Display issue...

[RJ]

Ok that is normal. Can you get an meter and check that you have voltage to the pic chip "24FJ16GA002"  It is on the two right top pins on the ship looking at the board normal. Where the test is correct. So the top pin should have +3.3 volts and the second pin directly below it is the grd so put your meter carefully across this and make sure you have the voltage.

the offical pin numbers are #28 and #27 of the chip.

RJ

[shgshgshgshg]

Sorry it took me so long, I've been really busy recently.
 I hooked up a voltmeter to the pic (I can confirm the serial number is correct as well) and did receive 3.3 volts of DC on the top two pins on the right hand side.

[shgshgshgshg]

We found the Data sheet from mouser for the led displays and by using the volt meter to test we concluded that they are not receiving power.
We are getting about 9 volts across the the two leads on the far right side of the display driver.
I don't know if any of this is helpful, but I figured the more info I could send your way the better...

[RJ]

We found the Data sheet from mouser for the led displays and by using the volt meter to test we concluded that they are not receiving power.
We are getting about 9 volts across the the two leads on the far right side of the display driver.
I don't know if any of this is helpful, but I figured the more info I could send your way the better...

Can you explain where you are reading 9 volts. There should be no 9 volts anywhere but on the raw output of the rectifer in the power supply.

RJ

[shgshgshgshg]

I'm sorry I was reading it wrong that should be 5 not 9. And it is the display driver chip SAA1064...

[combustionmark]

Sounds like the pic chip is not returning from reset. Try reading the voltage on pin 1. This should read 3.3V to ground pin 27. Also take a look at pin 20, This is the core voltage, This should be 2.5V to ground. Hope you figure it out soon.

[shgshgshgshg]

Sounds like the pic chip is not returning from reset. Try reading the voltage on pin 1. This should read 3.3V to ground pin 27. Also take a look at pin 20, This is the core voltage, This should be 2.5V to ground. Hope you figure it out soon.

Yes, that is exactly what I got, 3.3V between 1 and 27 and 2.5V between 1 and 20.  What sort of voltage should be coming in and out of the display driver. I think the issue might be with that chip (I had a lot of trouble getting it in place), but in all honestly I know almost nothing about electronics... 

Also I'm going to be building another one of these that way if I can get one working I can interchange chips to see what is working and what is not...

[shgshgshgshg]

After more testing the top right pin and the bottom left pin of the middle led is getting voltage. The corresponding pins of the other two led's are not getting voltage.
The one is receiving about 2V maybe a little more...
Hope this helps.

[RJ]

I think your pic may need to be reflashed. The voltage one and not the other display is ok as they are multiplexed so at any time one is powered and the the other two are powered when they are initilized. If the pic is not programmed then this would be normal.

Can't be positive but pretty sure at this point.

RJ

[shgshgshgshg]

ok I will send my pic back to be reprogrammed, and we will go from there...
Thanks a lot. 
~Stephen G.

[shgshgshgshg]

Ok, I sent my Pic to be reprogrammed, It was re-flashed and then testing both in test mode and connected to Xlights. The pic was then shipped back to me and it is not working on my Express.   
I'm hoping we can figure out this issue...

[caretaker]

Check the simplest things first:

• Bad solder joints
• Bent pins on IC's
• Bent Pins on LED decimals
• bad 2700pf cap

If all those check out ok then take some real good close up pictures of the front and back of your express and post them and we can go from there.

[shgshgshgshg]

ok, i will upload some close pictures a little later tonight...
Until then, I have checked the pins and the cap, also I don't see any bad solders...

[shgshgshgshg]

Actually here they are. XD

[urthegman]

A picture or two of the back of the board would be helpful as well.