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#279866 - 20/04/2006 13:03 VFD Diagnosis
jdk
new poster

Registered: 20/01/2002
Posts: 9
Hi-

My VFD is no longer displaying.

The nipple is fine.

The two on board fuses are fine (have continuity).

The display cable looks fine (no frays)

Is there some more advanced diagnostics to test?

IE, VFD pin tests to see if it's getting voltage, signal, etc?

Thanks much.

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#279867 - 20/04/2006 13:08 Re: VFD Diagnosis [Re: jdk]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14485
Loc: Canada
Check the third on-board fuse.

Check the serial boot-log for any info.

What is the displayboard LED doing (the bright light above the knob)?

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#279868 - 20/04/2006 15:02 Re: VFD Diagnosis [Re: mlord]
oliver
addict

Registered: 02/04/2002
Posts: 691
Quote:
Check the third on-board fuse.



FAQ: my display is blank!


Edited by oliver (20/04/2006 15:03)
_________________________
Oliver mk1 30gb: 129 | mk2a 30gb: 040104126

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#279869 - 20/04/2006 15:33 Re: VFD Diagnosis [Re: jdk]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31578
Loc: Seattle, WA
Is the player still playing music?

Is the display brightness simply turned all the way down?

Are the components on the back of the display board all still in their proper place? Especially that large black cylindrical thing whose name I don't remember that's a common failure point.
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#279870 - 20/04/2006 17:09 Re: VFD Diagnosis [Re: tfabris]
schofiel
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/06/1999
Posts: 2993
Loc: Wareham, Dorset, UK
Inductor.

You should check the voltage at TP1 under this inductor.
_________________________
One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

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#279871 - 20/04/2006 23:36 Re: VFD Diagnosis [Re: oliver]
jdk
new poster

Registered: 20/01/2002
Posts: 9
Quote:
Quote:
Check the third on-board fuse.



FAQ: my display is blank!


That's the guilty fuse.

I only looked at Michael's page and checked the two fuses.

Well, hopefully that's the only culprit.

Thanks much for the responses.

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#279872 - 27/04/2006 22:42 Re: VFD Diagnosis [Re: mlord]
oliver
addict

Registered: 02/04/2002
Posts: 691
I have the same problem on 2 units, after replacing that third on-board fuse in both units and testing both of them. Neither of the displays would turn on.

The LED is blinking/pulsing in and out with almost no pause between, and the onboard power LED is just solid red.

I haven't tried using a known good display yet, but when I get home I'm going to try to put the mk2 display board into one of these units. I'm just curious if there is anything else besides that third fuse. The top two fuses are still good, and never bad.
_________________________
Oliver mk1 30gb: 129 | mk2a 30gb: 040104126

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#279873 - 28/04/2006 00:11 Re: VFD Diagnosis [Re: oliver]
oliver
addict

Registered: 02/04/2002
Posts: 691
Ok, I just tested with a known good displayboard and still the same problem, the VFD doesn't turn on and the display LED pulses in and out. Just triple checked all three fuses, and they all are good.
_________________________
Oliver mk1 30gb: 129 | mk2a 30gb: 040104126

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#279874 - 28/04/2006 01:22 Re: VFD Diagnosis [Re: oliver]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14485
Loc: Canada
Quote:
Ok, I just tested with a known good displayboard and still the same problem, the VFD doesn't turn on and the display LED pulses in and out. Just triple checked all three fuses, and they all are good.


I just recently repaired a unit that had three good, replaced, fuses. One of the fuses wasn't actually making full contact with the board.

Cheers

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#279875 - 28/04/2006 08:41 Re: VFD Diagnosis [Re: oliver]
schofiel
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/06/1999
Posts: 2993
Loc: Wareham, Dorset, UK
Testing the fuses by measuring across the FUSE's contacts means nothing: you must probe onto the pads, or a track/pad/pin connected to the fuse end. This lets you check that the fuse is actually in circuit, rather than just checking the fuse is good.

Also, a serial log might help.
_________________________
One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

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#279876 - 28/04/2006 14:00 Re: VFD Diagnosis [Re: schofiel]
oliver
addict

Registered: 02/04/2002
Posts: 691
Quote:
Also, a serial log might help.

Log from empeg with extra memory, but also a bad/repaired fuse I thought I had the probes on the pad the fuse is connected to, but I can't be 100% positive. I'll try again.

I'll post the other log from the second empeg under repair when I get home later. I didn't see anything weird in the logs before...
_________________________
Oliver mk1 30gb: 129 | mk2a 30gb: 040104126

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