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Black screen, on but not showing anything

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2018 7:58 am
by C4productions
Hey guys, i just started making a mintypi and I’ve wired everything up how the updated tutorial on youtube is and when i turn the power on the screen turns on but the pi doesn’t. The screen is black but lit. The pi works when i plug in power to the micro usb but then the screen doesn’t even turn on. In the 2nd video guide wermy showed that he can get on the pi without wiring first and just by plugging in and the screen works, but mine doesn’t do that. I just have a 32gb card with the premise image on it, is there some sort of thing i need to alter in it to get it working? If you know what might be wrong please tell me. Thank you!

Re: Black screen, on but not showing anything

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2018 8:38 am
by Helder
Wiring is key, and is continuity and so are images of your soldering too. Do you have good continuity on all points? or are you assuming they are good?

Re: Black screen, on but not showing anything

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2018 8:51 am
by C4productions
Helder. I am almost certain that i have all good soldering. What could be the problem other then that?

Re: Black screen, on but not showing anything

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2018 9:57 am
by C4productions
I rewired from the vcc to the 5v on the accually pi amen ow when i turn it on the screen flashes white and then goes off. Weird. I’ve checked everything with a multimeter so I’m pretty sure the wirings right.

Re: Black screen, on but not showing anything

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2018 4:03 pm
by Helder
You must have a short on the power, either 5V pins or the 3.3v pin on the pi to pcb. See if either of those power GPIO holes are grounded.

Re: Black screen, on but not showing anything

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 12:40 am
by e36bobbo
Did you ever get this figured out? I'm having a similar issue, the screen turns on but stays blank cause the pi isn't getting power. I've checked for continuity, and I have it all around, so I'm kinda stumped.

http://imgur.com/gallery/usVkgxp

Re: Black screen, on but not showing anything

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 10:56 am
by Helder
If the Pi isn't getting power it's a GND or power issue on the 5v GPIO. Check if power is coming from the witch to the VCC and GND pads , if not then your issue is before the pi.

Re: Black screen, on but not showing anything

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 1:07 pm
by e36bobbo
Thanks for getting back to me. Sorry to hijack a current thread. I'll recheck the 5v gpio and gnd. Not sure if this helps trouble shoot but when I plug the Pi in directly via USB, I get the green activity light on the Pi but the screen stays black. When I use the switch, the screen turns on but no green activity light on the Pi. Also, the Pi is getting pretty hot when I use the switch. Things I've tried.....adding some solder to the board pins but my soldering skills are amatuer, also added a few more ground points from gpio to pcb.

http://imgur.com/gallery/eGtXuDi

Edit* so I went back over the switch and gpio pins and now I'm getting power to both the screen and Pi but the screen is still white/blank. I took the sd card out and rewrote the image but still getting a blank screen. I know I'm close, just cant figure out the last piece to the puzzle

Re: Black screen, on but not showing anything

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 7:51 pm
by e36bobbo
Update- I think I may have killed the Pi somehow.... I've tried 2 different SD cards now, 16gb and 32gb. They are Sandisk Ultra Plus, so not some shitty knock-offs. I read that if you plug the USB data port into your PC with no SD card, your PC should ping letting you know there is new hardware plugged in. I'm not getting that ping. Think I should maybe just order another Pi. How hard would it be to remove the Pi I have now from the PCB? Bumming me out that I can't get it running, so the help is appreciated!


Update 7/30- Ordered another Pi today, hopefully have better luck the 2nd go-round.

Re: Black screen, on but not showing anything

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 7:32 pm
by Helder
You need a hot air rework station to safely remove the pi, you have to go back and forth over the GPIO pins till they are hot and molten then put a little pressure (little being the word here) and it should come off easy.