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Post by jsteiger on Jan 25, 2016 19:42:58 GMT -6
It looks better....I think....(the pic is worse though) Cross your fingers and fire it up!!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2016 19:53:53 GMT -6
+1
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Jan 25, 2016 19:57:21 GMT -6
From experience check the mute switch!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2016 20:07:41 GMT -6
:-D
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 25, 2016 22:19:15 GMT -6
Man...I'm kinda defeated...I'm gonna hand it off I think.
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Post by NoFilterChuck on Jan 25, 2016 22:46:42 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2016 0:20:00 GMT -6
I second that. I guess everyone who built pro-audio stuff has been at this point where you are now. It does not feel good, you don't know what went wrong really and the dammit thing won't do like you want. You might not see it like that right now, but you will get this thing running nevertheless. Really. I know you can solder, better than many others, right in the first project. No joke, your solder joints do look pretty good for the tool you use. I am sure it is just the weak iron hindering you from a kind of "instant success" in doing such projects. And that's not just polite "positive thinking" talk, i mean it. We don't do black art and it is really like "If i can break it, i can fix it as well." The pcb still looks totally intact, and nothing is lost at all. Actually you are already nearer to the functioning circuit than you might think. And you already stepped into this with the right attitude - i mean, you get into details that much that you check the orientation of resistors... It's not meant funny, you should know that many if not most DIY projects already fail at getting all the parts together and mount them appropriately to the board. Wrong values are a VERY common problem. Also orientation of the parts that are sensitive to that. You checked that in detail. Not even starting is another fail many projects encounter. I guess that more than half of the first projects end much earlier as at the point you are now. Having no eye for the detail, proceeding too fast and half-hearted, starting with a much too complicated build etc. ... all NOT your problems. Your problem is only the wrong tool most probably. Nothing wrong in how you approached it and or the manner you built it up to now. Put it aside, try again with better tool later (>= 40W power). But go at it again. Don't take this as a bad sign now, or as a proof that DIY is not for you, because it is not. Even if it doesn't feel like this, you are absolutely on the right track and it would be too bad if you miss the great feeling when it finally works. Trust me. This is a great feeling and you will get there if you proceed in the way you started it. You have all support from here to get it going. Take your time. It is even more rewarding if you get it going after you had trouble and were able to sort it out, to stay tuned and and to succeed in the end. And - you can learn due to errors ONLY. There is no way to gain knowledge or craftsmanship without doing anything wrong. In your case it is as simple as getting a little to weak iron - been there, done that. Was frustrating, sure. Then getting the right tool - wow, everything muuuuch easier...
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Post by tonycamphd on Jan 26, 2016 1:39:32 GMT -6
I've been so defeated before that i just wanted to cry practically, stepping away and returning later can really change your perspective and lead to a quicker answer, also if you have a multimeter, you can work through some test points and see what is going on.
what exactly is the current status? it shows signal led? but passes no sound still?
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Post by levon on Jan 26, 2016 2:32:00 GMT -6
Man...I'm kinda defeated...I'm gonna hand it off I think. Man...that avatar looks seriously disturbing...
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Post by matt555 on Jan 26, 2016 8:34:46 GMT -6
I also agree with the others about not giving up, If you give up now you will never do DIY again and that would be such a shame. DIY is soo worth it compared to buying a unit... In 5 years time when a component fails in your new compressor/eq/preamp what will you do... send it back and pay over the odds to get a single component replaced. By then you would have the knowledge to just open it up test a few voltages, find the problem and fix it. Like others say there is no black art in soldering, you either make a good solder or you dont.
There are voltages you can test on the board with a simple mulitmeter and you can trace the problem much closer than now, where currently you have no idea where the problem lies. Ask Jsteiger to point you to the reference voltages and start there.
I would also like to see 2 more pictures of how the board is now. Front and back like the orginal first post that are in focus so the solders are clearer! Thanks, Matt
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Post by chasmanian on Jan 26, 2016 10:03:44 GMT -6
you can do it John. we're all pulling for you brother. here, watch this, and then go for it:
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 26, 2016 18:21:55 GMT -6
So, Shannon looked it over today and did a bunch of touchups...even re-soldered some of the wires on the output transformers. Also, made sure nothing was touching and all the soldering looks good. Plugged it in, and it's still not working BUT I am getting some sound from it. Very distorted, low volume. Any ideas?
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Post by wiz on Jan 26, 2016 19:03:52 GMT -6
post a really good photo of the front and back... and I will sit here and study it till I find it
We have to get you going on your first DIY
cheers
Wiz
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Post by Guitar on Jan 26, 2016 19:55:46 GMT -6
post a really good photo of the front and back... and I will sit here and study it till I find it We have to get you going on your first DIY cheers Wiz Seriously this is a big first, not to be missed.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 27, 2016 9:43:11 GMT -6
Well, it's going to the doctor... tonycamphd. I hope I didn't screw this thing up beyond fixing. I knew that was a possibility - but I wanted to dive in head first. I learned a TON - and I can say that I think I could build another one with success after learning the ins and outs from this one. I learned that: you need the proper tools before you make the mistake (iron, wire cutters, solder wick, solder sucker), what a proper soldered joint looks like, how, the general use of the iron and how long to hold and manipulate things... great leaning experience.
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Post by tonycamphd on Jan 27, 2016 11:25:45 GMT -6
hey man, well i think you did very well on this, it's not a defeat at all, i've seen this movie a dozen times myself, i'm sure it's going to be something silly, 9 times out of 10 it is, and once it's resolved you will have the problem and resolution in your diy bank account...so to speak, i'm pretty busy right now, the only reason i said i'd square it for you.. is because I think a fresh set of eyes will fix what looks to be a pretty decent build, in no time at all, that is a long winded compliment toward your first attempt at diy lol.
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Jan 27, 2016 11:34:11 GMT -6
This is not a failure, The only way you learn is by screwing up! Look John you have seen my screwed up hands, I still find a way of doing it. It's all about 2 things. Patience, and learning from mistakes!
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Post by jsteiger on Jan 27, 2016 12:30:32 GMT -6
Johnkenn did you have a look at the HPF solder joints like I mentioned? They will be hard to reach without desoldering the sub board itself.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 27, 2016 12:56:37 GMT -6
Johnkenn did you have a look at the HPF solder joints like I mentioned? They will be hard to reach without desoldering the sub board itself. Well, I'm wondering if I need to screw anything else up lol. I redid some of the other output transformer wires and now I can't get the damn red one back through the hole to save my life. I was a little scared to desolder the HPF board because it seemed to be in there good...but maybe I'll go buy a better solder sucker thingy and give it another try before sending to Tony.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2016 13:03:38 GMT -6
John, just for the record and i am sure you tried already... Did you try firing it up with another Opamp?
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Post by tonycamphd on Jan 27, 2016 13:05:06 GMT -6
Johnkenn did you have a look at the HPF solder joints like I mentioned? They will be hard to reach without desoldering the sub board itself. i asked john for pics of that specific area last night, here they are, it's hard to see with the reflections off the pcb if there are any bridges? Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
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Post by tonycamphd on Jan 27, 2016 13:07:22 GMT -6
Johnkenn did you have a look at the HPF solder joints like I mentioned? They will be hard to reach without desoldering the sub board itself. Well, I'm wondering if I need to screw anything else up lol. I redid some of the other output transformer wires and now I can't get the damn red one back through the hole to save my life. I was a little scared to desolder the HPF board because it seemed to be in there good...but maybe I'll go buy a better solder sucker thingy and give it another try before sending to Tony. John, this is one of the best tips i could ever give, everyone should get them and do it!!!
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Post by chasmanian on Jan 27, 2016 14:58:20 GMT -6
my forte is fixing things. I'm a problem solving, troubleshooter by nature. I think its awesome, that you built this thing. as for problems, the only guy that never has any problems, is the guy that never does anything. problems are challenges. we learn from them. DIY appeals to me. I don't see myself doing it, until I retire and have more time. peace out, man.
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Post by rowmat on Jan 27, 2016 15:22:09 GMT -6
Don't get too discouraged. I currently have a 500 Series DIY pre I built that isn't playing nicely. Invariably the problem usually turns out to be something simple like mixing up a 10k resistor with a 100k resistor or a bridged solder joint. If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again. Then before you know it...
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 27, 2016 17:28:12 GMT -6
I went and bought a desolder pump and desolder wick...and holy shit...I wish I had started with those. I redid some of the output tranny wires that were concerning me. Thought I had it licked, but no go. Going to Dr. Tony tomorrow. I'll be interested to see (if he can actually save my butchery) what the problem was.
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