VU meter, hold the hammer

Cheshiredemon · 10-September-03, 10:40 PM

Could someone help me out? I have the parts for a ten-step VU meter, but I can't get the wiring right. If someone could post a good, clear wiring diagram that would be a big help. If it's any help, I'm test wiring the circuit on this:

And doing the final wiring on this:

carbongraphite · 11-September-03, 12:57 AM

which chip are you useing? as in one from Linear or Control Anything pre programed PIC?

Cheshiredemon · 11-September-03, 02:12 AM

The chip is an ECG 1549.

HawkEye_Pierce · 11-September-03, 12:49 PM

Never heard of such a chip, must be like EPROM. Where did you get it? Here is another, somewhat simpler circuit:

http://sound.westhost.com/p60-f1.gif>

jinxÂ© · 11-September-03, 01:16 PM

Heres a link on building a VU Meter, but using a different chip.
I havent heard of that chip myself either.

http://www.gideontech.com/guides/stereovu/

Cheshiredemon · 11-September-03, 04:17 PM

The chip I'm using is the newer vrsion of the one gideontech used. As for the link, that's where I first stumbled across this mod idea. I've wired it according to their diagrams, and gotten nothing. As for hawkeye's dia. it doesn't make sense, they have 10 wires coming off one side. both chips have 18 legs, not 20.

EDIT: Wow, 100 posts...

Monsignor Funkibut · 11-September-03, 04:28 PM

What happens if you wire up your chip EXACTLY like Gideontech did? Is that the nothing or is something else the nothing?

Did you notice the resistor is KILOohms and the capacitor MICROfarads?

Is the notch on the chip the right way so you're sure that what u think is pin one is pin one?

I know these seem like n00b questions but without being able to see the circuit .....

EDIT: Your chip seems to be pin-compatible with the LM3916N Gideontech used. HERE is the datasheet for that.
-MF

M.D.K. · 11-September-03, 05:13 PM

you have the led's wired up right? they onlywork one way you know.

Cheshiredemon · 11-September-03, 05:28 PM

1. When I wire it exactly like their dia. nothing happens when I try it.
2. yes, I noticed the ratings. Also, the capacitor is an option if the LEDs are over 6" away, which they aren't.
3. I tried both directions for the LEDs and no reaction, but just to be sure, which leg is which again?

Monsignor Funkibut · 11-September-03, 05:36 PM

At this point in the ONE circuit class I had some 16 years ago, I'd just go stupid and try everything/

Tear it all off the proto board
Make SURE the LEDs work in something else.
Test EVERY wire
Make sure youre getting voltage out the 12+
Make sure the GND is grounded
Make sure the cap. and resistor work
Try both chips
Try the diagram in the datasheet - its a little different - an extra resistor I think.
Make sure the links in the proto board are going where you believe they are going
One of those $5 digital probes can do most of this.
Good luck
-MF

HawkEye_Pierce · 11-September-03, 05:37 PM

you might have fried it if you were not wearing a ground strap

Cheshiredemon · 11-September-03, 06:04 PM

Hmmm... I'll probably wind up doing what MF said. *sigh* I don't think it's fried though.

jinxÂ© · 11-September-03, 07:01 PM

Have you checked if your audio signal is working?

Cheshiredemon · 11-September-03, 07:04 PM

Hmm... I may have found the problem. The LEDs I bought are crap. Being the idiot I am I bought an el cheapo 20 pack thinking (or rather NOT thinking) "I have 2 10 step meter, so I can get all 20 at once!" Bad choice. Even with direct juice they only get a little red streak in 'em. As soon as I find my protoboard again (white board lost somewhere in a giant stack of white papers.

) I'll test and see if that's the prob.

EDIT: No, the audio works. TRUST ME! I cranked it to make sure that wasn't the problem, but forgot to turn it back down when I put my headphones on. The phone was ringing for about 10 min after that.

Cheshiredemon · 11-September-03, 08:26 PM

Ah ha! The LEDs were the culprit. Hooked up some nice ones I got from a site and BAM! It worked. Now I just need to go get some more good LEDs. I'll post again when I get the LEDs in and solder the components to the board.

Monsignor Funkibut · 11-September-03, 08:43 PM

The datasheet I linked shows how to get 20 LEDs working with two of those chips. Seems minor change.
Glad u found problem
-MF

Cheshiredemon · 11-September-03, 10:12 PM

I'm just going to build two circuits that share power and the audio ground.

jinxÂ© · 11-September-03, 10:56 PM

Could you run 2 of these chips off of 1 stereo jack? vs. 1 off of a mono.

carbongraphite · 12-September-03, 12:29 AM

everytime we talk about vu meters i have to bring up the easy to build kit that velleman kit makes

yeah its great haveing so much fun stuff sitting around waiting to be put into some great thing.

Cheshiredemon · 12-September-03, 12:54 AM

where do you buy those? they're sweet.

Jinx: yes, that's what I'm doing. I'll show you when I'm done if you want.

10-September-03, 10:40 PM		#1 (permalink)
Cheshiredemon Smiling-Hoe	VU meter, hold the hammer Could someone help me out? I have the parts for a ten-step VU meter, but I can't get the wiring right. If someone could post a good, clear wiring diagram that would be a big help. If it's any help, I'm test wiring the circuit on this: And doing the final wiring on this:

11-September-03, 04:28 PM		#7 (permalink)
Monsignor Funkibut Master VB Pr'hoe'grammer	What happens if you wire up your chip EXACTLY like Gideontech did? Is that the nothing or is something else the nothing? Did you notice the resistor is KILOohms and the capacitor MICROfarads? Is the notch on the chip the right way so you're sure that what u think is pin one is pin one? I know these seem like n00b questions but without being able to see the circuit ..... EDIT: Your chip seems to be pin-compatible with the LM3916N Gideontech used. HERE is the datasheet for that. -MF Last edited by Monsignor Funkibut; 11-September-03 at 04:40 PM..

12-September-03, 12:29 AM		#19 (permalink)
carbongraphite Pow - Hoe playa	everytime we talk about vu meters i have to bring up the easy to build kit that velleman kit makes yeah its great haveing so much fun stuff sitting around waiting to be put into some great thing. Attached Thumbnails

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11-September-03, 12:57 AM		#2 (permalink)
carbongraphite Pow - Hoe playa	which chip are you useing? as in one from Linear or Control Anything pre programed PIC?

11-September-03, 02:12 AM		#3 (permalink)
Cheshiredemon Smiling-Hoe	The chip is an ECG 1549.

11-September-03, 12:49 PM		#4 (permalink)
HawkEye_Pierce Ham Op-Hoe-rator	Never heard of such a chip, must be like EPROM. Where did you get it? Here is another, somewhat simpler circuit: http://sound.westhost.com/p60-f1.gif>

11-September-03, 01:16 PM		#5 (permalink)
jinxÂ© Still Duck's Hoe Though	Heres a link on building a VU Meter, but using a different chip. I havent heard of that chip myself either. http://www.gideontech.com/guides/stereovu/

11-September-03, 04:17 PM		#6 (permalink)
Cheshiredemon Smiling-Hoe	The chip I'm using is the newer vrsion of the one gideontech used. As for the link, that's where I first stumbled across this mod idea. I've wired it according to their diagrams, and gotten nothing. As for hawkeye's dia. it doesn't make sense, they have 10 wires coming off one side. both chips have 18 legs, not 20. EDIT: Wow, 100 posts...

11-September-03, 05:13 PM		#8 (permalink)
M.D.K. Apex Tech Maniac Supreme	you have the led's wired up right? they onlywork one way you know.

11-September-03, 05:28 PM		#9 (permalink)
Cheshiredemon Smiling-Hoe	1. When I wire it exactly like their dia. nothing happens when I try it. 2. yes, I noticed the ratings. Also, the capacitor is an option if the LEDs are over 6" away, which they aren't. 3. I tried both directions for the LEDs and no reaction, but just to be sure, which leg is which again?

11-September-03, 05:36 PM		#10 (permalink)
Monsignor Funkibut Master VB Pr'hoe'grammer	At this point in the ONE circuit class I had some 16 years ago, I'd just go stupid and try everything/ Tear it all off the proto board Make SURE the LEDs work in something else. Test EVERY wire Make sure youre getting voltage out the 12+ Make sure the GND is grounded Make sure the cap. and resistor work Try both chips Try the diagram in the datasheet - its a little different - an extra resistor I think. Make sure the links in the proto board are going where you believe they are going One of those $5 digital probes can do most of this. Good luck -MF

11-September-03, 05:37 PM		#11 (permalink)
HawkEye_Pierce Ham Op-Hoe-rator	you might have fried it if you were not wearing a ground strap

11-September-03, 06:04 PM		#12 (permalink)
Cheshiredemon Smiling-Hoe	Hmmm... I'll probably wind up doing what MF said. sigh I don't think it's fried though.

11-September-03, 07:01 PM		#13 (permalink)
jinxÂ© Still Duck's Hoe Though	Have you checked if your audio signal is working?

11-September-03, 07:04 PM		#14 (permalink)
Cheshiredemon Smiling-Hoe	Hmm... I may have found the problem. The LEDs I bought are crap. Being the idiot I am I bought an el cheapo 20 pack thinking (or rather NOT thinking) "I have 2 10 step meter, so I can get all 20 at once!" Bad choice. Even with direct juice they only get a little red streak in 'em. As soon as I find my protoboard again (white board lost somewhere in a giant stack of white papers. ) I'll test and see if that's the prob. EDIT: No, the audio works. TRUST ME! I cranked it to make sure that wasn't the problem, but forgot to turn it back down when I put my headphones on. The phone was ringing for about 10 min after that.

11-September-03, 08:26 PM		#15 (permalink)
Cheshiredemon Smiling-Hoe	Ah ha! The LEDs were the culprit. Hooked up some nice ones I got from a site and BAM! It worked. Now I just need to go get some more good LEDs. I'll post again when I get the LEDs in and solder the components to the board.

11-September-03, 08:43 PM		#16 (permalink)
Monsignor Funkibut Master VB Pr'hoe'grammer	The datasheet I linked shows how to get 20 LEDs working with two of those chips. Seems minor change. Glad u found problem -MF

11-September-03, 10:12 PM		#17 (permalink)
Cheshiredemon Smiling-Hoe	I'm just going to build two circuits that share power and the audio ground.

11-September-03, 10:56 PM		#18 (permalink)
jinxÂ© Still Duck's Hoe Though	Could you run 2 of these chips off of 1 stereo jack? vs. 1 off of a mono.

12-September-03, 12:54 AM		#20 (permalink)
Cheshiredemon Smiling-Hoe	where do you buy those? they're sweet. Jinx: yes, that's what I'm doing. I'll show you when I'm done if you want.