Voltage check assistance

phatfish · 699

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Offline phatfish

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on: October 13, 2024, 04:36:24 PM
Hi there, I could use some assistance as to where to look for issues. 

Checks during the build passed.

Resistance checks pass
All 12 LED lit

IA 217.6 OK
IB 217.2 OK
OA 213.1 HIGH
OB 214.5 HIGH
OC 60.3 LOW
OD 55.97 LOW
OkA 64.1 LOW
OkB 59.7 LOW
OkC .004 LOW
OkD .004 LOW

Many thanks for looking.   :-[



Offline phatfish

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Reply #1 on: October 13, 2024, 05:38:14 PM
Added a couple of build pics to start.  A + B sockets and top of C4S. 



Offline phatfish

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Reply #2 on: October 13, 2024, 06:17:49 PM
Socket C and bottom of C4S



Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #3 on: October 14, 2024, 04:49:34 AM
Can you very carefully measure the DC voltages at pins 4 and 5 of one of the front two sockets? (you don't need to do both)

On the front C4S board, that looks like either lead free solder or very low heat, possibly both. 

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline phatfish

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Reply #4 on: October 14, 2024, 06:20:39 AM
Thanks Paul.  I assume that should be measured with the c4s hooked back up and all tubes?

For what it’s worth I’m using cards Quad Eutectic and a Weller station set at 680f and I’ve soldered a crack + speedball in a similar way with success.  Don’t mean to imply that I’m not butchering it, just giving more information.

Do my IA/IB numbers mean the boards behind the C4S are working ok?



Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #5 on: October 14, 2024, 07:55:56 AM
You need the tubes in there, not necessarily the C4S.  I'd turn the heat up a bit if you can. 

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline phatfish

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Reply #6 on: October 14, 2024, 03:26:28 PM
A4 was ~58v.  Seemed to be slowly climbing starting at 57.3 and moving to 58.2 when I turned it off.  Should I leave it on to see where it settles?

A5 was ~51v.  Similar slow climb and I turned it off pretty quickly.

Measurements taken with the C4S board hooked back up btw. 



Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #7 on: October 14, 2024, 03:29:20 PM
Well that is extremely helpful.  I would set your iron as high as it goes, then reflow all the solder joints on that C4S board aside from the LEDs (they don't take much heat to solder properly and they aren't appreciative of reflow efforts).  Concentrate especially on the middle lugs of each of those MJE350 transistors, as they are reluctant to flow out properly without a bit of dwell time.

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline phatfish

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Reply #8 on: October 14, 2024, 03:47:50 PM
Thanks Paul, I'm on it!  Iron set at 850f.  Mind sharing what this means and what voltages I should be seeing at A4/5?

Any theory on why I'm having issues with my joints on this board and not previous ones? 



Offline phatfish

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Reply #9 on: October 14, 2024, 05:49:16 PM
I reflowed all but the LEDs on the C4S board, and I basically have the same voltages.   :-\ 

Of possible note many of the discrepancies side to side seems to have switched from before (OC vs OD for example)

Here are my new values and some updated shots of the C4S board.

IA 217.8
IB 216.8
OA 215.2
OB 214.1
OC 55.91
OD 60.0
OkA 60.0
OkB 64.0
OkC .004
OkD .004








Offline Doc B.

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Reply #10 on: October 14, 2024, 07:16:02 PM
What's with the center leg of what looks to be Q2A? I see a hole where there should be a lead with solder filling in the pad on the underside.

Dan "Doc B." Schmalle
President For Life
Bottlehead Corp.


Offline phatfish

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Reply #11 on: Yesterday at 02:56:10 AM
I took the board bottom from two angles for this reason.  No soldering was done between the two pics.  It does really look like a hole from the 1st pic!  But check out the 2nd bottom pic  (board is flipped).

Sounds like you guys are quite sure the issue is on this board?




Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #12 on: Yesterday at 04:27:31 AM
You have the 10.7K EQ resistors installed in the servo sense area of the circuit rather than the 174 ohm resistors that belong there.  This is both preventing the EF86 tubes from drawing current and your EQ will be way, way off.

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline phatfish

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Reply #13 on: Yesterday at 04:57:27 AM
CRAP!  :o  Thank you!  Very glad I pointed those numbers facing up. I get these switched around this evening.    Order some new ones since I need the longer leads in the EQ section.

« Last Edit: Yesterday at 05:01:20 AM by phatfish »



Offline phatfish

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Reply #14 on: Yesterday at 05:39:32 AM
Would it be possible to check my voltages without the EQ resistors in place while I wait for replacement 1072F's with the lead length I need?

i.e.
1740F's on the C4S board.
No 1072F's in place.
« Last Edit: Yesterday at 05:56:18 AM by phatfish »