DiyLightAnimation
Hardware => Lynx Express => Topic started by: Tigman009 on June 13, 2009,
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I am really new to this so be nice. I just finished my first Dongle and Lynx Express. The dongle works just fine but for some reason when I applied power to the express on the LH power input I get nothing. No lights at all. I took my volt meter and tested the two wires going into the PCB and found 120 v on the terminal ends. I also swapped the power leads just in case I had them backwards but still nothing. I checked the fuse with the OHM meter and it is good too. Where do i start? Thanks in advance
Mike
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just a note...I tried power on the RH side too. Still nothing
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Hi Tigman009
First thing I would suggest is to take pictures of both sides of the board and post it.
If you apply power to the LH power it should power up the board and the power indicator LEDs. 3.3v and 5v
I would guess its either some solder problems and or parts in wrong.
Rick R.
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You might want to check the orientation of the bridge rectifier (top left corner of the board).
Greg
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Made any headway?
How can I help?
RJ
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I can't seem to upload any pictures.
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Here is another try(http://)
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#2(http://)
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#3(http://)
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#4(http://)
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update. If I touch the big red heat sink I get shocked
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you (16) Optocouplers are upside down
No way of telling if the green LEDs are in the correct way and are you use the voltage regulars are in their correct spot and facing the right way? The regulars and triacs look the same but are different.
Maybe in the morning my eyes can work slight better
Rick R.
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update. If I touch the big red heat sink I get shocked
That is NOT good.
I just checked my LE and I don't get shocked by it.
If you can the 2 green power leds, flip them around and see if they light up.
Look across the triacs connected to the heat sink and see if they are ALL exactly the same
Rick R.
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I turned the 16 optocouplers around and now I get shocked when I touch the big red heat sink. That didn't happen before I reversed them. I do believe I installed the LED's correctly as the longer wire was inserted in the + side. Thanks for the help though
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Okay, stupid question time (normal for me though) :o
Looks like in one of the photos you have the board sitting on an antistatic bag. You're not powering the board up sitting on the bag are you?
Greg
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That is NOT good.
I just checked my LE and I don't get shocked by it.
(HeeHaw)
"Hey Doc, it hurts when I do this!" "Well don't do that!"
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Need to double check the orientation of the transformer. Can't tell based on pics.
Rick we need to come up with a different procedure for soldering the triacs. The way it is now you simply end up with a lot of cold solder joints on the center posts as you see here. This is because it's hard to reach temperature atfer the heatsink is installed. Perhaps run the screws only to line up triacs and tac one leg only the remove the heatsink finish soldering and then re-install the heatsink. What do you think?
Leon
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On several of the TRIACS, it appears that there is little to no solder at all on the middle leg. This probably relates back to the thought about trying to solder the triac while the heat sink is attached. I'd suggest removing the heat sink, touching up the solder joints on the triacs . Test the board without the heat sink attached. If all is well, clean up the back of the board by nipping all of the legs (all components) then reattaching the heat sink.
WHen running with power, recommend that you have the LE sitting on a non-conductive material.
Larry
(edit)... after re-reading the posts here and looking closer at the pics of the back of the board, I found/see some very shiny spots on the board surface between the big ground plane and the pins for the output. Check the board closely for any dollups of solder that should not be.
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The LE is capable of LOTS of current. As such it has some traces that are quite large. The one attached to the middle leg of each triac is one of these. Just removing the heatsink may not be enough to allow a proper solder joint. You may want to increase the temp. on the soldering station if you have one to accomplish this. If you don't have a soldering station, now might be a good time to consider getting one.
Leon
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On the last (4th) pic there's some yellowish haze on the board in the lower right quadrant. Did something happen to cause this?
Did you check the orientation of the transformer, triacs and the voltage regulators?
Leon
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tigman
Are you still getting shocked from the heat sink???
Wallace
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No, I didn't plug it it with the LE on the static bag. I will have to re-solder it sometime this weekend as work is crazy. Thanks for all of the tips. I will try and include some better pictures now that I have figured that out.
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more pics...hope this helps(http://)
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As suggested you need to check each of the triacs bolted to the heatsink and use a mag glass to verify the correct number. I worry you have got a regulator mixed up with the triacs.
Verify this first and then get yourself setup for teamspeak if you are not already.
Let me know I will try to set a time to meet you for some troubleshooting.
RJ
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That is why I love this place. I do have a regulator mixed with the triacs. I will fix and let you know
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Great job RJ.
Tigman009,
Since both leds for the voltage regulators are out, is it possible that you've got the other voltage regulator also in the wrong spot?
Just checkin.
Additionally, I know this is not causing your "no power" issue but just wanted to be clear from previous post. Looks like center posts on 1,2,3,4 and 12 triacs need to be checked/ re-soldered. Also noticed that you may have a solder bridge on the pic between pins 22 and 23. See pic.
Leon
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Yes, I do not think we need the heatsinks removed but everyone should not be afriad to turn their irons up really high to solder the triacs middle leg. I do it last and crank my iron from the normal 330 - 340 C to 390 C to do these. put the iron on the side of the power trace to isolate the lead and solder it.
Maybe we could add this info to the manual.
I also found out that a couple of people had one too many triacs and no 7805 regulator in the kit so when your building you need to read each part and not assume the last part has to be correct. check you parts like the manual says "before you start assembly"
If you do not have the right count you should catch this at the inventory before you start and let the coop manager know so he can fix it.
RJ
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Yes, I do not think we need the heatsinks removed but everyone should not be afriad to turn their irons up really high to solder the triacs middle leg. I do it last and crank my iron from the normal 330 - 340 C to 390 C to do these. put the iron on the side of the power trace to isolate the lead and solder it.
Maybe we could add this info to the manual.
RJ
Done
Info was added to the manual see the link below to jump right to it
http://diylightanimation.com/wiki/index.php?title=Manual_Express#Step_6_.7BTriacs.2C_Heatsink.2C_Terminals.7D
Rick R.
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Yes, I do not think we need the heatsinks removed but everyone should not be afriad to turn their irons up really high to solder the triacs middle leg. I do it last and crank my iron from the normal 330 - 340 C to 390 C to do these. put the iron on the side of the power trace to isolate the lead and solder it.
Maybe we could add this info to the manual.
RJ
Done
Info was added to the manual see the link below to jump right to it
http://diylightanimation.com/wiki/index.php?title=Manual_Express#Step_6_.7BTriacs.2C_Heatsink.2C_Terminals.7D
Rick R.
Very nice Rick quick as always.
Bill
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Thanks for all of the input. Do to my working schedule I will not be able to fix this until Sunday night. I will keep you posted.
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Once I re-located the two triacs to where they were supposed to be in the first place, I now have power. I can't thank RJ and the rest of the group enough. In case you can't see it, I am smiling from ear to ear. Thanks again
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Once I re-located the two triacs to where they were supposed to be in the first place, I now have power. I can't thank RJ and the rest of the group enough. In case you can't see it, I am smiling from ear to ear. Thanks again
That is great news
Congrats and have fun
Rick R.
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Awesome
Bill
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Welcome to the club! I'm afraid it's terminal now. :)
Congradulations Tigman009
Leon
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Awesome!
RJ