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Megajolt. Broken Chip..... need codes
dan8400 - 13/1/10 at 03:25 PM

I have assembled my megajolt lite jr but have trodden on the last chip. It is a 16 pin "Processor Freescale MC908QB8" or U1 in the instructions.

Does anyone know if i can get one like it from maplin? What do i need to order? The code doesnt give me anything and i dont know what the chip does.

Any advice is appreciated

Thanks
Dan

andyharding - 13/1/10 at 03:28 PM

Think that the brain programmed with the Megajolt code so only going to be 1 supplier of a replacement I think...

David Jenkins - 13/1/10 at 03:29 PM

Yes - get in touch with Brent Picasso at Autosport Labs. Hopefully he'll be able to offer a replacement (I'm sure he will).

iank - 13/1/10 at 03:37 PM

Can you straighten out the pins? 16pin DIL chips are pretty robust.
Unfortunately as said it's the pre-programmed brain of the thing so it's not available from the normal suppliers.

James - 13/1/10 at 03:52 PM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Yes - get in touch with Brent Picasso at Autosport Labs. Hopefully he'll be able to offer a replacement (I'm sure he will).


Presumably Bill Shurvin(g?)ton or the other suppliers could help too?

dan8400 - 13/1/10 at 03:56 PM

I have found a chip with the exact same code on a website "farnells".

Will this be any good?

It is exactly the same pin layout and model number. Does it need programming then?

Dan

blakep82 - 13/1/10 at 03:58 PM

^ presumably its some kind of ROM chip, so will need programming

iank - 13/1/10 at 04:09 PM

quote:
Originally posted by dan8400
I have found a chip with the exact same code on a website "farnells".

Will this be any good?

It is exactly the same pin layout and model number. Does it need programming then?

Dan


Yes, Farnell are a good supplier if you can find someone with a programmer.

[Edited on 13/1/10 by iank]

MikeRJ - 13/1/10 at 04:14 PM

It's a microcontroller, so it needs programming. As supplied with the MJ kit the micro has been programmed with a bootloader so you can update the firmware via the MJ serial comms port. To program the bootloader onto the chip you need a proper device programmer

dan8400 - 13/1/10 at 04:23 PM

Ok,

unless anyone on here can programme me a chip i'll get in touch with autosport labs to get a replacement.

Regards
Dan

David Jenkins - 13/1/10 at 04:56 PM

You'll probably find the price very reasonable - he's not a rip-off merchant.

blakep82 - 13/1/10 at 06:35 PM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
You'll probably find the price very reasonable - he's not a rip-off merchant.


thats true. megajolt could easily have been double the price it costs, for what it does and stuff

MikeRJ - 13/1/10 at 06:42 PM

Unless you completely snapped the legs off the chip or cracked the package in half it's probably salvageable by straightening the pins carefully. You only tend to get one go at this however, as the copper pins work harden and snap the next time.

iank - 13/1/10 at 07:42 PM

quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
Unless you completely snapped the legs off the chip or cracked the package in half it's probably salvageable by straightening the pins carefully. You only tend to get one go at this however, as the copper pins work harden and snap the next time.


Even if you snap the legs off at the package they're still salvagable in an emergency with a turned pin socket, a good soldering iron, a dremel and a steady hand. (flashbacks to an important demo next day and a boss disaster at 6pm!!)

Wouldn't recommend it in the car as vibration would kill it in weeks, but enough to get you going while you wait for a replacement to be sorted.

MikeRJ - 13/1/10 at 08:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by iank
Even if you snap the legs off at the package they're still salvagable in an emergency with a turned pin socket, a good soldering iron, a dremel and a steady hand. (flashbacks to an important demo next day and a boss disaster at 6pm!!)



Did this as a temporary repair on a laptop a few days ago where someone had spilt a drink into the keyboard and it had leaked down onto the PCB and completely rotted away one pin of a voltage regulator!