On 05/12/2012 03:37 PM, Mark Sims wrote:

It sounds like the -12V supply is used to generate the DAC low voltage 
reference.  If it is floating,  the DAC output will be unstable.  If it is at a 
solid voltage,  the DAC output will be stable.  The standard EFC range for a 
tbolt is -5V to +5V,  but since almost all Tbolts are running the osc with a 
positive EFC voltage,  it will work with the -12V line grounded.

I suspect that  although it may appear to be working,  the DAC output may not 
be as stable as with a negative rail available since whatever is generating the 
negative DAC reference voltage will be well below its dropout voltage.

One thing to try is to do an oscillator autotune with the -12V line grounded  
and at -12V.  Your DAC gain will probably double (or half) since the DAC output 
range is now 0V..5V instead of -5V to 5V.  The tbolt firmware knows what the 
expected dac voltages rails are (readable via an undocumented TSIP message) are 
and also has settings for what range to allow the EFC to swing.                 
                     

Well, all this is well, but doesn't reflect well on Björns problems I think, I did look at his postings in this thread and he seems to have valid -12V.

What is an issue is that the big ASIC seems either powerless or kept not running.

Either a 3,3V regulator went down, got shorted or something, or clock failed or reset line not released.

I am a bit interested in this myself, but don't have the time to drive down to him this weekend.

Cheers,
Magnus

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