Please help fixing this thing! PEMF machine

Thread Starter

petit

Joined Jan 24, 2013
70
Thank you, i'll take a look at that one.

looking at the diagram i just did, correct me if i'm wrong, if i put the probes between gate and catode of SCR i should get voltage? because there is no voltage there
also if i put the probes in base-emitter and base-collector i get voltage, so the next thing is that pulse transformer, so the problem might be that pulse transformer?
 

thatoneguy

Joined Feb 19, 2009
6,359
If you could write, maybe in red, next to active components what the voltage or frequency (if pulsed) is, that may help a great deal.

Right now, I'm not sure where on the diagram the signal exists, and where it does not.

If there are voltages, just not pulsed, on the output, label them as well. Also label the ground lines if there are more than one connected by jumper.
 

Thread Starter

petit

Joined Jan 24, 2013
70
If you could write, maybe in red, next to active components what the voltage or frequency (if pulsed) is, that may help a great deal.

Right now, I'm not sure where on the diagram the signal exists, and where it does not.

If there are voltages, just not pulsed, on the output, label them as well. Also label the ground lines if there are more than one connected by jumper.
i did a little more. lower part of pic, you can see output of transformer, two red, two black 24V, after that, string of two zener 4.7 and a rectifier.
there is 16V coming out of the Vreg.
i'm getting 16V at the cd4068, that's the one driving the npn transistor.
there is between 20 and 40mV swinging, 170Hz at the transistor base,
i'm concentrating in the output side, because i think that's where the problem is, but i may be completely wrong.
circuit copy2.jpg
 

thatoneguy

Joined Feb 19, 2009
6,359
Maybe make the text yellow and bold so it stands out more, with an arrow pointing to the test point you are calling out? That would allow you to put the voltages a bit away from the traces, reducing clutter, plus red on copper is nearly invisible. Sorry about that recommendation, I'm used to green masked PCBs.
 

Thread Starter

petit

Joined Jan 24, 2013
70
Maybe make the text yellow and bold so it stands out more, with an arrow pointing to the test point you are calling out? That would allow you to put the voltages a bit away from the traces, reducing clutter, plus red on copper is nearly invisible. Sorry about that recommendation, I'm used to green masked PCBs.
i did change the color. let me know!

circuit copy3.jpg
 
Last edited:

thatoneguy

Joined Feb 19, 2009
6,359
Also post the voltage (Relative to ground) on:

All pins of transistors
All pins of regulator
All pins of SCR

Basically, all the "Active" components that aren't resistors, capacitors, etc.

Voltage on all components in the path to the choke and pulse transformer, as well as show which of the 4 pins are connected to which other for each pair, and the voltages on each.

Have you measured the resistance of the coils on the transformer with the power off to ensure there isn't an open/broken wire in it?
 

Audioguru

Joined Dec 20, 2007
11,248
There are many "electrical medical therapy" devices sold today. Sold by Quacks.
No proof that they do anything good except make profit for the liars that sell them.
Most of these things are just heaters.

But for some injuries heat is bad, instead cold is good to reduce swelling and reduce inflammation.
 

Thread Starter

petit

Joined Jan 24, 2013
70
Also post the voltage (Relative to ground) on:

All pins of transistors
All pins of regulator
All pins of SCR

Basically, all the "Active" components that aren't resistors, capacitors, etc.
all right, i'm going to check that in a second

Voltage on all components in the path to the choke and pulse transformer, as well as show which of the 4 pins are connected to which other for each pair, and the voltages on each.
i'm sorry but i dont know what you mean there :) i know there is a ground going directly to the pulse transformer, other comes from the collector and the other from Vreg, and left corner up goes to gate, what should i measure there?

Have you measured the resistance of the coils on the transformer with the power off to ensure there isn't an open/broken wire in it?
i assume that the transformer is fine, because the machine works, there is voltage (16V)on all the chips, timers, Vreg... i imagine that if there was a broken or open wire there, the machine would not work at all
 

Thread Starter

petit

Joined Jan 24, 2013
70
There are many "electrical medical therapy" devices sold today. Sold by Quacks.
No proof that they do anything good except make profit for the liars that sell them.
Most of these things are just heaters.

But for some injuries heat is bad, instead cold is good to reduce swelling and reduce inflammation.
who said that machine heats anything?
 

thatoneguy

Joined Feb 19, 2009
6,359
The pulse transformer should have two windings, primary and secondary. Just wanted to fine out for sure the pinout isn't odd.

Internal construction with schematic of Pulse Transformer

I'm wondering which pins are connected to coil 1 (primary or secondary) and which pins are connected to coil 2 (primary or secondary), unsure which is which at the moment, just knowing there is continuity between two pairs of pins shows the transformer hasn't failed miserably.
 

Thread Starter

petit

Joined Jan 24, 2013
70
The pulse transformer should have two windings, primary and secondary. Just wanted to fine out for sure the pinout isn't odd.

Internal construction with schematic of Pulse Transformer

I'm wondering which pins are connected to coil 1 (primary or secondary) and which pins are connected to coil 2 (primary or secondary), unsure which is which at the moment, just knowing there is continuity between two pairs of pins shows the transformer hasn't failed miserably.
all right, i just burned the Vreg :mad: probe slipped... i have to wait for replacement...
anyway, somebody just told me that the transistor is not turning on with that little voltage... any idea why is getting just 40mV????
 

Thread Starter

petit

Joined Jan 24, 2013
70
Hi Guys,
now another problem... after i burned the Vreg checking voltages the other day, i ordered a new one, i just got it today, and it looks this one like it has blown too! i tested voltages and i'm getting 24 volts in and and 2 volts out :mad:
what can be causing that?
i'm been working on the diagram this past days.
Thank you
View attachment pemf.pdf
 

thatoneguy

Joined Feb 19, 2009
6,359
You need to be very careful when probing.

Have other components gotten shorted when measuring? A slip that shorts the collector to base of a transistor will kill it in most cases, for example.
 

thatoneguy

Joined Feb 19, 2009
6,359
With the power off, check continuity to ensure the solder joint was good. Make sure the ground pin is 0Ω to the ground PCB traces, same for Vout, and Vin.

Test as much as possible using continuity and diode check without the power on when working up the schematic.

Only power it on when you are ready to trace signals, and then probe very, very carefully. A few good shocks (or burnt components) teaches you that lesson very quickly if you slip.

At this point, the state of the entire circuit is "unknown", as I have no idea if anything was shorted or not. The best bet would be to verify the regulator works out of circuit (if you have a breadboard and bench supply). Verify the input voltage is the same, then essentially, work from there again.

A great help would be to have a known working unit next to it, or a picture of a functioning unit with voltages at key points called out. Failing that, it's trial and error with intuitive guessing (SWAG). Especially when I actually have no clue what the output should be, other than "not zero" from what you've stated. :confused:
 

Thread Starter

petit

Joined Jan 24, 2013
70
With the power off, check continuity to ensure the solder joint was good. Make sure the ground pin is 0Ω to the ground PCB traces, same for Vout, and Vin.

Test as much as possible using continuity and diode check without the power on when working up the schematic.

Only power it on when you are ready to trace signals, and then probe very, very carefully. A few good shocks (or burnt components) teaches you that lesson very quickly if you slip.

At this point, the state of the entire circuit is "unknown", as I have no idea if anything was shorted or not. The best bet would be to verify the regulator works out of circuit (if you have a breadboard and bench supply). Verify the input voltage is the same, then essentially, work from there again.

A great help would be to have a known working unit next to it, or a picture of a functioning unit with voltages at key points called out. Failing that, it's trial and error with intuitive guessing (SWAG). Especially when I actually have no clue what the output should be, other than "not zero" from what you've stated. :confused:
i'm going to try to test the Vreg to see if it's working fine.
do you think a short not close to the vreg can make the vreg not putting the output that is supposed to?
 

thatoneguy

Joined Feb 19, 2009
6,359
Keep in mind that physical proximity (or distance) has nothing to do with electrical proximity (or distance) in the circuit. They generally follow each other, but sometimes components next to each other on a board are parts of two entirely different sub-circuits.

Other components shorted could make the output of the regulator appear lower, due to it being overloaded and unable to maintain regulation. If this is happening, the regulator will get physically hot rather quickly.
 
Top