Rhodes Chroma Polaris

I have a chroma Polaris in pretty good condition. I just replaced the front panels with new ones that I purchased from Paul. Now I am able to use the lower function button and several of the other buttons that did not work at all before. I still have one problem, however. The upper function button does not appear to be working correctly and I am needing some help troubleshooting the cause.

I do not seem to be able to get the unit to go into the diagnostics mode. I can press the upper function button and it will not stay lit. If I tap it repeatedly very quickly occasionally I can get it to light and stay lit. However, when I try to initiate the diagnostic mode the keyboard will freeze up.

I have tested some of the lower function buttons and combinations and and able to get the adjustments mode to work where I can modify voices. That is really satisfying.

I am not an electronics engineer. I am needing help figuring out what to check next. Has anyone seen anything like this? If so what do you suggest?

Thanks!

Opal

> From: gopalsulleniii
>
> I have a chroma Polaris in pretty good condition. I just
> replaced the front panels with new ones that I purchased from
> Paul. Now I am able to use the lower function button and
> several of the other buttons that did not work at all before.
> I still have one problem, however. The upper function button
> does not appear to be working correctly and I am needing some
> help troubleshooting the cause.
>
> I do not seem to be able to get the unit to go into the
> diagnostics mode. I can press the upper function button and
> it will not stay lit. If I tap it repeatedly very quickly
> occasionally I can get it to light and stay lit. However,
> when I try to initiate the diagnostic mode the keyboard will
> freeze up.
>
> I have tested some of the lower function buttons and
> combinations and and able to get the adjustments mode to work
> where I can modify voices. That is really satisfying.

So when you hold your finger on UPPER FUNCTION, does its LED light up until
your take your finger off? Or does it flash? Or does it do nothing usually?
Do all the other switches work normally? Does the instrument auto-tune
successfully, and sound normal?

Since you just did the membrane switch replacement, that's where I'd start
to look. Sometimes, the silver ink traces on the tails are a little off
center, and they don't line up very well with the contacts in the
connectors. It might be a good idea to carefully pull them out of the
connectors and plug them in again, rechecking the alignment. Since your
problem is with a right panel switch, and its connectors are on the long
edge of the board, you shouldn't have to remove the left panel board.

Also, connectors are the #1 source of problems, so unplugging and reseating
other connectors, like the big ribbon to the panel, and the power supply
connectors, is worth doing.

There could be more than one problem, too. When you say that pressing UPPER
FUNCTION doesn't work but tapping it sometimes does, that makes me think
that some noise is interfering with one or more switch lines, perhaps an
unstable power supply voltage. And when you say the keyboard freezes when
you go into diagnostic mode, that makes me think the EPROMs might be
dropping bits, which can only be fixed by reprogramming them.

--

Ciao, Paul D. DeRocco
Paul mailto:pderocco@...

I did what I could and ended up sending the synth to a repair shop here in Dallas. The tech checked the logic chips, the processor, the power supply, etc. He is now telling me the new right panel is faulty. He says the data lines are shorting and it is happening in the panel somehow. This is one of the brand new panels I just installed. Argghhh.

Anyone else come across a bad panel? I do not want to believe it. Before sending the synth in I tried reseating ribbons, etc.

All other buttons are working, synth tunes, etc. Problem has been with upper function and a few other buttons on right panel. Tech did get sound patches to load to memory, etc. Thoughts?

Can I get a replacement right panel only?

Thanks!

Opal

--- In chromapolaris@yahoogroups.com, "Paul D. DeRocco" <pderocco@...> wrote:
>
> > From: gopalsulleniii
> >
> > I have a chroma Polaris in pretty good condition. I just
> > replaced the front panels with new ones that I purchased from
> > Paul. Now I am able to use the lower function button and
> > several of the other buttons that did not work at all before.
> > I still have one problem, however. The upper function button
> > does not appear to be working correctly and I am needing some
> > help troubleshooting the cause.
> >
> > I do not seem to be able to get the unit to go into the
> > diagnostics mode. I can press the upper function button and
> > it will not stay lit. If I tap it repeatedly very quickly
> > occasionally I can get it to light and stay lit. However,
> > when I try to initiate the diagnostic mode the keyboard will
> > freeze up.
> >
> > I have tested some of the lower function buttons and
> > combinations and and able to get the adjustments mode to work
> > where I can modify voices. That is really satisfying.
>
> So when you hold your finger on UPPER FUNCTION, does its LED light up until
> your take your finger off? Or does it flash? Or does it do nothing usually?
> Do all the other switches work normally? Does the instrument auto-tune
> successfully, and sound normal?
>
> Since you just did the membrane switch replacement, that's where I'd start
> to look. Sometimes, the silver ink traces on the tails are a little off
> center, and they don't line up very well with the contacts in the
> connectors. It might be a good idea to carefully pull them out of the
> connectors and plug them in again, rechecking the alignment. Since your
> problem is with a right panel switch, and its connectors are on the long
> edge of the board, you shouldn't have to remove the left panel board.
>
> Also, connectors are the #1 source of problems, so unplugging and reseating
> other connectors, like the big ribbon to the panel, and the power supply
> connectors, is worth doing.
>
> There could be more than one problem, too. When you say that pressing UPPER
> FUNCTION doesn't work but tapping it sometimes does, that makes me think
> that some noise is interfering with one or more switch lines, perhaps an
> unstable power supply voltage. And when you say the keyboard freezes when
> you go into diagnostic mode, that makes me think the EPROMs might be
> dropping bits, which can only be fixed by reprogramming them.
>
> --
>
> Ciao, Paul D. DeRocco
> Paul mailto:pderocco@...
>

> From: gopalsulleniii
>
> I did what I could and ended up sending the synth to a repair
> shop here in Dallas. The tech checked the logic chips, the
> processor, the power supply, etc. He is now telling me the
> new right panel is faulty. He says the data lines are
> shorting and it is happening in the panel somehow. This is
> one of the brand new panels I just installed. Argghhh.
>
> Anyone else come across a bad panel? I do not want to
> believe it. Before sending the synth in I tried reseating
> ribbons, etc.
>
> All other buttons are working, synth tunes, etc. Problem has
> been with upper function and a few other buttons on right
> panel. Tech did get sound patches to load to memory, etc. Thoughts?
>
> Can I get a replacement right panel only?

No problem. They're supposed to work, and if one doesn't, you get one that
does. I'll send you one ASAP.

--

Ciao, Paul D. DeRocco
Paul mailto:pderocco@...

Paul,

Thanks so much for your support. The new panel solved the issue. I tested it at the tech's shop and it seemed to get the upper function button working. Just installed it at home tonight and it is working like a champ!

Do you want the faulty panel back?

It has taken me 18 months to get this synth working. It is like new. The tech looked it over real well. I have all original packaging, manuals, foot pedal, cassette tape, etc. Looking forward to getting to use it.

Thanks again!

Opal

--- In chromapolaris@yahoogroups.com, "Paul D. DeRocco" <pderocco@...> wrote:
>
> > From: gopalsulleniii
> >
> > I did what I could and ended up sending the synth to a repair
> > shop here in Dallas. The tech checked the logic chips, the
> > processor, the power supply, etc. He is now telling me the
> > new right panel is faulty. He says the data lines are
> > shorting and it is happening in the panel somehow. This is
> > one of the brand new panels I just installed. Argghhh.
> >
> > Anyone else come across a bad panel? I do not want to
> > believe it. Before sending the synth in I tried reseating
> > ribbons, etc.
> >
> > All other buttons are working, synth tunes, etc. Problem has
> > been with upper function and a few other buttons on right
> > panel. Tech did get sound patches to load to memory, etc. Thoughts?
> >
> > Can I get a replacement right panel only?
>
> No problem. They're supposed to work, and if one doesn't, you get one that
> does. I'll send you one ASAP.
>
> --
>
> Ciao, Paul D. DeRocco
> Paul mailto:pderocco@...
>

> From: gopalsulleniii
>
> Thanks so much for your support. The new panel solved the
> issue. I tested it at the tech's shop and it seemed to get
> the upper function button working. Just installed it at home
> tonight and it is working like a champ!
>
> Do you want the faulty panel back?
>
> It has taken me 18 months to get this synth working. It is
> like new. The tech looked it over real well. I have all
> original packaging, manuals, foot pedal, cassette tape, etc.
> Looking forward to getting to use it.

Actually, it would be nice to get the old one back, so I can try to figure
out what happened to it. If I can prove it was a manufacturing defect, I may
be able to get the manufacturer to credit me for it. It would probably be
wise to spread some sort of lubricant, like Vaseline, on the back, so that
it doesn't stick to the packaging. And then send it by the cheapest method,
uninsured. I'll be happy to PayPal you the postage when you know how much it
is.

--

Ciao, Paul D. DeRocco
Paul mailto:pderocco@...

> From: gopalsulleniii
>
> Thanks so much for your support. The new panel solved the
> issue. I tested it at the tech's shop and it seemed to get
> the upper function button working. Just installed it at home
> tonight and it is working like a champ!
>
> Do you want the faulty panel back?

Thanks for sending back the bad panel. I've sent $8.16 to you for the
postage.

--

Ciao, Paul D. DeRocco
Paul mailto:pderocco@...

Paul, have you heard any reports of other bad panels? I still haven/t used any of the ones I got from you yet so this has me a little nervous...
Doug
synthparts.com

--- In chromapolaris@yahoogroups.com, "Paul D. DeRocco" <pderocco@...> wrote:
>
> > From: gopalsulleniii
> >
> > Thanks so much for your support. The new panel solved the
> > issue. I tested it at the tech's shop and it seemed to get
> > the upper function button working. Just installed it at home
> > tonight and it is working like a champ!
> >
> > Do you want the faulty panel back?
>
> Thanks for sending back the bad panel. I've sent $8.16 to you for the
> postage.
>
> --
>
> Ciao, Paul D. DeRocco
> Paul mailto:pderocco@...
>