Anyone seen this before?

[Locrian99]

Anyone seen thjs before, any idea of a cause?

This is the randomizer chip from a low tide. Note crack around pin 8 coming from what almost looks like a burned spot. Wasnt from an iron i dont believe as this was working for me and the guy i sold it to. He resold it.

 

[Robert]

Are you talking about what looks like a crack coming from pin 8?

 

[Locrian99]

Are you talking about what looks like a crack coming from pin 8?

Yes

 

[Robert]

I'd be interested to know what the 5V supply measures.

I'm not sure what would cause that sort of failure outside of overvoltage. The 5V regulator should have handled up to about 30V, so your average pedal power supply wouldn't break it.

 

[Locrian99]

Ill ask the guy if he can check. Pin 8 i imagine on that ic

 

[Feral Feline]

That'll buffer right out...

 

[Robert]

Is that blue-ish spot on pin 6 just a glare or is that some sort of arc mark?

 

[Locrian99]

Is that blue-ish spot on pin 6 just a glare or is that some sort of arc mark?

Your guess is as goos as mine.

I didnt even sell the pedal to the guy he just knew i built it and he messaged me on reverb, he hasnt responded yet to me asking him about voltage readings at pin 8 or the regulator.

Wondering what couldve caused it to randomly do that if it is an arc. I had the pedal built for a bit used it a few times beyond initial testing. Guy who bought it from me has bought probably 15-20 pedals from me so i tend to believe him when he says it worked fine for him for the months he owned it. Not really my problem i guess just don’t like something i built breaking.

 

[Erik S]

Pretty random.

 

[Robert]

Pretty random.

Well, it is the randomizer IC. It understood the assignment.

Not really my problem i guess just don’t like something i built breaking.

I'm going to offer to send the guy another IC and hopefully that'll take care of it. Worst case scenario another microcontroller bites the dust, we'll recover.

 

[Locrian99]

Well, it is the randomizer IC. It understood the assignment.



I'm going to offer to send the guy another IC and hopefully that'll take care of it. Worst case scenario another microcontroller bites the dust, we'll recover.

Awesome

 

[KreoPensas]

I've seen damage like that from physical stress, but that spot at at the top of the crack is worrysome.

 

[Paradox916]

If I had to take a guess I would say the regulator might have failed and it went poof.

It’s hard to say why, Guitarist tend to be like little kids and lie about how shit got broken …

“it just blew up for no reason.”

“Why are you holding that screw driver?”

“Oh… that was for something else.”

Riiiight…

 

[Robert]

5V supply is OK so we'll try the IC.

 

[jwin615]

Delayed ESD result maybe?

 

[Locrian99]

Delayed ESD result maybe?

Ya know i was thinking it worked prior to shipping. If it was wrapped in just regular plastic/bubble wrap. Vibrations etc could thr electro static discharge through the enclosure/jacks/pots somehow.

 

[jwin615]

Ya know i was thinking it worked prior to shipping. If it was wrapped in just regular plastic/bubble wrap. Vibrations etc could thr electro static discharge through the enclosure/jacks/pots somehow.

More likely it would have occured before or during assembly. Did you build it in the winter by chance?

 

[Locrian99]

More likely it would have occured before or during assembly. Did you build it in the winter by chance?

Yea i did. My area winters are wet and mild mostly. Cant recall if i built it around one of our not so common dry/cold stretches.

 

[Paradox916]

Yea i did. My area winters are wet and mild mostly. Cant recall if i built it around one of our not so common dry/cold stretches.

Were you wearing wool socks? ️

Could ESD really blow a chip up like that where it blows apart?

 

[jwin615]

Were you wearing wool socks? ️

Could ESD really blow a chip up like that where it blows apart?

No. But it could damage the chip and cause an internal short or other damage that results in a short. ESD damage isn't always immediately apparent.