on R5 at all.)

[Baxy]

So I cheked all the resistor and they are at the right palace. I recheked the value without the microcontroller and it's about 8VDC and on the Q3 it's written "TPO G10KL F1024AC"

[Baxy]

Ho... sorry I misread your message.

Yes I had the same reading before I soldered the Q3 and the chip.

[adafruit_support_bill]

OK, you have the correct Q3. We have had a few clocks with this same problem reported. We have one of them back in the lab for analysis.

You might want to watch this thread for updates:http://forums.adafruit.com/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=20102

[adafruit]

this is a different problem than that thread. you never get the boost converter working at all (as opposed to failing) so dont use that as a guide

do you get a beep out of the clock?

remove the VFD chip you were not supposed to place that until it was tested. do not keep soldering in more parts

[Baxy]

Yes heard a beep when I plug in the power.

[adafruit]

remove the VFD chip, do you still hear a beep when you plug it in?

[Baxy]

Yes I hear the beep without the VFD chip.

[adafruit]

do you see a square wave going into the 4-pin FET

[Baxy]

When you say a square wave you mean that http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_wave ? Because I don't know how to know if it is without an oscilloscope (and I don't have one and I don't know how to use it)I just have a multimetre and it's this one http://www.iwaco.de/bild/voltcraft-vc130-dmm-13-555234.jpg.
And the "4-pin FET" is the Q2 N-Channel HEXFET (if it is I pay attention to pace the bridge pin at the right like is shown) ?

I think it will be better to start with a kit more simple but when I saw the picture I think it's the best looking clock I've ever seen.

[adafruit]

we can get it working, OK that meter doesnt have a frequency reading eh? can you measure the DC VOLTAGE on the 10K resistor, the one that is sticking up like U ?

[Baxy]

No it doesn't it's a basic meter. So the voltage is 0.58V on the output (the pin who is near the 5 of R5 on the PCB. I think it's the output but I'm not sure) the other pin is 0V. Is it normal I tink it's a bit weird