DiyLightAnimation
Hardware => Lynx Express => Topic started by: gwright13 on December 05, 2010,
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Hello All,
I have 3 Lynx Express Boards that all work in Test (all channels)
This is my 2nd year, last year I only had 1 board.
Now for my problem
Working with Vixen 2 boards work correctly with no issues
For my test I configured each board as channel 1 - 16 for testing Board 1 and 2 work with no problem and I even tested them as channels 1 -32 no problems
Board 3 under the self test everything works fine, all the lights, light up. I then plugged it into the dongle and the "Data Link" lights up. The problem is that it seems to stop working there, when I run a test using Vixen I get no "blinky blinky"
For testing I used the same cables on all 3 boards and the same vixen sequence
Any ideas on what to test next?
Thanks Gary
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First check and double check the solder joints around the RS-485 next to the RS-45 jacks. Also make sure its in correctly. If all seems fine there then move the cat5 over to the dmx out and see if the lights work. Also make sure if this LE is the only one connected that the blue jumper is on the termination pins.
See if any of that helps
Rick R.
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I re-hit all the solder points tested plugging into DMX out, I get a data light but nothing past that.
I swapped the pic with a tested one, no luck
every test I have done I do the same on a known good board as well
This is really strange
Put the board in test mode "All Good"
Hook up to Vixen, Plug cat5 cable into Data in "Data Light" comes on, Plug into DMX out "Data Light" comes on, - both no results with blinky blinky
I am lost as to what to try next
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Here are some pics
(http://)
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More Pics
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Try swapping the Rs-485 chips.
Going by what you posted the board seems to be working but is not seeing any data
So its either the RJ-45 connectors or the RS-485 is not sending data to the pic
Then again I am just guessing and if that doesn't work than see if RJ is in teamspeak tonight and see if he has time to trouble shoot it
Trouble shooting on the forums is the less effective way of doing it.
Cheers
Rick R.
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thanks for your suggestions
I tried switching all the chips from a known good board then tested both and I have the same result. Chips from bad board test good in known good board and bad board still does not work.
So this tells me that I must have a bad soldering point some where. I have check and checked, but I can not find it.
From a T/S perspective
I know I have good chips - tested in good board
I know I can run the board in test mode, all works
I plug cable into board into DMX in light comes on
I plug cable into board into DMX out data light come on
So the question now becomes knowing all the above,
Where does the data / electricity flow after the RJ45 connection (Cat 5 Cable), my guess is that there is a bad solder point between RJ45 connection and PIC chip. Could anyone list out the check points between these two areas?
When I run a test on the board I get good test on all channels except 15 which is missing triac
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Because I have the same result from both Data in and Data Out this tells me that the problem is after the RJ45 connectors and cable.
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Make sure the solder joints on the remove for wireless jumper is good or this will happen.
On the pic check the third pin from the bottom on the right side. This is stated looking at the front of the pcb where the display is. The data come from the RS485 out of pin #1 and goes to the wireless jumper than jumps the jumper and to that pin.
That is all there is to it so check that path for issues. On the front side of the RS485 it is :
Rj45 pin #1 goes to Rs485 chip pin #6
Rj45 pin #2 goes to RS485 chip pin #7
This is the RS485 next to Dmx in jack.
Let me know what you find.
RJ
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I quadruple checked the solder points - changed the RS485 chips with a working board.
Is there something else after the RS485?
Thanks for your support
-gw
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On the pic check the third pin from the bottom on the right side. This is stated looking at the front of the pcb where the display is.
The data come from the RS485 out of pin #1 and goes to the wireless jumper than jumps the jumper and to that pin.
That is all there is to it so check that path for issues. On the front side of the RS485 it is :
Rj45 pin #1 goes to Rs485 chip pin #6
Rj45 pin #2 goes to RS485 chip pin #7
This is the RS485 next to Dmx in jack.
Let me know what you find.
RJ
This is it. Two traces from the RJ45 jacks to the Rs485 as stated and then from the Pin #1 of the RS485 to one side of the Wireless jumper and then from the other pin of the jumper to pin #17 of the pic.
Now are you sure you have the 1k resistor in the correct possition or that you have not put the data led in backwards. These could be grounding the com signal out. Try removing the 1k resistor right next to the data link light. see if that changes anything.
RJ
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Can you see if I have done it correctly from the pictures?
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No I am afraid the photo is not good enough for me to see if the led was put in backwards.
If I am right removeing one leg of the resistor will fix your issue and then I can tell you what to do about it.
RJ
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I pulled the 1k resistor out and still the same problem,
Should I try moving the data light to opposit position
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I did not read your instructions correctly should I put one leg back in the 1k resistor?
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Currently I removed the 1k resistor - no change
Then I removed the Data LED - no change
Currently I have the data led removed and the 1k resistor
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Well with the info we have removing it I would have bet would have fixed it.
Make sure it is a 1k an put it back.
Check the pins I pointed out in the previous post with a ohm meter to make sure they do make connections.
RJ
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I will give that a try - and let you know how it works out tomorrow
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I have one more piece of information that I failed to tell you
When I run the board through test mode and after it goes through all the channels, it then finishes with Led 3 / DMX (staying on) and Led 4 / Done (staying on)
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Ok that should have been the first thing as it is a biggy. When you said it passed the test ok I was expected that you had all three leds at the end for a successful test.
Ok the issue is in the area of the ZC as you should have a ZC led when it finishes.
Look at the area of the 6 pin H1aa1 chip in the botton left of the pcb between the Transformer and the fuse.
Check for solder joints missing or bad, Chip in backwards, Pins bent, pull it out and look then put it back.
Look at the 2k resistor and the two 15K larger resistors. Make sure all is good with them and they are what they are the correct ones.
That is the ZC circuit and if you have no ZC led after the test this is your problem and why it will not work.
Let me know!
RJ
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Ok, here is what I did, I took this board to a friend and him look it over, and he noticed the H1aa1 chip in backwards! Its now works I have blinky blinky!
As for the tests of the board, I did not think much of the lights being on or off after it runs through the test because I gets different results here, and that has never been the problem.
Its funny that once I explained that to you, you zeroed in on the exact problem, you are awesome. Here I thought that I was going to log in today and tell you something new. Anyways I will work on paying it forward and see if I can help others with the same or similar problem in the future. Even though this was not what I wanted to spend the last 2 nights on, I gained a lot of knowledge, and for that I thank you!
This is an awesome hobby!
Gary
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Glad you got it fixed!
You never know what the one little piece of information is going to be the makes it all so clear. In this case, No ZC signal.
RJ