Steps to solder components in order for ILC1-1/7 VFD clock ********************************************************************************* Please look the board over carefully and read the instructions and parts list to familiarize yourself with the assembly procedure before you begin. Please also familiarize yourself with transistor orientation: looking at the front (flat side), the three leads are, left to right: emitter, base, collector. A diode has a + and - side, and IC's are marked on one end with a small indented "notch". The IC sockets are also notched. Electrolytic (cylindrical shape) capacitors have a + & - side . Solder all components on the bottom of the board where possible. For transistors, I find it helpful to let the transistor stand up above the board rather than pushing the leads through; this lets the transistor chip inside the case standoff from the heat of the soldering iron. I also find it helps to solder one lead at a time, pausing in between to allow the transistor to cool for a minute. This also applies to LEDs. ********************************************************************************************************************************************* Main board, refer to ILC1VFDBoard1. Solder components in this order: Fuse - 4A, solder in type. Two - four - pin headers with jumpers. These will be set for either 120VAC(USA or 240VAC(others) This is marked on the board. U6 - 18 pin IC socket R11 - 10K resistor Q3 - 2N3906 PNP transistor U2 - 16 pin IC socket Q2 - 2N3904 NPN transistor R12 - 10K resistor R10 - 47K resistor R1 - 100K resistor D1, D2 - 1N5061 rectifier diodes - note orientation C2 - 1,000uF 50V capacitor - electrolytic C3 - .01uF (103) capacitor D4 - 1N4001 rectifier diode - note orientation Q1 - 2N3904 NPN transistor R2 - 10K resistor R3 - 1K resistor C1 - 1,000uF 35V capacitor - electrolytic R4 - 2.2K resistor 7805 5VDC regulator and it's heat sink. D5 - 1N4001 rectifier diode - note orientation LED power indicator C4 - 1,000uF 6.3V capacitor - electrolytic R14, R15 - 10K resistors R13 - 47K resistor Q5 - 2N3906 PNP transistor Q4 - 2N3904 NPN transistor U7 - 18 pin IC socket U3 - 16 pin IC socket R28 - 10K resistor D3 - 1N5061 rectifier diode - note orientation C5, C6 - 10uF 50V capacitors - electrolytic P2 - 10K potentiometer R37 - 220R (220 ohms) LM337 negative voltage regulator and it's large heat sink. Q14 - 2N3904 transistor R7 - 10K resistor Relay - 5VDC relay U1 - 40 pin wide IC socket C7 - .1uF (104) capacitor The area marked for "colon LEDs" can be connected to drive two LEDs for colon markers, if desired. R17, R18, R20, R21, R29 - 10K resistors R16, R19 - 47K resistors Q6, Q8 - 2N3904 NPN transistors Q9, Q7 - 2N3906 PNP transistors U8, U9 - 18 pin IC sockets U4, U5 - 16 pin IC sockets R6, R8, R9 - 2.2K resistors S1, S2, S4 - push buttons 5 pin header for GPS module (if equipped) The seconds board can be added by making the connections from the ten and four gang ports. ************************************************************************************************************************** Seconds board, refer to ILC1VFDBoard2. Q10, Q12 - 2N3904 NPN transistors Q11, Q13 - 2N3906 PNP transistors R23, R24, R26, R27 - 10K resistors R22, R25 - 47K resistors U11, U13 - 18 pin IC sockets U10, U12 - 16 pin IC sockets C8 - 10uF capacitor The sockets for the tubes can be soldered in at this point. The screws are oriented to the front as in the photos. The transformer can be soldered in last, after all other components. It is oriented with the primaries on the fuse side. Black wire to "hot" and white wire to "neutral" These can be soldered to the pads on the bottom of the board. These wires will connect to hot and neutral on an AC power cord. ***************************************************************************************************************************** Testing for voltages. With the board connected to power, the test points should read at 2.5VDC and 5VDC referenced to ground (0VDC). Use a jumper wire to connect pins #10 & 11 on U1 to actuate the relay. With the relay on, the test points should read at 40-45VDC and negative voltage at -3VDC, but this voltage will likely be lower, probably around -19VDC. With a meter connected, adjust P2 until the negative voltage is at - 2.5VDC. Check the tube sockets by reading voltages at the screws. At this point, all voltages should be at zero except pin #1 on the left end which will be at about -2.5VDC. Insert the chips. The 4511 decoders go in the 16 pin sockets and the 2981 go in the 18 pins sockets. The 18F46K20 goes in the 40 pin socket. Note the orientation. When the display first appears it may be dimmer than desired. P2 can be adjusted to the desired brightness. This is usually around -2.25VDC.