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Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2023 6:25 am
by radium98
LeeCavanagh with few skills yes
Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2023 9:31 pm
by LeeCavanagh
radium98 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 15, 2023 6:25 am
LeeCavanagh with few skills yes
Thanks. Both
‘
Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2023 11:04 am
by BriansBrain
I'm still waiting for the CMOS HCF4060
Regarding the Crystal
The NRG pdf says it's
AEL 6.4000 MHz Crystal
The Enigma Component shop in the UK have
Crystal 6.4000MHz HC49 low profile
But I can't find info about it if it's a
20pf or
30pf
Any help would be... well......... Helpfulll
.
Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2023 5:10 pm
by LeeCavanagh
It’s not showing a steady reading,
If I put my finger on the vco the red unlock light does come on then goes off when I release, so the pll unlock indication are doing something but it’s still not locked on freq even when it’s solid green , once it’s warmed up it appear to be steady ish but it’s difficult to get rid of the .05 which the pll should be doing, I’ve replace ic1 and ic4 and I have a couple of SN74 but not sure if they are a match for any of the existing. Ic4 gets hot (but that could be normal).
I have a spare xtal so will give that a try later
Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2023 6:10 pm
by BriansBrain
LeeCavanagh wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 5:10 pm
I have a spare xtal so will give that a try later
Hi
Is your spare xtal a Real Genuine
AEL 6.4000 MHz Crystal
If so where did you get it from ?
.
Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2023 6:41 pm
by jvok
BriansBrain wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 11:04 am
I'm still waiting for the CMOS HCF4060
Regarding the Crystal
The NRG pdf says it's
AEL 6.4000 MHz Crystal
The Enigma Component shop in the UK have
Crystal 6.4000MHz HC49 low profile
But I can't find info about it if it's a
20pf or
30pf
Any help would be... well......... Helpfulll
Looks like AEL was bought out by Abracon and don't make 6.4mhz parts any more.
You could try contacting Enigma and see if they'll give you specs on the xtal. But my advice would be to fit the mouser part (or search same part number on other distributors to see if you can buy locally) then change C60 to 18pf to suit the lower load capacitance.
Of course all this is assuming the xtals the failed part. Maybe worth ruling out the other cheaper parts first before you worry about the xtal too much.
Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2023 6:45 pm
by jvok
LeeCavanagh wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 5:10 pm
It’s not showing a steady reading,
If I put my finger on the vco the red unlock light does come on then goes off when I release, so the pll unlock indication are doing something but it’s still not locked on freq even when it’s solid green , once it’s warmed up it appear to be steady ish but it’s difficult to get rid of the .05 which the pll should be doing, I’ve replace ic1 and ic4 and I have a couple of SN74 but not sure if they are a match for any of the existing. Ic4 gets hot (but that could be normal).
I have a spare xtal so will give that a try later
What type of counter do you have? Is it a type with a probe like a scope or a non contact one you just hold near the circuit?
Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2023 6:49 pm
by tvtv
jvok wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 6:45 pm
LeeCavanagh wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 5:10 pm
It’s not showing a steady reading,
If I put my finger on the vco the red unlock light does come on then goes off when I release, so the pll unlock indication are doing something but it’s still not locked on freq even when it’s solid green , once it’s warmed up it appear to be steady ish but it’s difficult to get rid of the .05 which the pll should be doing, I’ve replace ic1 and ic4 and I have a couple of SN74 but not sure if they are a match for any of the existing. Ic4 gets hot (but that could be normal).
I have a spare xtal so will give that a try later
What type of counter do you have? Is it a type with a probe like a scope or a non contact one you just hold near the circuit?
It’s a cheap one but I have used it previously to confirm the out put of pa’s, it just takes a 9v battery, has an sma connector of which I have a probe coming from the center…. I will try again later
Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2023 6:50 pm
by tvtv
BriansBrain wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 6:10 pm
LeeCavanagh wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 5:10 pm
I have a spare xtal so will give that a try later
Hi
Is your spare xtal a Real Genuine
AEL 6.4000 MHz Crystal
If so where did you get it from ?
.
It was from Mouser , it’s the one mentioned above
Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2023 2:29 am
by tvtv
This uk shop also has 6.4mhz crystals (I only found them in a search on google just now, never used them but maybe others here have)
https://symkrilag.uk/shop/crystalsosci ... -hc-49-18/
30pf load
Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2023 4:09 am
by LeeCavanagh
Swapped out the crystal, it didn’t make any difference.
However I have noticed a resistor is burnt and it’s damn hot , looks like whoever built it originally put a low rated 33r next to the voltage regulator, typical I don’t have any to hand so I’ve ordered some better ones with 1% tolerance too. That should sort out the wrong voltage on pin 16 ic1 hopefully
It was still getting hot but no longer giving accurate resistance
Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2023 1:03 pm
by BriansBrain
jvok wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 6:41 pm
You could try contacting Enigma and see if they'll give you specs on the xtal.
OK.... I have contacted Nick at Enigma - waiting for a reply
jvok wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 6:41 pm
Maybe worth ruling out the other cheaper parts first before you worry about the xtal too much.
True...... Firstly I will be replacing IC1 (when it arrives)
The board is prepared I've already removed the old one
.
Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2023 1:10 pm
by BriansBrain
Symkrilag.UK - 6.400MHz Crystal.JPG
Fantastic, I will wait to see if replacing IC1 works first
.
Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2023 1:38 pm
by BriansBrain
BriansBrain wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 1:03 pm
True...... Firstly I will be replacing IC1 (when it arrives)
The board is prepared I've already removed the old one
Well... the IC arrived today
Put it in and... the same =
No Lock
13.8v, = OK
5v = OK
IC1 pin 16 = 7.339V
Next check IC1 pin 15 on a scope for 6.25khz square wave =
NO
Waiting for a Crystal now

Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2023 3:26 pm
by BriansBrain
OK so next suspect the Crystal
Took the old one out for the Simple Crystal test
Crystal Test.JPG
Tested OK @ 6.39879 MHz
But only a small increase in Voltage at the Resonant Frequency
Generator output 3.30V P-P measured on Scope.
Measurement with the Crystal in series 3.66V P-P on Scope.
Should it not give a much higher Voltage at the Resonant Frequency ?
.
Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2023 4:41 pm
by BriansBrain
On the Siglent
Start 6.3MHz
Stop 6.5MHz
PNG1.jpg
The first Time I played with a Crystal, is it OK or ?
Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2023 5:19 pm
by radium98
i dont understand ,or imagine Brian who repair big amplifier and make own software and install solar , could not solve such easy task , there are few components around 4060 it is so easy to spot the problem ,you have such instruments and this oscillator quartz could not be solved , i could not imagine that , 2 caps and 1 resistor and the ic .
Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2023 5:26 pm
by BriansBrain
radium98 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 21, 2023 5:19 pm
i dont understand ,or imagine Brian who repair big amplifier and make own software and install solar , could not solve such easy task , there are few components around 4060 it is so easy to spot the problem ,you have such instruments and this oscillator quartz could not be solved , i could not imagine that , 2 caps and 1 resistor and the ic .
I know...........it's also doing my head in
The IC is new and fitted perfectly.
The Crystal measures OK as far as I can see.
The resister measures 100K.
There are only the 2 caps to go

Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2023 6:50 pm
by BriansBrain
The IC is new and fitted perfectly.
I have tested the Crystal and it seems OK
I removed and replaced NEW...
R48
100K
C61
100pF
C60
33pF (replaced with a
30pF)
Re-Installed the Crystal Cleaned and checked the Print so everything = Perfect
Capture.JPG
Now for Test ...
IC1 pin 15 on a scope = 6.25khz Square Wave
YES
Carefully twiddled VC1 - and Bingo - it now Locks
Thanks to everybody for the help

Re: NRG PLL Pro III - will not lock
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2023 9:56 pm
by radium98
You see I told you that from the first time but you ignored me .Anyway congratulation .I wish my problem in comp limiter will be solved too