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Makers and Making: Need troubleshooting help with "animated ghost" kit
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sej@aol.com
Oct 21st 2009
Has anyone here built the "Animated Ghost" kit from the Maker Shed?

I've learned how to solder, but really don't know much about troubleshooting. I have a multimeter but am not too smart about using it.

My assembled kit has a small problem. The red LED eyes refuse to light.

I used a charged capacitor to confirm that the LEDs themselves function.

When the ghost is switched on, the motor occasionally spins and the speaker occasionally emits music or noise, so I know the ghost is basically functional.

I know that a resistor and a capacitor lead into the LEDs. My solder connections look OK. The IC's pins are not bent.

I ran through the sensitivity adjustment step, which apparently should result in the eyes blinking. Doesn't happen.

What I could use are suggestions as to how to "force" blinking, or where to touch a voltmeter to determine where the problem is. I have the schematic.

Thanks,

Stefan
 Stokes
Oct 21st 2009
Could you have installed the LEDs backwards? They only function in one direction.
sej@aol.com
Oct 21st 2009
First thing I checked! After ruining my first Hex Pummer (IC chip in backwards, damnit!) I'm real careful about double-checking polarity and orientation.

Thanks, SEJ
Odin84gk
Oct 22nd 2009
If you plug in an IC backwards, you usually kill the IC. Make sure to buy a new one.

If it is intermittent, check the potentiometer (adjustable thing.) Those can get damaged if your soldering temp is too high.
alankilian
Oct 22nd 2009 edited
Since it makes a noise for only a short while on power-up,
I would make sure you're using 100% guaranteed fresh
AAA batteries.

If they are old, you might see just this sort of thing.

> or where to touch a voltmeter to determine where the problem is.

Touch the meter leads across the wires that come out of the battery
pack when the ghost is off. You should see around 3 Volts.

Then turn it on and see if you still see around 3 Volts, or if it
drops much lower.
sej@aol.com
Oct 26th 2009
I built my second ghost kit (they are to be gifts) and his eyes worked fine.

I used the same batteries, so they weren't the problem!

The most valuable information gained is that now I know what proper operation looks like.

I'm going to compare the backs of the circuit boards and make sure there are no bridges, etc. on the first board.

Thanks for the ideas,

Stefan
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