My WB Build Diary

[cornz]

Hi, this is a diary of my WB. Its the most complex thing i've ever built, its the first SMD device i've ever built.
So, would someone mind just having a glance at the image to check i havent made any glaring errors. I do know i have to clean the board btw.
No battery yet as im undecided as to which one to get. (Recomendations?)
Other than the USB test which mine seems to have passed, are there any other tests i can do at this stage?
Power board next so..Watch this space.
Cornz.

EDIT:
See the big yellow cap??? Spotted the error??
No.Neither did i till i attached a battery. The cap went up like a small bomb....Sparks and a burnt finger as i rapidly yanked the power wires off the battery....
Cant quite grasp the "____" meaning +, its always meant "-" to me.

[cornz]

Power Supply.
Here we are at the stage where I'm about to test the 3.3 volt part of the circuit.
The electrolytic caps have been the most difficult parts to solder and i wonder if a pair of hot tweezers would be the ideal solution.
Ive also fitted the 15uh inductor.



I'd advise not fitting the switch at this point and instead jumper it out, the switch is plastic and its tricky to solder around it even with a rework station without at least risking damaging the switch.

I'd also advise double checking polarity of the caps 'cause the one soldered right next to the switch is the wrong way round!!!!!
Corrected that issue.

[cornz]

Input 4.04v DC



Seems the 3.3v part of the circuit works..

[cornz]

And so does the 5v circuit.
Im enjoying this...



Enough for today...Its late.

[cornz]

OK, the 12v section has just caused me a bit of concern.
When i applied power, i could hear a hissing noise. Also, the voltage measured accross the 12v test points was 4, 5, 6, 5, 6 volts, it rose, steadily, like a cap charging but didnt get above 6 volts, also the hissing was becoming louder (it was barely a whisper but could be heard). So, power down. Couldn't see anything wrong so gave it another 20 seconds with the rework station. Seems to have fixed it. Probably a solder bridge..I would have been buggered without the Aoyue..
The other thing i have learnt is that its easier to do one component at a time with my present set up.
My tweezers should be here next week..

[cornz]

Hmm, same problem on the 28v...Wrong voltage and hissing noise....
So, reworked components..No difference...Gave inductor (l3) a proper roasting..
Fixed!!! Must be something i'm doing wrong..Practice will assist. I suspect i'm not using enough solder paste if i'm honest.
My voltage is a little low but nothing major so im not to concerned..Might just check a few components. The 49.9k res got flipped over when the paste flowed. I should have left it but i didnt...I reworked it. Could have damaged it..Pics soon.

That ends the power supply with the exception of of C83 and R1 & R2 and i dont have a battery yet....
Pics soon.

C83 fitted as 0.1uF 50v cer 1206

[cornz]

ARSE_BURGER!!!

Ive just come to start the programming procedure, plugged in my USBTiny programmer but i must have set the jumper wrong as the instant i plugged it in, IC1 disapeared in a cloud of smoke..


ARSE ARSE ARSE........

[cornz]

Well, Ive sourced some replacements 3.3 regulators (T.I samples) and my sxa389bz (Q2 and Q3) have arrived. Had visions of project coming to an abrupt end but with the exception of the VCOs and antennas then i have sourced every component. Ebay has given me 2 of the more difficult parts. For the VCOs'Ive found a UK dealer but price of parts has doubled, from America they want $103 for shipping and handling. Spares anyone???

[cornz]

Bloody hell, the 3.3v regulators have arrived. 4 days from requesting to arriving in the UK by special courier from the USA.
4 days!!!! Normal 1st class UK snail mail takes that!!!!!!
So, back on track..
Also ordered one of these nano oscilloscopes from fleabay...Looks an ideal device for the limited work i need it to do...
Spare VCO's anyone???

[cornz]

Programming problem:
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=19856


Back on track although i think it will be short lived as now i have to start compiling code and other things that i know nothing about.

[TheFallen]

Cornz, if you're in the UK just buy the VCOs/Amps from Minicircuits direct. I got: ROS-1300+, ROS-1700W+, ROS-2500+, ROS-2700-1819+ and 4 GALI-84+. It cost me £140 including UPS delivery. Although I think I had to pay for some customs stuff.

I had dreadful problems with the +6V supply I eventually re-ordered the regulators and it all worked out fine. I'm now having problems with the USB serial coms and the PLL something to debug on a rainy day.

[cornz]

Yeah, they are bloody expensive....
I have in-law relatives out there, going to try and get them sent there....
Hopefully they can fetch them back for me....
Had a bit of a break, had a course to do and fit the gps into my ice tube clock...
However, soon get it out for a week or two, need to do the programming bit and i hit a hurdle im not quite sure how to overcome...

[cornz]

Well, i've just ordered the VCOs and also the VCOs for wavebubble 2010.
Might as well get them all in one go....
$150 dollars for the lot, which is expensive but such is the price of such specialised components...

[losthorizonmba]

Congrats on your build. Can you refresh the pix? The above links are dead. Thanks