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 Forum index » DIY Hardware and Software » Circuit Bending
Need Help Troubleshooting Pocket Theremin Problem
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Blacklight



Joined: Aug 04, 2006
Posts: 23
Location: Connecticut

PostPosted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 10:04 pm    Post subject: Need Help Troubleshooting Pocket Theremin Problem Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Okay. I figured that this would be a good place to ask as there seem to be electronics-smart people here.

I'm in the process of building this:

http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2008-04/build-pocket-theremin-cheap

(damn, that looks like a fun little portable, annoying noise maker that's right up my alley and that my wife will hate as much as she hates that damn cracklebox)

ANYWAY, I've followed the schematic perfectly. It doesn't want to make any sound unless I pull the connection that runs from the 6 pin from the bottom 555 chip, through the capacitor and directly to the ground. When I unhook it, I am able to get the photocell that's hooked up to the chip on the top of the picture working, but the photo cell hooked up to the chip on the bottom of the picture does nothing.
I've tested both chips out separately and they both work perfectly when not hooked into each other like they are in this schematic, so that's not the problem. I've also tested my wires and capacitor on that line and they work fine as well.
Any suggestions as to what I may be doing wrong ?[/url]
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Blacklight



Joined: Aug 04, 2006
Posts: 23
Location: Connecticut

PostPosted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 4:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Problem solved. The problem wasn't with the schematic or the parts. It turns out that there are some dead spots on my breadboard and just by chance, I kept on wiring through them. This thing works fine.
Now it's just a matter of modding the thing for best possible sound and control-ability.
I've actually swapped out the capacitors for different ones that lower the pitch (this things pitch was ear piercingly high). Between that and the swapping out all the different photo cells I have, I hope to have something that's going to be portable and controllable.
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