Today I feel defeated by…
…a synthesizer kit!
I’m trying to think of what to check, but it’s just. not. coming.
All ICs seem to be receiving appropriate voltages on the pins you’d expect power to be coming in on.
Something seems weird with the voltage regulator ICs, but I might be metering them wrong, I think.
< sigh >
Next is to ask the smart people at PAiA for help.
So I got the PAiA FatMan assembled… And it doesn’t work. The power LED lights, the MIDI LED blinks when a signal is sent, nothing smokes, but it just doesn’t work. Needless to say, I’m slightly disappointed. I’m going to email PAiA with a link to all the photos. Hopefully they’ll be able to help me out or something.
So, the PAiA FatMan arrived today. Of course I had to start on tonight…
Well, after 176 solder points and a few hours of work cataloging parts, writing down what’s missing (this frustrates me to no end), cutting, bending, and soldering, this is where I’m at. All jumpers in place, all resistors (except the couple which I’m missing) in place, ready to start placing the caps tonight. Hopefully PAiA will come through right-quick with the replacement parts. I’m missing things like the socket for the CPU (for the MIDI bits), a set screw for one of the knobs, an op amp, etc.
Oh well, at least there’s parts of the kit to work on in the mean time. :D This is fun.
Can anyone recommend a good brand/model of digital multimeter? I’ve got a decent Radio Shack-braded Fluke knock-off, but I’m having mild concerns about it’s accuracy. I don’t want to spend too much, but some nicer tools would be handy.
[Crossposted in
It’s been a little while since I wrote an update about this, but my kitchen flooring project has progressed nicely and I’ve got some more pictures to show.
· Kitchen floor, all grouted. Just waiting for another day of curing and sealing.
· Kitchen floor, from start to finish.
· The whole gallery of all the stuff I’ve been doing to the kitchen and related areas.
· Obligatory before and current photo.
I’m just waiting for the grout to cure for another day, then I’ll get the sealer applied, moulding installed, and move the appliances back in. Whee!
Oh, and the grey boogers from the dust in the air when mixing grout is just squicky. (Although when working with wood they are whatever-type-of-wood colored, drywall is white, etc.)
[Crossposted from
Well, as I’ve done in the past, it’s time for an update with the redoing of the floors in my house.
One other thing… Unless you are an idiot, like me, don’t attempt to screw down two sheets of HardiBacker Ceramic Tile underlayment with a cordless drill. Like me, you will need to ask your dad to run over his corded drill, as it’ll take half the time if you going and picking it up.
I suck. :(
Wow. I feel like I’ve been huffing paint thinner. Well, I kinda have. :) See, I started on removing the sheet vinyl flooring from my kitchen, front vestibule, and laundry room today. The stuff that’s over wood isn’t too bad, but the vinyl on the concrete is a pain. I’ve probably got another 10 – 12 hours worth of work to have the laundry room ready to put the vinyl down. :\
Anyway, if you’d like to see some pictures, click here. Things kinda look weird in the kitchen. I just need to pick out a flooring and order it now. :) Hopefully it’ll be in within a few weeks…