The Ref Stop

Problem with Buzzers

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RefereeX

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Level 3 Referee
My buzzer flags have encountered a problem. The receiver unit keeps turning itself off.

These are refstech flags.

Having spent some time playing around with it, I can’t quite put my finger on what’s making it turn off, but it seems to go off most when I play around with the bronze colour spring on the left hand side. Does anyone know the purpose of this?

Anyone had a similar problem or know how to get it solved?
 

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The Ref Stop
I had an issue like this with my Ervocom flags. Got it working by replacing the battery connector. Not sure if that is the issue here. But worth a check.
 
The bronze spring on the left is the antenna. Check that it soldered properly to the board still - if you have a soldering iron then just reflow the joint.
Also check that it’s not touching any of the other components on the board (it is enamelled wire so should be insulated, but this can scratch off).
Whilst you’re there, check the battery wires and give the a re-solder too if needed.

If you can get a clearer hi-res image I can take a closer look at the rest.
 
davlon said:
The bronze spring on the left is the antenna. Check that it soldered properly to the board still - if you have a soldering iron then just reflow the joint.
Also check that it’s not touching any of the other components on the board (it is enamelled wire so should be insulated, but this can scratch off).
Whilst you’re there, check the battery wires and give the a re-solder too if needed.

If you can get a clearer hi-res image I can take a closer look at the rest.
Click to expand...
Thats about as clear as I can get, but appreciate the help.

I don't think it's anything to do with the battery wires as per @Steve Fall 's suggestion (although thanks) because I turned it on and held the flag buzzer while playing around with the different parts of it and as much fiddling as I did with the battery it stayed on, but when i started shifting the antenna around, it occasionally cut out. Would it short it and turn it off if it was touching other components in places where the coating may have scratched off? is it worth wrapping the antenna in electrical tape? Or will that affect its effectiveness?
 
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RefereeX said:
Thats about as clear as I can get, but appreciate the help.

I don't think it's anything to do with the battery wires as per @Steve Fall 's suggestion (although thanks) because I turned it on and help the flag buzzer while playing around with the different parts of it and as much fiddling as I did with the battery it stayed on, but when i started shifting the antenna around, it occasionally cut out. Would it short it and turn it off if it was touching other components in places where the coating may have scratched off? is it worth wrapping the antenna in electrical tape? Or will that affect its effectiveness?
Click to expand...
Yes it could be touching other components and shorting out. A bit of electrical tape around it shouldn’t affect it noticeably. A quick test would be to stick a bit of paper/card between the antenna and PCB and give it another wiggle to see if it still cuts out.

Additionally this bit makes me a bit nervous. The end of the antenna where it is soldered covers the other bit of copper on the board. The solder resist on the board isn’t an amazing insulator. I’d really recommend resoldering the antenna if you are able to avoid this overlap. 1770977343574.png
 
RefereeX said:
My buzzer flags have encountered a problem. The receiver unit keeps turning itself off.

These are refstech flags.

Having spent some time playing around with it, I can’t quite put my finger on what’s making it turn off, but it seems to go off most when I play around with the bronze colour spring on the left hand side. Does anyone know the purpose of this?

Anyone had a similar problem or know how to get it solved?
Click to expand...
I have the RefsTech flags too, encountered the same. Some games it turns off at will, others it lasts.
 
I whacked a load of electrical tape inside mine trying to separate different parts of the circuit board and they held out last saturday without issue. Hoping for the same again tomorrow
 
Changing the subject but just perhaps a funny thing (for some), very many years ago I had a Ford Escort and whilst driving there was a vibration within dashboard that used to drive me nuts (especially when it was brand new), so much so I took it back under its warranty. Of course they had to take the dashboard out, whereby they identified the problem & isolated the wiring from each other. The good news was that the vibration had gone from behind the dashboard behind the steering wheel. The bad news was that there was now a vibration coming from the dashboard towards the cd player !! The moral of this story was, don’t get something done that involves the removal of a dashboard unless it’s a matter of life & death!! Touch wood I have not had any repeat with any car since so perhaps they isolate as a matter of course these days but I’m only guessing!! lol
 
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DavidObs said:
Changing the subject but just perhaps a funny thing (for some), very many years ago I had a Ford Escort and whilst driving there was a vibration within dashboard that used to drive me nuts (especially when it was brand new), so much so I took it back under its warranty. Of course they had to take the dashboard out, whereby they identified the problem & isolated the wiring from each other. The good news was that the vibration had gone from behind the dashboard behind the steering wheel. The bad news was that there was now a vibration coming from the dashboard towards the cd player !! The morel of this story was, don’t get something done that involves the removal of a dashboard unless it’s a matter of life & death!! Touch wood I have not had any repeat with any car since so perhaps they isolate as a matter of course these days but I’m only guessing!! lol
Click to expand...
I have previously driven to a game getting increasingly worried about a vibrating noise I could hear from the rear of my car, every time I braked.
On arrival I realised it was my bag pressing against my buzzer flags and pressing on to the button when I was breaking 🤦‍♂️
 
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