ICE TUBE CLOCK voltage problem

by **ertert** » Sun Sep 09, 2012 6:47 pm

Everything was going well. Looks good. Got to the point for boost voltage check. Supposed to be around 60V.
I only get 9V.
Help!!!!!!!

by **adafruit_support_bill** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 5:47 am

Let's start with some nice clear photos of the front & back of the board.

by **ertert** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 10:08 am

I will attempt to do that. However is this a "common" issue?
Anything I can check?

by **adafruit_support_bill** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 10:53 am

Make sure you get a beep at startup. If the processor is not running, there will be no voltage boost.

Other than that, it usually comes down to a misplaced component (double check the resistor color codes in the battery-detect part of the circuit). Or a soldering problem in or around the boost curcuit (L1, Q2 etc). If you are comfortable reading schematics, it might help to look at the "High voltage boost supply" section of the design document.

by **ertert** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 12:39 pm

The first test was the "beep". It did.
However I have pluged it in a few times since and it does not beep each time.
Only did it on the first test.

by **adafruit_support_bill** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:45 pm

If it is not beeping on power up, then the processor is not working for some reason. Since you are seeing 9v at the boost output, your unregulated voltage is fine. Re-check the 5v output of the 7805 voltage regulator.

by **ertert** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 4:46 pm

5 volt out measures 4.97.
Trying to upload pics. Don't know how it will go.

by **adafruit_support_bill** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 5:33 pm

Soldering looks OK for the most part. One of the legs of R5 looks like a cold joint. And there are a couple others that have a 'frosted' look that can indicate a cold or disturbed joint. Photos are often deceiving, so look it over and touch up anything that looks suspicious. The last page of the soldering tutorial gives some recommendations on how to repair problem joints. http://www.adafruit.com/blog/2012/09/06/adafruit-guide-to-excellent-soldering-the-adafruit-learning-system/

by **ertert** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 6:37 pm

Touched up a bunch of joints. No change. Since it beeped at the beginning, wouldn't it still at least beep even if the boost circut wasn't working?

by **adafruit_support_bill** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 7:36 pm

Since it beeped at the beginning, wouldn't it still at least beep even if the boost circut wasn't working?

If everything is working, it should always beep on power up. If it does not beep, it means that the processor is not running. Since the processor also supplies the signal that runs the boost converter, no beep means no boost.

So, something added after the beep test is causing the processor not to run. Take a close look at the solder joints added after the beep test. In particular those related to the low-voltage detect circuit (R1, R2, R5 & C10).

by **ertert** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 9:28 pm

Problem solved. I didn't push the chip all the way in, in case I needed to remove it. At one point when I flipped over the board it fell out.
I put it back in, BACKWARDS!
Flipped it around and now it beeps.
55.8 volts

by **adafruit_support_bill** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 4:44 am

Excellent! Good find.

ICE TUBE CLOCK voltage problem

ICE TUBE CLOCK voltage problem

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