Need help w. problem in first time build [solved]

[ryhaigh]

Hey all,

Hope someone can give me some help.

I built my crack and before testing any of the voltage etc, I just plugged it in to see if I got clear sound.  It worked fine so I decided to go and install the speedball. 

After speedball installation I get no sound till about 50% through the volume and sound is still very low at max volume.

FYI, its not the tubes, as I have switched them out with others with the same result.

Thanks!!

[Paul Birkeland]

Anyone have any thoughts / suggestions. 

I'd start with posting your voltages.

-PB

[ryhaigh]

Thanks PB.

I got some voltage readings to try to help with diagnostics.  I haven't used a multimeter before so please bear with my listing of 2 columns. Wasn't sure which one was the DC reading the manual refers to. 

Also, none of them seem even close, so I'm at a bit of a loss.

Hopefully I got some readings that are helpful.

In terms of helping me help myself, perhaps someone could identify which setting I should be using.  Here's a link to my multimeter.  http://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/innova-3320-multimeter-teardown/

Here are the results

Terminal     Correct V.         DCMA                 DCV 10meg ohm input
1                    75               -.07              jumping
2                   170                  0              jumping
3                     0                  -                  -
4                   170                   0                 -0.1
5                     75                   0                 -0.4
6                      0                 .12                 93.8
7                    100                .12                 96
8                     0                    -                   -
9                    100                    0                 93.7
10                      0                    0                 96.1
11                       0                    0                  .7
12                      0               attached         here
13                    170                    0                190.3
14                      0                    0                 206
15                    185                  .26                  .7
19                      0                  .11                 93.9
20                     206                    0                 -0.3
A1                      75                  .23                187.7
A2                       0                    0                  .5
A3                     1.56            0                   1.553
A4                       0                    0                    0
A5                       0                    0                  -0.2
A6                      75                  .23                 187.4
A7                       0                    0                   .7
A8                     1.56            0                   33
A9                      0                    0                  -0.4
B1                      75                  .23                  187.4
B2                      170               .23                  189.7
B3                      100               .23                  187.7
B4                      75                  .23                  187.8
B5                    170                  .23                  189.7
B6                    100                  .23                  187.9
B7                      0                   0                   -0.3
B8                      0                   0                   -0.2

Is there anything that can be determined by these numbers?

Also noticed during readings that LEDs on 2 small PC boards don't light up.  So obviously issue there.  How do I go about determining which connection is the culprit?

Thank you for taking time to read the post.  Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

[Zimmer64]

I think it might be easier to remove the speedball and make sure all voltage and resistance values are correct. This will already limit the potential issues. If the the LED's do not light up then you may have put them in the wrong way. Check against the manual again.

Best

Michael

[ryhaigh]

Thanks Michael. 

I am happy to do that. Only issue I see is that when I installed the speedball, I had to cut the leads of the resistors, and now they are really short.  Any issue with soldering wire to the resistors and the soldering the resistors to the proper terminals?

Thanks.

[Zimmer64]

Should be alright.

[ryhaigh]

Thanks,

2 more question...

1) Do you mind following the link in my post and looking at my multimeter to see which is the proper VCD setting to use. I wasn't sure.

2) When I uninstall the speedball, if I disconnect all the wires going from the crack proper to speedball at the speedball boards, but keep the ends of those wires attached to crack proper on terminals 1-5, will that throw my voltage readings off? (essentially they would be wires hanging out there, not connected to anything)

Thanks!!

[Paul Birkeland]

You posted DCMA, which would be to read current (which is pretty uncommon with meters these days).

To measure DC volts, you want the switch on your meter set to DCV, the black probe plugged into COM, and the red probe plugged in on the right side (where it says V).

From the build, were you able to measure the resistances of resistors with your meter? That would at least give you a place to start in terms of measuring current. 

[ryhaigh]

Thanks PB.  Huge help.

Measured 1, 2, 4, & 5, all of which were at around 188.  When measuring 3, I got a big spark and huge pop, so clearly something is amiss there. Time to disassemble and check the connections to that terminal.  This makes sense because it was one of the few terminals that had to be altered when installing the speedball. 

For now I will see if I can get it sorted on my own. 

Thanks!!

[Paul Birkeland]

Terminal 3 is grounded, when you measured it, you probably shorted it to 2 or 4.

Now that you have the measuring technique down, can you remeasure your voltages?

[ryhaigh]

Ok, here are the voltages. 

Terminal     Correct V.            My DCV             
1                    75                187.2              
2                   170                189.5           
3                     0                  0.6                
4                   170                 189.1                
5                    75                 186.8             
6                     0                Jumped all over             
7                    100                183       
8                     0                  0.5                  
9                    100                  184.1                
10                      0                 Jumps all over           
11                      0                   0.5                
12                      0                   0 
13                    170                   189.7                
14                      0                     0                
15                    185                   206               
19                      0                   93.1                
20                     206                     0                
A1                      75                   187.7                
A2                       0                    5                  
A3                     1.56           1.553             
A4                       0                     0                  
A5                       0                    -.02               
A6                      75                   187.7             
A7                       0                    0.7               
A8                     1.56              33               
A9                     0                   -0.4                  
B1                     75                   187.4               
B2                     170                189.7                
B3                     100                187.7                
B4                     75                   187.8             
B5                    170                   189.7                  
B6                    100                  187.9               
B7                      0                   -0.2                  
B8                      0                   -0.3                  

Hope this helps.  Also noticed that when testing terminals 6 and 10, while multimeter was jumping all over, led connected to A8 would turn off while the probe was touching the connection. When bumping the crack I also noticed it went out though, so I figure that's just a connection that has come loose that I need to resolder.

Thanks again!!

[Paul Birkeland]

I'm suspicious that you have the R1's backwards between the big board and the set of little boards.

[ryhaigh]

Wow!! 

You are amazing.  You are also correct.  I will switch them out and see if that is the extent of my issues.

Thank you so much.

[ryhaigh]

OK,

So I have gotten a lot of improvement in my voltages, but still have a couple that are off.

Also, LED connected to A8's stem broke, so I am waiting on another one.   

In the interim, I was hoping I could get some insight into a couple off voltages so all I need to do is replace the led to get up and running when it arrives.

Here are the voltages that are off:

Terminal         Proper Voltage              My voltage
19                         0                              93
20                         200                          0

A8                      1.56                           14.2 (presumably this is from the no longer connected LED and will register properly?)

B1                         75                           175
B3                         100                         173

Anyone have any insight? My first thought Re 19 & 20 was the orientation of the rectifiers and the cap, so I double checked them and they look good.

Thanks!!

Ryan

[Paul Birkeland]

Having 93V at 19 and 175V at B1 is contradictory, I'd imagine a measurement issue here.

The 19 vs. 20 is a typo in one set of manuals that got sent out.

When the LED arrives, I think things will fall into line for you.

-PB