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View Full Version : Nano Biscotte Fries Another SD Card



redeyejedi
02-09-2013, 01:48 AM
Ok this is starting to piss me off. My NB saber worked fine until the 30th day and my 1st SD Card was currupted. I posted a thread and figured out all the does and don'ts for SD card management. I ordered a new SD card from the shop and it worked fine until tonight. The battery in my saber died and then it wouldn't turn on at all. I charged it. No boot sound when taken off the charger. No sound at all. Tryed another SD card and it worked fine, but the one that was in the saber is totally fried. My computer wont even read it.

I have purchased 2 SD Cards in the last 3 weeks and now I'm down to 1, with 2 dead(including my original card).

When my saber needs to be charged the sound goes off while the saber is on, the LED stays ON for a couple of seconds then goes OFF and I hear the boot sound. Is that normal?

My experience with sound boards is limited, but I've wired a Force Action econo board, 2 Hasbro 2010 econo boards, a Hasbro FX with Removable Blade board, and now the Nano Biscotte.

I wired my saber exactly as the owners manual instucts and all me soldering is clean and contained to the specific pads. In the saber I have the board mounted in the NB chasis disc and have Heat Shrink covering the entire board(not shrunk, but covering).

I'm using:
-3.7v 18650 Lithium ion batteries(with PCB)
-Rebel Star Green
-High quailty recharge port
-2w bass speaker
-non illuminated AV mometary switch

I don't want to have to buy a SD card every other week or every other time I have to charge my saber. It's 3:17am and I'm turining to the darkside over this. Seems like econo boards are more reliable at this point.

Any Ideas would be great. Thanks.

Silver Serpent
02-09-2013, 08:49 AM
That sounds odd. I'd like to see pictures of the wiring going to your recharge port. Something sounds a bit off.

Skottsaber
02-09-2013, 08:57 AM
Are you sure your SD card holder is not shorting out on your hilt somewhere?

redeyejedi
02-09-2013, 12:57 PM
Here's some pic's. The board is positioned inside a 3" extension below the switch. A short choke part screws into the 3" extension with a trim ring between the parts. Every thing is wired using quick connectors. Battery to recharge port and port to board.

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af349/jediwill/My%20Lightsabers/CAM00275_zps0b2a8d3e.jpg

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af349/jediwill/My%20Lightsabers/CAM00281_zps94c157b1.jpg

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af349/jediwill/My%20Lightsabers/CAM00354_zps5f34b8e7.jpg

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af349/jediwill/My%20Lightsabers/CAM00356_zps99033c95.jpg

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af349/jediwill/My%20Lightsabers/CAM00358_zpsaa77e5a6.jpg

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af349/jediwill/My%20Lightsabers/CAM00361_zps63521522.jpg

redeyejedi
02-09-2013, 01:03 PM
Are you sure your SD card holder is not shorting out on your hilt somewhere?

I'm not sure about that. Its strange that it only has happend twice and only happens randomly when the batteries need to be charged. I don't understand how it happens. Is my saber acting normal when the battery needs charging, by shutting off the sound, then light, and replaying the boot sound?

Silver Serpent
02-09-2013, 01:46 PM
Lightsabers tend to get all manner of strange behaviors when the batteries are low. It's the first thing I recommend to check if a saber is acting up.

It sounds like something bad is happening during the charging process. I'm thinking that either the recharge port isn't correctly cutting power to the board when recharging, or the recharge port is shorting out to the hilt and it's getting back to the board somehow. I might be wrong, but that's the first place I'd start looking.

redeyejedi
02-09-2013, 04:15 PM
Thanks for the input. I checked the recharge port and it is ok. I put electrical tape around the whole thing(on top of the heat shrink). I also put some electrical tape on the bottom of the short choke part, just in case it is shorting the SD card slot somehow. If this ever happens again, I'll be right back on this thread trying to figure it out. I hope I just got 2 bad SD cards in a row and this will be the end of it.

Caine Drathul
02-10-2013, 09:47 PM
Never heat shrink your board in any way shape or form because that will eventually fry it. The board needs to breathe.

I strongly suggest taking that heat shrink off ASAP and replacing it with a thin layer of plastic tubing (buy it in the florescent light section at the hardware store)

Silver Serpent
02-11-2013, 07:19 AM
Well, he did indicate that the heat shrink wasn't shrunk, but just loosely set over it. The heat shrink is unnecessary anyhow, since he's using chassis discs.

I'd love to see some up-close photos of your solder joints, to see how much wire is exposed.

Ari-Jaq Xulden
02-11-2013, 10:42 AM
http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af349/jediwill/My%20Lightsabers/CAM00354_zps5f34b8e7.jpg

$20 says its the switch. Double check those bare wires and terminals. My wager says you used the screw terminals and left those bare wires/terminals touching something thereby causing a ground fault.

Edit: Try removing the switch entirely from the NB. Shrink cover those leads and try a charge, if it works that is your culprit. Not 100%, but I believe you can charge w/o the SD present.

redeyejedi
02-11-2013, 11:12 AM
Here's some pics of the wiring

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af349/jediwill/My%20Lightsabers/CAM00376_zps279d149e.jpg

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af349/jediwill/My%20Lightsabers/CAM00378_zps031f4002.jpg

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af349/jediwill/My%20Lightsabers/CAM00381_zps3fe14dc2.jpg

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af349/jediwill/My%20Lightsabers/CAM00382_zps4ea40129.jpg

Strydur
02-11-2013, 11:16 AM
You do not want all of that bare wiring.. Heat the pad up for a second while pushing the wire through the rest of the way until you do not have any bare wire on the wire side then just snip off the extra sticking out the bottom.

redeyejedi
02-11-2013, 12:15 PM
Thanks for the advice. I pushed the wires down throught the pads and trimmed the bottoms and I covered the switch post with heat shrink.

How's it look now?

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af349/jediwill/My%20Lightsabers/CAM00383_zpsc1ae28e7.jpg

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af349/jediwill/My%20Lightsabers/CAM00384_zps39d846b6.jpg

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af349/jediwill/My%20Lightsabers/CAM00385_zpsff2ee118.jpg

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af349/jediwill/My%20Lightsabers/CAM00386_zps797290bf.jpg

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af349/jediwill/My%20Lightsabers/CAM00387_zps8444b60f.jpg

Silver Serpent
02-11-2013, 12:44 PM
Much cleaner. Let's hope that prevents any future problems.

There's a ton of little things that can make a saber act up. I hate for people to have recurring issues with their sabers. It can leave a bad taste in their mouth for our hobby. Let's hope everything works from now on.

redeyejedi
02-11-2013, 12:52 PM
Thanks again for the help. Hopefully this will be the end of it. I appreciate it everybody.

Caine Drathul
02-12-2013, 08:26 AM
Well, he did indicate that the heat shrink wasn't shrunk, but just loosely set over it. The heat shrink is unnecessary anyhow, since he's using chassis discs.

I'd love to see some up-close photos of your solder joints, to see how much wire is exposed.

It doesn't matter. The board is still covered by it.

Anyways, I just read thru this and I am glad to see that you got the issue resolved. Your wiring looks a lot cleaner now thanks to Strydur's advice, too. Good work and keep building. :cool:

MrCafe
02-12-2013, 12:43 PM
Just wanted to saay this is why I love these forums. Great community support that is very informed and well experienced. Glad to see you got your issue resolved and know what to keep an eye out for when I start a soldering build.

redeyejedi
02-12-2013, 12:48 PM
It doesn't matter. The board is still covered by it.

Anyways, I just read thru this and I am glad to see that you got the issue resolved. Your wiring looks a lot cleaner now thanks to Strydur's advice, too. Good work and keep building. :cool:

Ok I've removed the heatshrink sleeve from my board. I feel like it was extra protection. Here is a pic of the board in the heat shrink sleeve.

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af349/jediwill/My%20Lightsabers/CAM00376_zps279d149e.jpg

I just don't want another problem to arrise from removing it. I'm only able to use 1 chasis disc, because the other disc interfiers with my switch...witch is directly over my board.

redeyejedi
02-12-2013, 12:50 PM
Just wanted to saay this is why I love these forums. Great community support that is very informed and well experienced. Glad to see you got your issue resolved and know what to keep an eye out for when I start a soldering build.

I love this community too. I won't be sure the problem is resolved until I charge my saber a few more times and the SD Card remains uncorrupted.

Silver Serpent
02-12-2013, 01:11 PM
If you're concerned about the switch accidentally making contact with the NB board, some people put a piece of foam tape on the boards to keep things separated.

redeyejedi
02-12-2013, 02:40 PM
Ok cool. I have some pink ESD resistant foam envelopes. I can cut one down to size, make a sleeve, and bind it with electrical tape. Do you think that will be sufficient protection?

Silver Serpent
02-12-2013, 06:56 PM
Electrical tape has a tendency to come loose when it gets warm. It leaves gummy residue everywhere. It's never recommended for use inside sabers.

redeyejedi
02-12-2013, 07:07 PM
Ok good to know. I think I'll see how it works for a while and if it needs more protection I'll add the foam. Thanks.

Sunrider
02-12-2013, 07:43 PM
I wrap the boards up in Kapton tape if it's tight. Like this.

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x450/mscottparr/P1080863.jpg

redeyejedi
02-12-2013, 10:32 PM
That's cool. What's Kapton tape? Can it be found easily and is it easy to work with?

Sunrider
02-12-2013, 11:19 PM
Yes and Yes. Its a bit pricy for a 5/8 roll but its worth it. Try amazon or ebay.

redeyejedi
02-13-2013, 12:01 PM
Cool. I'll look into getting some. I just put the ESD resistant foam around my board and it's well protected for now.

redeyejedi
02-14-2013, 12:36 AM
Well I got another idea and removed the foam from my board. I went back and cut the second chasis disc with my dremel and made clearance for my switch. Now I have the board secured between two chassis disc. Secure and safe. I didn't get.any pics, but it worked perfectly. Thanks again for all the help and ideas.