[Elecraft] First Alignment and Test problem #5703

[Don Wilhelm]

Bill,

One often repeated error in assembly is failure to solder pin 1 of the Front
Panel U1 socket - result is a blank display.

Peer carefully under the LCD and backlight assembly and see if pin 1 is
soldered.
If it is not soldered, therre is a way to solder it without removing the LCD
(which is a nasty task) - cut away a small portion of the plastic outside
pin 1 (cut at the bottom of the socket), so you can place the tip of the
soldering iron on the pin from the socket side while feeding a bit of solder
on the other side of the board.

You may want to vow to always solder IC pin 1 first on all ICs during your
assembly.  The pad for pin 1 is round as a unique marker while the others
are square.  Sometimes the eyes miss that single round pin.

73,
Don W3FPR


> -----Original Message-----
>
> I got to the first test stage tonight and while the rig came on with no
> smoke there is nothing on the LCD display. I hear the relays clicking and
> the backlight is on but no characters at all.  The front panel is
> plugged in
> fine and I reset it just to make sure.  Dittos for the control
> board.  All
> the intermediate resistance checks were.  Any input as to where to start
> looking would be appreciated!
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Bill NZ0T
>