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Author Topic: da20 error display question Carl Martin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1424 From: Oakland, CA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 08-20-2005 03:46 AM                        so we were running another one of those lovely trailers with an srd track consisting of silence (tony takitani this time). when it played, the da20 would display the error rate numerals as normal, except that the bottom horizontal led segment of the "8" would flash on and off, while the other 6 segments would comprise the numeral as usual. this happened on both a flat and a scope version of this trailer. i couldn't find any mention of this flashing led segment in the da20 installation or user manual. am i correct in assuming that this is something that happens with a silent srd track? but why then haven't i noticed it in other instances of silence, like during the ratings band of a trailer? carl  |  IP: Logged Michael Schaffer "Where is the Boardwalk Hotel?" Posts: 4143 From: Boston, MA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 08-20-2005 05:01 AM                        Your normal error rate is 8? Hmmm...  |  IP: Logged Carl Martin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1424 From: Oakland, CA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 08-20-2005 05:08 AM                        err, no. i don't think i've ever even seen it hit 8. i was just indicating the layout of the led segments, what it would read if they were all on. carl  |  IP: Logged Ken Jacquart Film Handler Posts: 82 From: San Francisco, CA, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 08-20-2005 01:51 PM                        If you have another DA20 in the booth, swap the Cat 673 card (the one with the error display) and see what happens. The fact that you have no sound is strange... there was a problem years ago with molex connector pins burning on the power supply connector and consequently causing the 5.0 volt rail to drop. This resulted in some strange things (including no auido). Measure the 5 volt rail with a digital volt meter on the test points located on the Cat 670 card. If it's below 4.84 volts (or so), then you probably have this particular "molex" problem.  |  IP: Logged John Hawkinson Film God Posts: 2273 From: Cambridge, MA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 08-20-2005 07:12 PM                     In case it's still unclear, I believe Carl is saying he sees a flashing underscore. --jhawk  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 08-20-2005 07:42 PM                        Ken; we had a good number of older DA-20's that had the reboot circuit voltage set too low. If power was interupted and the rails dipped sound would stop and the system would not reboot. Apparently wrong value of zener diode was used in production error. Louis  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-20-2005 09:05 PM                     quote: Louis Bornwasser we had a good number of older DA-20's that had the reboot circuit voltage set too low. If power was interupted and the rails dipped sound would stop and the system would not reboot. Apparently wrong value of zener diode was used in production error. Louis I believe it was these power supplies that Lonnie Jennings traveled all around and changed out at N/C to the theatre owners.... So there shouldn't be many if any of them still out there. To cure the Molex problem the best cure is to eliminate the Molex all together amnd solder the harness dorectly to the P.S., I've even seen failures of the three sided molex pins in the later style connectors.... I always say that any connector present in any system is just another time bomb waiting to happen. Mark  |  IP: Logged Ken Jacquart Film Handler Posts: 82 From: San Francisco, CA, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 08-20-2005 11:27 PM                        Yes, there was a problem with the original style Molex female connector pins. The original style mated only with one side of the square male pins of the power supply. They would tend to burn up after years of use. Then we switched to a female connector that would mate 3 sides to the connector pin and thus distribute the current better. When I've seen this problem in the field, I've generally soldered directly to the pins. If the problem is a flashing error display segment, then I would still suggest to try and replace the Cat 673 card itself.  |  IP: Logged Carl Martin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1424 From: Oakland, CA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 08-22-2005 06:14 AM                        ken, there's no functional problem with the da20. there was no sound because the srd track on this trailer consisted of silence (it happens). i take it then that the "blinking underscore" on the error display is not a design feature? sorry, i can't go digging into the innards of the da20, or i will have my own innards dug into. carl  |  IP: Logged Carl Martin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1424 From: Oakland, CA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 09-05-2005 04:50 AM                        ok, different trailer with a silent srd track ("dear wendy" this time), played on a much newer da20, same result: flashing led segment in the error display. it sure looks like an underpublicized feature of the da20. carl  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 09-05-2005 09:51 AM                     I seem to reall seening this blinking underscore on some Dolby snipes (Train, City...etc).  |  IP: Logged

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