Hello.

I am a beginner with electronic stuff, but I did buy a Lava lamp not so long ago, which had led lights that change colors. However, I did not like that it changed colors so fast (about 2 seconds per color) and I would like to have it change much slower. I opened up the lamp to look at the circuit board but have gotten stuck and have no idea how it could be done.

Anyone that can help?

 

I would guess that the 8 pin DIL device is a microcontroller. Telling us it's part number would be a great help. (In your pictures any part numbers on it are hidden by the white wire.) If it is a microcontroller you would probably need to modify the code in it to increase the time delays. Tracing out the schematic of the board would also be helpful.

Les.

 

I would guess that the 8 pin DIL device is a microcontroller. Telling us it's part number would be a great help. (In your pictures any part numbers on it are hidden by the white wire.) If it is a microcontroller you would probably need to modify the code in it to increase the time delays. Tracing out the schematic of the board would also be helpful.

Les.

Hi, thank you for your reply.
It says 262A right above the chip.
And I don't have the schematic of this circuit :/

 

I would guess that the 8 pin DIL device is a microcontroller. Telling us it's part number would be a great help. (In your pictures any part numbers on it are hidden by the white wire.) If it is a microcontroller you would probably need to modify the code in it to increase the time delays. Tracing out the schematic of the board would also be helpful.

Les.

Or which number is relevant? Maybe I picked the wrong one.

 

I do not recognise 262A as a common microcontroller. It could be an in house part number. If that is the case you are unlikely to find any data on it. I did not expect you to be supplied with a schematic. It looks a fairly simple board so tracing out the schematic should not take very long. If the 8 pin chip is not a common microcontroller then I think you have no chance of changing the timing.

Les.

 

That is a circuit designation on the board, what is the part number on the 8 pin IC itself

 

That is a circuit designation on the board, what is the part number on the 8 pin IC itself

I guess I have to remove it to see the number underneath? Cause there's nothign written on the top side of it.

 

Unless it was removed by the manuf. it is normally plain to see on the top side, there is usually nothing on the bottom!

 

I guess I have to remove it to see the number underneath? Cause there's nothign written on the top side of it.

No - no - no

Do not do that....

Unlikely that there will be anything written underneath.

We do not need to know what chip is fitted now, only what will be compatible with the pin-out

It is just possible that an 8-pin PIC12 might do the job if pin 4 (MCLR) were to be cut off, but most PICs require that MCLR is connected.

 

I guess I have to remove it to see the number underneath? Cause there's nothign written on the top side of it.

Try giving it a wipe and use a magnifying glass, it could be faded off.

 

Time to link to the other forum

Maker Pro forum

 

Unless it was removed by the manuf. it is normally plain to see on the top side, there is usually nothing on the bottom!

Ok!

 

Time to link to the other forum

Maker Pro forum

Oh wait you're the same dude xd

 

No - no - no

Do not do that....

Unlikely that there will be anything written underneath.

We do not need to know what chip is fitted now, only what will be compatible with the pin-out

It is just possible that an 8-pin PIC12 might do the job if pin 4 (MCLR) were to be cut off, but most PICs require that MCLR is connected.

Right now I don't understand much of your message, but in case it is not visible, there are 2 pins that are not soldered to the circuit board

 

If you have the time and patience, it should not be difficult to reverse-engineer the board, it may make it somewhat clearer if the IC is a micro.
As mentioned, it could be a trivial program for a small Microchip processor.
Only a one sided PCT board.

 

If you have the time and patience, it should not be difficult to reverse-engineer the board, it may make it somewhat clearer if the IC is a micro.
As mentioned, it could be a trivial program for a small Microchip processor.

At this point it is starting to sound really complicated for a dude like me.. almost like I want to find someone to do it for me now :I

 

Where are you located, geographically ?

 

Where are you located, geographically ?

Stockholm, Sweden.

 

Ah.. half a world away!

 

I count 9 LEDs labeled R,G,B three each so my guess id the three colors are Red, Green, Blue. I count three transistors so likely the three transistors are driving three LEDs each. Best guess is I agree the chip an 8 pin DIP chip is likely a uC (micro-controller) coded to digital out three channels driving the three transistors with a delay of 2 seconds for each channel. Less seeing the actual schematic it's hard to guess exactly what that "ball game" chip actually is. Yep, less any part number on the top of the chip it's pure speculation.

Ron