UltiController Backlight Issue - Flickering, then Dead

[felicitus 0]

Hi,

we've just built the UltiMaker. However, after a while (about 1 hour), the display's backlight started flickering, then went dead. It seems that there's an error on the LCD, any suggestions what to do?

Thanks,

Felicitus

[felicitus 0]

Clarification of "Flickering": The backlight turns off and on again in short intervals (>300ms) and sometimes stays off or on - this happens during the operation. This might be a cold soldering joint.

[Daid 306]

If it happens after an hour, it could also be that the 12V regulator is very slowly overheating.

[felicitus 0]

I assumed that the UltiController doesn't use 12V. Can you confirm that it really uses 12V?

[Daid 306]

The Arduino uses 12V to make the 5V for the UltiController. You could try plugging in an USB cable to a computer, just to test. If the problem is gone then, then it's the 12V regulator.

[felicitus 0]

No, it flickers also when USB is connected.

[Daid 306]

Then the most likely cause becomes a bad connection or bad cable.

[felicitus 0]

I believe it is a manufacturing fault. In order to proove this: Which of the pins is responsible for the VCC of the backlight? Are there schematics available so I can debug prior claiming warranty?

[Daid 306]

Yes, schematics are available.

This is the PCB of the Ultimaker itself:

http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Ultimaker%27s_v1.5.4_PCB

You will have a 1.5.6, but the differences are not that great, the main difference is a jumper "ARDPWR" between the 12V line and the Vin of the Arduino.

The UltiController is the same as this:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:15081

You should contact support if you suspect faulty hardware. (support is always quite busy, so the more info you can give them, the better and quicker you get a response)

[felicitus 0]

The issue has gone away - so I finally have no idea what could have caused it. Probably a bad cable or something.