madbeanpedals::forum

Projects => Tech Help - Projects Page => Topic started by: Liustucru on September 13, 2012, 06:56:03 PM

Title: Cave Dweller only noise repeats
Post by: Liustucru on September 13, 2012, 06:56:03 PM
Hello,
I've been lucky since now because I always managed to debug my non working board alone.
A friend came on tuesday to build its Cave Dweller.

I ordered all components as usual from Banzai and Mouser except for the PT2399 IC which is from eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160635992207&ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:FR:3160)

We triple checked all components.
It was very tricky to make the Panasonic 1µF cap fit.
I ordered 1/4W resistors so they are all standing.
The board will be boxed up in a 1590B so I needn't bother saving space.

He soldered all components and we tested the board with my test rig.
Here's the problem:
- totally clean signal with echo and dwell pots all the way down
- whatever the position of time pot, we only hear noise repeats when turning either echo or dwell pots

We tried several PT2399 (all coming from the same eBay supplier)
We socketed C3 to try different values

No change !!!

I took some photos of the board:

(http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/6321/dsf2188.jpg)

(http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/9799/dsf2187.jpg)

(http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/8720/dsf2182.jpg)

(http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/8782/dsf2181.jpg)

I included an audio probe to my test rig but never used it yet. Honnestly I don't know where to probe.

Any help will be very welcome.

THANK YOU
Title: Re: Cave Dweller only noise repeats
Post by: jkokura on September 13, 2012, 07:06:05 PM
When you say noise repeats, do you mean that it's not repeating your guitar signal, or that it's noiser than you expected it to be?

This delay's repeats are a little noisy by nature...

Maybe some audio clips would help us out some.

Jacob
Title: Re: Cave Dweller only noise repeats
Post by: Liustucru on September 13, 2012, 07:18:35 PM
I know the delay's repeats can be noisy but there is only noise.
I cannot record some audio clips right now but I will try later.

Can it come from bad PT2399s ?
I ordered 10 pieces from eBay and all of them give the same result.
I also tested different 78L05 regulators.

Any idea ?
Title: Re: Cave Dweller only noise repeats
Post by: Liustucru on September 14, 2012, 07:23:36 AM
Has anybody already experienced only noise (not noisy) repeats with bad PT2399s ?
Title: Re: Cave Dweller only noise repeats
Post by: gtr2 on September 14, 2012, 11:49:54 AM
It's most likely not your PT2399's.  If you have another circuit handy that uses the PT2399 you could always double check.

I'd reflow all your solder joints.  A couple of them look suspect of being cold joints.  Take out the pt2399 and transistor first  :)

Also what is you voltage on pin 1?

Josh



Title: Re: Cave Dweller only noise repeats
Post by: midwayfair on September 14, 2012, 11:51:12 AM
Quote from: Liustucru on September 14, 2012, 07:23:36 AM
Has anybody already experienced only noise (not noisy) repeats with bad PT2399s ?

IME, this came from some pins not making proper contact. This is a problem with larger sockets I've found.
Title: Re: Cave Dweller only noise repeats
Post by: Liustucru on September 15, 2012, 10:31:30 AM
Hello,
I made a video with my phone.
I hope it will help to debug this Cave Dweller: http://youtu.be/iHJoCcVhnP0

I reflowed or re-soldered all solder joints (without the ICs of course).
I also measured the voltages on the PT2399 pins:
1: 5.03          16: 2.48
2: 2.50          15: 2.51         
3: 0              14: 2.51
4: 0              13: 2.51
5: 1.17          12: 2.51
6: 2.48          11: 2.51
7: 2.74          10: 1.42
8: 3.07          9: 2.51

Quote from: gtr2 on September 14, 2012, 11:49:54 AM
It's most likely not your PT2399's.  If you have another circuit handy that uses the PT2399 you could always double check.

This is my first delay  :-[

Thank you for your help !!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Cave Dweller only noise repeats
Post by: alanp on September 15, 2012, 05:09:00 PM
I was having a similar problem with my Dub edition CD.

Problem turned out to be a section of the groundplane being cut off from ground due to a break in a track. Coax a solder bridge over it, and bobs yer uncle.
Title: Re: Cave Dweller only noise repeats
Post by: Liustucru on September 16, 2012, 08:21:49 AM
Quote from: alanp on September 15, 2012, 05:09:00 PM
I was having a similar problem with my Dub edition CD.

Problem turned out to be a section of the groundplane being cut off from ground due to a break in a track. Coax a solder bridge over it, and bobs yer uncle.

Thank you for the info.
But it may be harder to trace with a fabbed board  ???
Title: Re: Cave Dweller only noise repeats
Post by: Liustucru on September 17, 2012, 07:33:13 AM
Any idea where the problem may come from ?

Thank you.

Quote from: Liustucru on September 15, 2012, 10:31:30 AM
Hello,
I made a video with my phone.
I hope it will help to debug this Cave Dweller: http://youtu.be/iHJoCcVhnP0

I reflowed or re-soldered all solder joints (without the ICs of course).
I also measured the voltages on the PT2399 pins:
1: 5.03          16: 2.48
2: 2.50          15: 2.51         
3: 0              14: 2.51
4: 0              13: 2.51
5: 1.17          12: 2.51
6: 2.48          11: 2.51
7: 2.74          10: 1.42
8: 3.07          9: 2.51

Quote from: gtr2 on September 14, 2012, 11:49:54 AM
It's most likely not your PT2399's.  If you have another circuit handy that uses the PT2399 you could always double check.

This is my first delay  :-[

Thank you for your help !!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Cave Dweller only noise repeats
Post by: gtr2 on September 17, 2012, 11:31:25 AM
7 and 8 look too high and 10 should be around 2.5V
Title: Re: Cave Dweller only noise repeats
Post by: Liustucru on September 17, 2012, 12:33:36 PM
Quote from: gtr2 on September 17, 2012, 11:31:25 AM
7 and 8 look too high and 10 should be around 2.5V

Can you tell me which components to check or replace ?
I've checked all resistors with my DMM before soldering but I may have made a mistake.
I've also checked all caps' labels and I never had any issue with panasonic caps.

THANK YOU
Title: Re: Cave Dweller only noise repeats
Post by: gtr2 on September 18, 2012, 12:12:25 PM
Well..I wasn't thinking... 7 and 8's voltage would be dependent on the delay time pot setting...

Use your audio probe and check pins 12, 14, 15 tell me what you find at each pin.  Set the dwell and echo at min settings.

Josh
Title: Re: Cave Dweller only noise repeats
Post by: Liustucru on September 18, 2012, 06:49:34 PM
Quote from: gtr2 on September 18, 2012, 12:12:25 PM
Well..I wasn't thinking... 7 and 8's voltage would be dependent on the delay time pot setting...

Use your audio probe and check pins 12, 14, 15 tell me what you find at each pin.  Set the dwell and echo at min settings.

Josh

Hello Josh !
here is the new voltage reading with the dwell and echo pots at min settings :
1: 5.02                 16: 2.50
2: 2.50                 15: 2.50         
3: 0                     14: 2.50
4: 0                     13: 2.51
5: 2.37                 12: 2.51
6: 2.50                 11: 2.50
7: 2.85-3.35          10: 1.35-1.50
8: 3.30-3.40          9: 2.50

where there are 2 values, it means its oscillates between the 2 values.

With the audio probe, here's what I hear (same pot settings):
pin 14 & 15 : clean signal with some background noise
pin 12 : noise with some background clean signal

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP !!!
Title: Re: Cave Dweller only noise repeats
Post by: gtr2 on September 18, 2012, 07:10:56 PM
Pin 12 should have the delayed signal.  14 and 15 seem ok

Check the continuity between ground and Pin 3 and also ground and pin 4.

It's almost like the PT2399's are locking up
Title: Re: Cave Dweller only noise repeats
Post by: Liustucru on September 18, 2012, 07:20:54 PM
Quote from: gtr2 on September 18, 2012, 07:10:56 PM
Pin 12 should have the delayed signal.  14 and 15 seem ok

Since I only hear noise repeats on the output, this is consistent with what I hear from pin 12 too.

Quote from: gtr2 on September 18, 2012, 07:10:56 PM
Check the continuity between ground and Pin 3 and also ground and pin 4.

It's almost like the PT2399's are locking up

Continuity is OK with both pin 3 & 4.