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Projects => Tech Help - Etcher's Paradise => Topic started by: pgodfrin on July 10, 2020, 11:06:50 PM

Title: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: pgodfrin on July 10, 2020, 11:06:50 PM
Greeetings! I etched this one and put it all together, and it works. Except all I get is one echo. And it's modulating without any modulation circuit wired in...
any advice, please?
...puzzled
pg
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: jimilee on July 10, 2020, 11:57:05 PM
I don't know about the modulation but, the PT2399 is bad about locking up in that circuit no matter who designs it. I've had 3 different ones. The result is one echo. Put jumper across pins 3 and 4 of the 2399.


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Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: madbean on July 11, 2020, 01:14:06 AM
On the OG circuit, the delay pot goes to digital ground of the PT2399. This is supposed to be connected to analog ground of the PT2399 internally via a 10R resistor. But, often people run into it just not working that way. So, jumpering the two pins together usually fixes the problem.

Now, that may have nothing to do with your repeat problem. That could be a dodgy pot or something wrong in the circuitry of the feedback path such as a short to ground, bad solder joint etc.

As far as modulation the first suggestion may fix that. It's also possible to get a delay to modulate on its own by simply handling the circuit board, believe it or not. I've seen this a few times with analog delays. If you shake it around a bit the delay pot wiggles a bit and causes the repeats to change pitch slightly like you hear in modulation.
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: pgodfrin on July 11, 2020, 02:04:09 PM
Wow - it's awesome to hear from folks who are so knowledgeable. I basically just follow the instructions and hope it works, lol. I'll give it a try. And yes, the modulation seems to happen when moving the board. I didnt think that was possible, but there ya go!
pg
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: pgodfrin on July 11, 2020, 10:02:52 PM
OK, jumped 3 & 4, no joy...
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: jimilee on July 11, 2020, 10:21:21 PM
Quote from: pgodfrin on July 11, 2020, 10:02:52 PM
OK, jumped 3 & 4, no joy...
What happens if you remove the power supply and remove the chip, wait a minute and reverse the process?


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Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: pgodfrin on July 12, 2020, 03:44:53 PM
I think I've done that when replacing the chip (I tried two different chips). But I'll give it a whirl. Is this to let the caps discharge?
pg
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: jimilee on July 12, 2020, 05:20:32 PM
Quote from: pgodfrin on July 12, 2020, 03:44:53 PM
I think I've done that when replacing the chip (I tried two different chips). But I'll give it a whirl. Is this to let the caps discharge?
pg
It's to unlock the the 2399.


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Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: pgodfrin on July 12, 2020, 11:25:36 PM
well, did that no joy. Seems like the feedback pot has NO effect.
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: madbean on July 13, 2020, 01:15:43 AM
Post pics and voltages on the PT2399, please.
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: pgodfrin on July 13, 2020, 06:10:36 PM
OK, will do. First let me double check ALL the values.What should the voltages be?
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: pgodfrin on July 18, 2020, 01:41:49 PM
OK, I realized that the schematic called for a yellow led, I used a red one. Can't see why that would make a difference, but it did. Now I get about 3 or 4 repeats, but at a very low volume. Still working it...
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: pgodfrin on July 18, 2020, 01:42:36 PM
Oh yeah I had jumped the wrong pins as well, maybe that's really what did the trick...
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: jimilee on July 18, 2020, 02:50:24 PM
Quote from: pgodfrin on July 18, 2020, 01:41:49 PM
OK, I realized that the schematic called for a yellow led, I used a red one. Can't see why that would make a difference, but it did. Now I get about 3 or 4 repeats, but at a very low volume. Still working it...
The LED is to tone down the distortion on the repeats that sometimes result in PT2399 delays. The bestthing you can do is compare your etch to the template to ensure that there are no anomalies. I take pictures of my etched board before I start building just for this reason. Did you see the note about D2 in the build DOC? Post close up pictures of both sides along with voltages if you need more help. We're happy to help out.
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: pgodfrin on July 18, 2020, 03:46:51 PM
Roger that, I'll check out those notes. If I show a pic of the underside, I'll be extremely embarrassed, it's an awful mess...
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: Willybomb on July 19, 2020, 10:10:06 AM
I'm just following this because I had a run of one repeat PT based delays, usually the smaller ones.
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: pgodfrin on August 01, 2020, 04:12:09 PM
I've taken a break on the sea urchin as I was close to finishing another board, which of course if giving me problems. Grrrrrrrrr
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: pgodfrin on April 21, 2021, 02:47:35 AM
Howdy folks,
Got back to the urchin, it works! It works too much! With the feedback pot turned all the way counter clockwise, now I get lot's of repeats, too many!
Any help is appreciated..
thanks
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: jimilee on April 21, 2021, 12:54:07 PM
You mean it oscillates?


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Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: pgodfrin on April 21, 2021, 05:05:04 PM
Well not exactly. When the feedback knob is fully counter clockwise, I get like 10-15 repeats. If I turn it up, it self oscillates at about 1/3rd of the way up...
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: jimilee on April 21, 2021, 05:06:17 PM
Have you checked you resistor values yet?


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Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: pgodfrin on April 21, 2021, 09:39:39 PM
good point. I'll get back to you
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: madbean on April 22, 2021, 12:11:15 AM
Quote from: pgodfrin on April 21, 2021, 05:05:04 PM
Well not exactly. When the feedback knob is fully counter clockwise, I get like 10-15 repeats. If I turn it up, it self oscillates at about 1/3rd of the way up...

You should only have one repeat full CCW. Something has gone wrong! Possibly lug1 of your Feedback pot is not properly connecting to ground.
The resistor that controls the self-oscillation point is R14 (5k1) and can easily be bumped up to 12k.
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: pgodfrin on April 22, 2021, 12:14:26 PM
OK - that's good advice too. The resistors check out. I'll look at the ground on that pot too.
thank you!
Title: Re: Sea Urchin feedback not working...
Post by: pgodfrin on April 24, 2021, 02:48:35 PM
Thanks for the help folks. In the end, the B50K pot was bad. Replaced that and we're good to go!
woohoo!