I actually stopped building these because of that problem last fall/winter, and I didn't NEED them for last years display. I went back thru the posts recently, and since I was ordering some parts from Mouser anyway, got a "511-L7805ABV" to replace the one that was included with the coop back then. Was that the right part to get, and was it a simple part substitution or did I need to do something else as well?
Replace the parts with those that you send. Both boards now have both power LEDs lit when plugged in. Bad news is that when I run the test, i get the LED display to light up all the way to the "888" then "tst", but none of the channel light LEDs come on. This is true for both boards. So I think I still have something not quite right. Any thoughts?
Edit - I am pretty sure, but not 100% positive the one that was intermittently working before was able to run the test fine when working. So I don't think I have the LEDs in backwards or anything like that.
It's also possible that the opto-isolators are in backwards. Can you post a high res picture of the front and back of your boards?
Some of the folks here are very good at catching things like solder bridges and even bent pins...
RM
After some other projects this summer and fall, I am finally getting back to this now that it is decorating time (and I remembered it wasn't working).
I checked the two legs of the LEDs with the voltmeter, and when they should be coming on with the test function, I measure a voltage of 1.62 V. I did check all of the LEDs with a button battery, and they all seem to be in the correct orientation, so I am pretty sure that is not the problem.
I also put a voltmeter on the legs of the two regulators. The one has 8V on one leg and 5 V on the other. The other has 5V and 2.42 V.
Any thoughts on what could be wrong? I have two boards with the same problem and are measuring the same voltage within 0.02 V.
Jon
I am in the chat room from the link at the top, but no one is in there. Is teamspeak something else?