Help: CMVS wont turn on if Neobitz is connected

Zerrminator · Jul 31, 2009

I'm trying to get my Neobitz working on my 2 Slot CMVS but for some reason it won't power on when I have both Input and Output cables attached
With no Input or Output cable connected to the Neobitz = Powers On Fine
With only Input cable connected to the Neobitz = Powers On Fine

With both Input and Output cables attached = Doesn't Power On

Is this something wrong with my grounds or my 5v? I've tapped the Ground and 5v to the same points on the board for the Power and Power Switch according to the Tutorial.

The only video output I haven't wired up is the S-Video but I don't see how that would matter.

Xian Xi · Jul 31, 2009

Sounds like your wiring is switched. Double check your wiring most likely on the jacks.

xiao_haozi · Jul 31, 2009

What happens with the power runs to the neobitz connected and then just output?
If nothing, then sounds like you did bad wiring on the output side.

Zerrminator · Jul 31, 2009

Here's some pictures of my wiring. Do I have my AV jack ground switched around? I have all grounds connected to the outside pins and Red/Green/Blue/Comp and Chroma Luma lines connected to the center pins. Then I ran the last ground to the ground on the output cable.

It must be the output wiring being wrong because the MVS does turn on when the Input cable is attached as the LED lights up and I hear sound from the headphone jack.

xiao_haozi · Jul 31, 2009

I don't see anything blatantly wrong there. Have you checked continuity to make sure noen of the video signals are shortign with ground?

Also, you should probably take your ground to the neobitz from vid-gnd ... I do here:

metallizer · Jul 31, 2009

A4 position, the unused 3 legged cap location were you took ground, it looks like the soldering is touching 2 pins, instead of just the middle one.

xiao_haozi · Jul 31, 2009

metallizer said:
A4 position, the unused 3 legged cap location were you took ground, it looks like the soldering is touching 2 pins, instead of just the middle one.

Yeah didn't notice that.... I think that's the 5V line on the power regulator (would be that or 12 but I think that's the 5 line?!?) ... but yeah you can check to see if those two are bridged or not. Shouldn't be though if you are getting power okay and things are running when the neobitz output isn't connected.

Finch · Jul 31, 2009

I don't know enough about this stuff to troubleshoot your issue but I did want to say its very helpful to see how someone else is wiring all this stuff up. I'm about to do a CMVS myself with a Neobitz (should arrive next week or so).

I do wonder if there are any guides to wiring up a CMVS in a way that doesn't use the Jamma connector along the front. I've seen some people just solder right onto the jamma connector, but then its useless to install in a cab later on. Since I'm using a MV-1fz and it needs an enclosure anyways I was planning to just buy an edge connector and wire it up that way, but hooking everything up in a way that its hidden/underneath would be kind of cool.

xiao_haozi · Jul 31, 2009

Finch said:
I don't know enough about this stuff to troubleshoot your issue but I did want to say its very helpful to see how someone else is wiring all this stuff up. I'm about to do a CMVS myself with a Neobitz (should arrive next week or so).

I do wonder if there are any guides to wiring up a CMVS in a way that doesn't use the Jamma connector along the front. I've seen some people just solder right onto the jamma connector, but then its useless to install in a cab later on. Since I'm using a MV-1fz and it needs an enclosure anyways I was planning to just buy an edge connector and wire it up that way, but hooking everything up in a way that its hidden/underneath would be kind of cool.

http://www.jamma-nation-x.com/jammax/tutorials.html?menu=neo-tut-list

Zerrminator · Jul 31, 2009

How do I check for continuity? Sorry but I'm a bit new at these kinds of mods.

I'm pretty sure it's not the ground touching those two pins together because like I said the board powers up fine when the output connector is not connected to the Neobitz...

Maybe I'll try relocating the ground line for the Neobitz as you mentioned above though.

Any other suggestions??

Finch · Jul 31, 2009

awesome thanks!

xiao_haozi · Jul 31, 2009

Zerrminator said:
How do I check for continuity? Sorry but I'm a bit new at these kinds of mods.

I'm pretty sure it's not the ground touching those two pins together because like I said the board powers up fine when the output connector is not connected to the Neobitz...

Maybe I'll try relocating the ground line for the Neobitz as you mentioned above though.

Any other suggestions??

Use a multimeter and check to see that each video signal line is not grounding out. Just probe each signal with the other probe on the gnd line and see if you ever get continuity. Shouldn't.

You can also check your other points like that as well. Probe your joint and a possible short and see if they are indeed continuous... if so, you shorted it out with your solder joint.

Don't have a multimeter? You should for stuff like this. Just grab a craftsman from sears.... cheap and you can get temperature probes for them and such if you ever need/want that feature.

Xian Xi · Jul 31, 2009

I sent the OP a PM of what the problem is.

Since the cover is bare metal and the PSU is a negative tip it is putting the +5v throughout the cover which is clashing with the ground from the video jacks. All he needs to do is simply open the PSU and swap the wires to make is positive tip and then switch the wires on the power jack to make is positive tip as well.

xiao_haozi · Jul 31, 2009

Xian Xi said:
I sent the OP a PM of what the problem is.

Since the cover is bare metal and the PSU is a negative tip it is putting the +5v throughout the cover which is clashing with the ground from the video jacks. All he needs to do is simply open the PSU and swap the wires to make is positive tip and then switch the wires on the power jack to make is positive tip as well.

Good catch man....

Talk about a 'hot' cover!

Zerrminator · Jul 31, 2009

Thanks for the tip XX, I'll be sure to try that out when I get back to it. I won't be able to report back for a few days as I'm leaving for the long weekend. But I'll make sure to update this thread with my findings.

Thanks for the support. As always the Neo Community rocks.

Finch · Jul 31, 2009

wow, good catch on that one.

On that same reguard, since I'm an electricity noob, how does one tell which lead is +. I haven't started my CMVS yet but I'm realizing that when it comes to the power adapter I have no idea which side of the little barrel plug is the + and which is -. I'm sure I can go look it up, or it says on the adapter but in general how does one tell if there is no documentation for the device. I assume a multimeter can do it, which I have, but I don't know much about its functionality beyond measuring volts/amps and checking continuity.

sorry, not trying to hijack the thread but it seems kinda relevant.

thanks

Xian Xi · Jul 31, 2009

You look at the PSU itself first to determine what the tip polarity is meaning what the middle pin is on the jack. - ---(o--- + means the tip is positive - ---o)---- + means it's negative.

Finch · Jul 31, 2009

Xian Xi said:
You look at the PSU itself first to determine what the tip polarity is meaning what the middle pin is on the jack. - ---(o--- + means the tip is positive - ---o)---- + means it's negative.

what if you've got something that isn't labeled? Can a multimeter tell you which is which?

I know most stuff is labeled, but on the off chance that it isn't

Xian Xi · Jul 31, 2009

Easy way is set your multimeter to DC and stick the red terminal inside the tip and the black on the outside, if your multimeter says 5v then it's positive tip, if your multimeter says -5v then it's negative tip.

xiao_haozi · Jul 31, 2009

Finch said:
what if you've got something that isn't labeled? Can a multimeter tell you which is which?

I know most stuff is labeled, but on the off chance that it isn't

Xian Xi said:
Easy way is set your multimeter to DC and stick the red terminal inside the tip and the black on the outside, if your multimeter says 5v then it's positive tip, if your multimeter says -5v then it's negative tip.

You can also check to see which pin has continuity with the gnd shield around them. Although XX's way is the more 'correct' way so to speak

norton9478 · Aug 3, 2009

I was wondering about the case..... Although I thought it might have to do with something else.

Zerrminator · Aug 4, 2009

Awesome, it's looks like the issue was easily fixed by Xian Xi's recommendation as stated above. I switched the PSU to positive tip along with the power jack and now everything works.

Xian Xi · Aug 4, 2009

Awesome D. Post pics when you're done.

Zerrminator · Aug 4, 2009

I will once I get the cover and my custom joystick done.

Help: CMVS wont turn on if Neobitz is connected

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