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GrubDAC Build Failure -- Help Required

post #1 of 4
11/28/10 at 4:21pm
Thread Starter 

Hi Everyone,

 

I recently bought two GrubDAC kits, one Cable and one not. I have managed to get a complete board together but It looks like I fried the regulator in the process so I'm not getting 3.3V -- I've tried to find a supply short somewhere that might shut the chip down to no avail.  Even if I could get 3.3V I highly doubt there won't be many other errors.

 

So I'm thinking I'll scrap the one I just built.  I am now left with a partial kit with a missing PCM2706 (the first one is toast) and no board (too many lifted pads on the "blank" one from trying to recover from my poor technique in installing the PCM2706).

 

It's possible that I learned enough in this process to try again with some replacement parts but I'm out of time and patience.  Not to mention another failure gets pretty expensive.  Is there anybody out there that is building these things for a fee?

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Many thanks,

 

Kurt

 

 

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post #2 of 4
11/28/10 at 4:25pm


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by kurtbauer View Post

Hi Everyone,

 

I recently bought two GrubDAC kits, one Cable and one not. I have managed to get a complete board together but It looks like I fried the regulator in the process so I'm not getting 3.3V -- I've tried to find a supply short somewhere that might shut the chip down to no avail.  Even if I could get 3.3V I highly doubt there won't be many other errors.

 

So I'm thinking I'll scrap the one I just built.  I am now left with a partial kit with a missing PCM2706 (the first one is toast) and no board (too many lifted pads on the "blank" one from trying to recover from my poor technique in installing the PCM2706).

 

It's possible that I learned enough in this process to try again with some replacement parts but I'm out of time and patience.  Not to mention another failure gets pretty expensive.  Is there anybody out there that is building these things for a fee?

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Many thanks,

 

Kurt

 

 


That sucks.  You need to practice your technique a bit more I think.

 

Builders, hmm, I can't quite remember.  MisterX used to do builds, not sure if he still does.  This sub-forum is so quiet these days.

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post #3 of 4
11/29/10 at 2:11pm
Thread Starter 

No doubt on the practice part! ;-)  This was my first ever SMD effort but I've had lots of PCB and PTP experience. The passive components weren't too bad but the silicon was a tricky start for an SMD solder newbie. I'm hoping somebody appears but if not, there are a number of things I'll do differently if I have to go for it my myself. 

 

Thanks for your response.

 

K

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post #4 of 4
11/29/10 at 4:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kurtbauer View Post

No doubt on the practice part! ;-)  This was my first ever SMD effort but I've had lots of PCB and PTP experience. The passive components weren't too bad but the silicon was a tricky start for an SMD solder newbie. I'm hoping somebody appears but if not, there are a number of things I'll do differently if I have to go for it my myself. 

 

Thanks for your response.

 

K


I'm sorry to hear of your experience, Kurt.  Hopefully, someone may show up that can finish one out for you.

 

If you decide to try again, I suggest you refer to the BantamDAC website as well as the GrubDAC website.  There are numerous tutorials - many of them in video - about soldering the DAC chips.  With the proper solder iron and solder, the chips on the GrubDAC are large enough between the pins to make it possible to solder each pin separately, if you prefer that route.  That's small consolation now, but maybe it can help if you decide to make another go at it.
 

 

P.S. Maybe I shouldn't say this, but it's no reflection on you.  Even though some of us are of the opinion that SMD soldering is easier than through-hole, a few of the best builders on this forum fail at SMD soldering.   


Edited by tomb - 11/29/10 at 4:25pm
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