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Registered Member #2292
Joined: Fri Aug 14 2009, 05:33PM
Location: The Wild West AKA Arizona
Posts: 795
In addition to cheap dongles I have found also that improper grounding of the coil can also create latch-ups and other assorted problems due to the RF from the coil not being properly terminated. Just a thought to keep in mind!
Registered Member #7267
Joined: Tue Oct 16 2012, 12:16AM
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Posts: 407
koolksmart wrote ...
Thanks for all the help! I got the computer to recognize the board, but I still can't output to it. I've managed to get a MIDI keyboard working with it, but when I hook it up to the coil: Nothing. The guide doesn't mention anything about the PW limit, which I wonder might be the issue. Any ideas? It's the last thing holding me back -.-
Sorry, I meant R1 and R2. Make sure you have configured those using an oscilloscope and/or the pictures in the guide. Try switching your MIDI in and MIDI out. Some devices and synthesizers have been known to work either way even though, logically, it may be labelled wrong. Meaning the I/I and O/O or the I/O and I/O. May work one way or the other.
Registered Member #5300
Joined: Thu Jun 14 2012, 12:00AM
Location: California
Posts: 31
Physics Junkie wrote ...
Sorry, I meant R1 and R2. Make sure you have configured those using an oscilloscope and/or the pictures in the guide. Try switching your MIDI in and MIDI out. Some devices and synthesizers have been known to work either way even though, logically, it may be labelled wrong. Meaning the I/I and O/O or the I/O and I/O. May work one way or the other.
That's the weird thing: I hooked up a speaker to the RCA output, and I heard the notes I was playing. I didn't have an oscilloscope, so I eyeballed it based on the manual's diagram. When I hook the MIDI interrupter up to the coils control board (RCA), nothing happens. The board doesn't hum. There's no spark.
By the way, I feel as though I should have mentioned that I'm hooking this up to the MicroBrute DRSSTC from EVR.
Registered Member #7267
Joined: Tue Oct 16 2012, 12:16AM
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Posts: 407
koolksmart wrote ...
That's the weird thing: I hooked up a speaker to the RCA output, and I heard the notes I was playing. I didn't have an oscilloscope, so I eyeballed it based on the manual's diagram. When I hook the MIDI interrupter up to the coils control board (RCA), nothing happens. The board doesn't hum. There's no spark.
By the way, I feel as though I should have mentioned that I'm hooking this up to the MicroBrute DRSSTC from EVR.
I had a similar issue, and I solved it by slightly turning the settings of R1 and R2 up but only VERY SLIGHTLY. I am not using a microbrute though so I am not going to recommend you do that and put your tesla coil at risk. Talk to EVR, they might have some advice or have experienced similar problems they might be able to help you with. Also, those settings in the MIDI guide for the microbrute should be accurate (I would assume) for that tesla coil system, and your problem is probably elsewhere. Re-check your soldering of the controller, specifically around the modulator input area and that part of the circuitry. Has your RCA mod input on the controller board worked with other interrupters? If so, then you can probably rule that out too. Personally I have never used RCA so I really dont know how to identify that as a problem. It could be a handful of possibilties, perhaps even a setting on your keyboard/software.
Registered Member #5300
Joined: Thu Jun 14 2012, 12:00AM
Location: California
Posts: 31
Physics Junkie wrote ...
I had a similar issue, and I solved it by slightly turning the settings of R1 and R2 up but only VERY SLIGHTLY. I am not using a microbrute though so I am not going to recommend you do that and put your tesla coil at risk. Talk to EVR, they might have some advice or have experienced similar problems they might be able to help you with. Also, those settings in the MIDI guide for the microbrute should be accurate (I would assume) for that tesla coil system, and your problem is probably elsewhere. Re-check your soldering of the controller, specifically around the modulator input area and that part of the circuitry. Has your RCA mod input on the controller board worked with other interrupters? If so, then you can probably rule that out too. Personally I have never used RCA so I really dont know how to identify that as a problem. It could be a handful of possibilties, perhaps even a setting on your keyboard/software.
The interrupter out of the box with the Microbrute kit works with the RCA input, so that's not the issue. I can't imagine it's the soldering joins of the output since the speaker worked just fine soldered on to it, and I've inspected all the solder joints--All good. Voltage tests are perfect, and the board says it's receiving the signals and outputting.
Now that I think about it, though, the BNC light would seldom light up--only the FO (Fiber Optic) light would flash to notify that a signal was being sent out. Any idea what that could mean?
Registered Member #2288
Joined: Wed Aug 12 2009, 10:42PM
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 179
koolksmart wrote ...
Now that I think about it, though, the BNC light would seldom light up--only the FO (Fiber Optic) light would flash to notify that a signal was being sent out. Any idea what that could mean?
If the FO light flashes but not the BNC light when the speaker is disconnected and nothing is hooked up to the BNC plug, then it is most likely a bad solder joint on the board, as those two outputs are fed from the same microcontroller output and the same driver chip. If it only stops lighting when a coil is connected, then the coil probably has a faulty input and is overloading the BNC driver on the MIDI controller. Connecting a speaker could also affect the LED, although I would think in most cases it shouldn't affect it.
Registered Member #15
Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068
dude_500 wrote ...
koolksmart wrote ...
Now that I think about it, though, the BNC light would seldom light up--only the FO (Fiber Optic) light would flash to notify that a signal was being sent out. Any idea what that could mean?
If the FO light flashes but not the BNC light when the speaker is disconnected and nothing is hooked up to the BNC plug, then it is most likely a bad solder joint on the board, as those two outputs are fed from the same microcontroller output and the same driver chip. If it only stops lighting when a coil is connected, then the coil probably has a faulty input and is overloading the BNC driver on the MIDI controller. Connecting a speaker could also affect the LED, although I would think in most cases it shouldn't affect it.
Thats a good point. You already know your microbrute is working properly as you mentioned in the email, so the input to the microbrute is working as it should.
The FO and electrical (BNC / RCA) come from same driver chip, so if there is a solder joint / short, or something that is pulling that one output down that could explain it.
Also, check to see the LED is not installed backwards, although this wouldn't prevent the output from working.
Registered Member #5300
Joined: Thu Jun 14 2012, 12:00AM
Location: California
Posts: 31
Quick update: I've resoldered some connections, particularly the RCA ones. When I hooked the controller alone up to a keyboard, all outputs were flashing, which I take as a good sign.
I'll update you all again when I hook everything together. Thanks for all the help so far!
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MIDI Interrupter Software
