Just got mine, but sound programming doesn't work

[epilys]

No LEDs light up with battery inserted, which are brand new and tested, not depleted. The BATT selector is selected. Pressing buttons does nothing. Switching to USB and programming over serial works.

Did I get a defective unit?

[rgerganov]

There is a known issue with the battery holder on some of the boards. Sometimes there is a small bump where the battery holder is soldered to the PCB:

This bump may cause short circuit and prevent battery usage. If this is the case with your tag, you have the following options:

1. Use a soldering iron to remove this bump
2. Try to cover the bump with 1mm tape
3. Return the tag to CrowdSupply

Sorry about that.

[epilys]

Hm I don't see any big blob-y solder bumps like that:

But the other side seems a bit non-flat:

I will try covering them, the LED light should light up when set to BATT, correct?

[epilys]

Ok nothing happened, either something fried when I first tried to use it before asking the question here or the problem is something else. I will also try to give it 3V from a desk top power supply instead of a battery and see what happens

[epilys]

OK the + end of the holder and the - on the board are certainly shortcircuited somehow indeed.

[gerenski]

OK the + end of the holder and the - on the board are certainly shortcircuited somehow indeed.

Hi,

Please see the attached picture. Red is top layer, blue is bottom, white is marking the tracks we are interested in- as you see there is the green LED (top left) that goes through a resistor to GND, and through another diode to 3.3V (to prevent bater y to get charged) so there are not many places to have that short circuit. As the battery and sound function is used during manufacturing process (not with a real battery of course) my guess is it is somewhere with the battery holder itself or possibly the switch.

[epilys]

@rgerganov I won't return it probably because it seems wasteful to me since it still works with serial. However if you have any suggestions on possibly fixing the battery holder manually I'd love to hear it!

[gerenski]

@rgerganov I won't return it probably because it seems wasteful to me since it still works with serial. However if you have any suggestions on possibly fixing the battery holder manually I'd love to hear it!

Hi, I don't have a ggtag at my possession right now, bit the battery goes directly to the little switch and through a diode to the 3.3VDC that powers everything. There are not many places for that short circuit. Please check the schematic. On Monday I will be able to take a closer look at this and see if we can find a solution.

BR