Help!! Noob with 5v box mod with TI chip!!!

[Curvychic]

I'm game for whatever the recommended, ideal option would be to get this thing up and running! Of course....talk to me like I'm totally dumb if this requires any tools and parts. LOL I have no experience, but I'm reading up on it and learning.

 

[Curvychic]

I just got a soldering iron yesterday with some solder. Hubby and I want to try very simple box mods....not this complex to start!! LOL Okay, so I need to get another blue thing and then solder the loose wires to it? Where exactly do I solder these wires?

To sun it up when repaired it will look something like this


The cap (capacitor) is the blue things. You need to get one just like the one on the left side and solder it in between the two wires on the right.
Then re-test.
Is this something you are up for? it is easy,,, but only if you have a soldering iron.

 

[asdaq]

So that short red wire barely sticking out was for the cap to gnd then? And there are three red wires in that area?

 

[Curvychic]

There is one loose red wire coming from under the chip and another wire (no color just bare) that sticks out also with some solder on it, but not connected to anything.

So that short red wire barely sticking out was for the cap to gnd then? And there are three red wires in that area?

 

[Gummy Bear]

So that short red wire barely sticking out was for the cap to gnd then? And there are three red wires in that area?

The red wire comes from Vin and the metal wire looking thingy (tech terms) is the end of the broken off cap , it is soldered onto V out.

@CC as for where to solder it,, we can talk you through that part too. The caps do have a poz and neg. someone can post a good pic of that. I'm glad to hear that you want to DIY. It is good to post all of this rather than just sending it out for repair because this info may help others.

 

[Curvychic]

Ya know, I was just thinking, is it possible that they originally had the blue thing (cap) wired down where the loose wires are and then moved it? Should there be 2 caps in the box? Don't know anything about it, just a thought......

 

[Gummy Bear]

yes there should be 2.
I am re-checking the pics that red wire may be from Gnd not Vin. (that is where it is suppose to be (Gnd to V out)


Edit:
Confirmed, it is from gnd not V in. I saw that wrong at first.

 

[Curvychic]

I'm so glad that there are friendly, knowledge people here to help me through this!!! Okay, so step one: Where do I get a blue thingy (capacitor~right?)? I'll be popping in and out for a little while as I'm cooking dinner, cleaning, and hoping to hop in the pool to cool off a little. LOL

 

[Gummy Bear]

As for where to get it,,, You might get lucky and find them at Radio Shack. (or not) Or digikey. com
They should be 10v 100uF caps but it would be more important to make sure they are the same to keep things balanced. the ones you have may not be that and there are several different ones that you could use. So pull out the magnifying glass and see if you can read it.

 

[Curvychic]

Okay, so I can try to read the writing on the blue cap, but it won't be until later this evening if that's alright. I'm anxious to get this fixed, but my duties as a multitasking mommy have to take a backseat to getting the kiddos fed, homework done, bathed and to bed. I'll be on again after 9pm or so EST with the results of what the blue thing reads. I can't thank you enough!!!

As for where to get it,,, You might get lucky and find them at Radio Shack. (or not) Or digikey. com
They should be 10v 100uF caps but it would be more important to make sure they are the same to keep things balanced. the ones you have may not be that and there are several different ones that you could use. So pull out the magnifying glass and see if you can read it.

 

[Gummy Bear]

uhh, What's for dinner? We may all come over.

Edit:
I re-posted the pic, I see that it cut off some of it .
Also before you order anything think about what voltage you would like. If you can live with a given fixed voltage, we can spec out a resistor to solder in between pins #3 and #4. If you want VV then a 100k pot would go there. (potentiometer) but then you will need to find an extra 1/4" x 1/4" x 1/4" space to put it.

 

[AttyPops]

Cool that you and hubs are getting into mods. This will be fun!




Hey gummy.... are you POSITIVE we need an output cap? The atty doesn't care about ripple, and it doesn't have much inductance, but maybe the chip has to have it for some reason..........

 

[Gummy Bear]

Cool that you and hubs are getting into mods. This will be fun!




Hey gummy.... are you POSITIVE we need an output cap? The atty doesn't care about ripple, and it doesn't have much inductance, but maybe the chip has to have it for some reason..........

uh NEGATIVE sir.
I'm not sure at all,,,, T.I. says that you need one. (But they also say the base voltage is 5 volts too). so I am not sure. but it can't hurt to have it and it may hurt not to.

 

[asdaq]

I mentioned there were 3 red wires in the neighborhood including the one going to the battery as they all sort of get lost in the glue there. But the detached ought to be black as it should go from the cap to gnd indeed.

Also with 14500's performance improves with the caps and perhaps higher voltage ratings of the caps increase this benefit, I would put a matching one back on.

 

[Gummy Bear]

I mentioned there were 3 red wires in the neighborhood including the one going to the battery as they all sort of get lost in the glue there. But the detached ought to be black as it should go from the cap to gnd indeed.

Yes but it already has a purdy red one there.

That's what through me at first and led me to say that it went to V in.

 

[AttyPops]

What's weird is that the LR atty fired.

 

[Gummy Bear]

screwing it in and out may have caused the loose wires to touch, or untouch.

 

[Curvychic]

Okay, sorry I went MIA. Mild emergency arose, but all's well know. Gummy, we had spaghetti for dinner, and you're all invited for the leftovers. It was yummy too!!

I would love VV, but given the fact that I couldn't cram a hair off my head in the already crowed 2AA box, I guess I'm stuck with fixed. LOL Maybe hubby and I will eventually explore the possiblity of creating a VV in the future.

Edited to add:
Almost forgot~The blue cap reads:
REA85(degree symbol)C
H018(M)

The other side reads:
100 (funny u)F 50V-- and that's all I can see as the conglomeration of wires blocks the rest of that side, but I think that's it.

 

[Gummy Bear]

The other side reads:
100 (funny u)F 50V--

OK there not 10v, I'll look around on the web to see what I can find.
unless someone here has one they could part with (hint, hint guys)
and perhaps 3 or 4 resistors to play with to see if there is a voltage other than 5v that you may like.

 

[Gummy Bear]

Bump for anyone that has a spare cap.