Ice Tube Clock Beeps (A LOT!) But Won't Light

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symulation
 
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Ice Tube Clock Beeps (A LOT!) But Won't Light

Post by symulation »

I can't seem to get the clock to work. All the tests during assembly were just fine. Once the tube went in though everything went a little off.

Initially the tube would light up but it was as if the clock kept resetting itself. I checked the soldering and did some touch ups but ever since then all it will do is beep in groups of three (low medium high) a lot. Sometimes it does it for no apparent reason. Sometimes it does it when I press the buttons. Sometimes when I press buttons it starts a cycle of beeping. Playing with the alarm switch seems to stop the cycle, but not always. Sometimes I get a long beep when I plug it in sometimes I get nothing. Sometimes there is a click sound when I push a button and sometimes not. Bridging the buttons on the back of the board will sometimes produce a succession of clicks and sometimes not.

Here's the rundown of tests.

VFD Chip Inserted:

IC3
Pin 1 (Closest to edge): 8.79v
Pin 2: 0.0v
Pin 3: 4.98v

Striped end of D3: 10.9v - 11.1v

R3 end closest to Q3: 3.38v

Q3
Pin 1 (Closest to edge): 3.38v
Pin 2: 0.0v
Pin 3: 4.64v

Q2
Bridged side: 8.79v

The pins to the tube are all millivolt values with the exception of pin #2 in this diagram (http://imgur.com/NdcNL) which is 2.24v.

Any help would be appreciated.
Attachments
IceTubeBottom.jpg
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IceTubeTop.jpg
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adafruit_support_bill
 
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Re: Ice Tube Clock Beeps (A LOT!) But Won't Light

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

Sounds like the processor is running. But probably one or more intermittent connections somewhere. I can't see much detail in the processor area due to the glare of the flash. Try taking the photos near a window (or even outside) in daylight for better light.

symulation
 
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2012 1:34 am

Re: Ice Tube Clock Beeps (A LOT!) But Won't Light

Post by symulation »

Will do!

symulation
 
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2012 1:34 am

Re: Ice Tube Clock Beeps (A LOT!) But Won't Light

Post by symulation »

Hopefully these pics are better.
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2012-10-13-16.42.17.jpg (128.37 KiB) Viewed 1526 times
2012-10-13-16.41.28.jpg
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adafruit_support_bill
 
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Re: Ice Tube Clock Beeps (A LOT!) But Won't Light

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

Looks like a few cold joints and several that appear as if they haven't flowed well onto the solder pad. Take a look at this page for examples of common soldering problems and how to fix them.

symulation
 
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2012 1:34 am

Re: Ice Tube Clock Beeps (A LOT!) But Won't Light

Post by symulation »

Ok. I'll try again.

symulation
 
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2012 1:34 am

Re: Ice Tube Clock Beeps (A LOT!) But Won't Light

Post by symulation »

Fixed.

You were right, but it wasn't any of the joints that looked bad. Rather, it was some combination of the joints for R1, R2, and R5. They looked pretty good but that's only because I trimmed them down before inspecting them (Future note to self: check joints---from the side---before trimming them). On the possible plus side, if anyone else has a clock that is misbehaving like this it could very well be one of these joints.

Thank you for your help.
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2012-10-17-23.48.07.jpg
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