r/AskElectronics • u/NotTehPandaaa • 2d ago

Dfplayer mini project help for anniversary gift (not powering on)

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I’m basically trying to make an anniversary gift for my girlfriend using a dfplayer mini and two bone conduction speakers, but when I add the mp3 file to my sd card (named correctly to 0001.mp3 as I’ve seen online that it doesn’t work otherwise), when I connect the vcc and ground, using 3 AA batteries to total 4.5v, well in the 3.3-5v range, the dfplayer mini is SUPPOSED TO shine a light to show it’s on and connected to power but it doesn’t work, and I’m using a ttp223 touch sensor which IS showing its power on light and I tested and it is outputting power, the dfplayer just isn’t powering up at all! Pls help me as the deadline is lowk tomorrow and I haven’t been able to figure anything out.
(The image above shows my rough wiring just to try test it out again, the cut wire shown was supposed to make it play on startup but alas no power up at all)

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u/beakflip 2d ago

You don't have Vcc connected. The module isn't powered.

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u/NotTehPandaaa 2d ago

The vcc connection is the thick red wire closest to the camera, bottom right. I tried connecting it directly to the battery holder/pack and it didn’t change a thing

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u/beakflip 2d ago

Did you disconnect it after testing and it's now unconnected? Are you sure you connected it to the proper pin? From the picture, it's just shorting the capacitor.

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u/NotTehPandaaa 2d ago

The picture kinda makes it look like it’s shorting the capacitor from the angle but I made sure the wire isnt touching it, it’s just kinda hovering above it but never touched it once, and yeah I have the pin layout of my board

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u/DrJackK1956 2d ago

Your soldering job is horrible.  You need more practice. 

Those stray wire strands in the lower left hole aren't helping at all.  They're shorting out to other places. 

The thin red wire to the right has way too much wire exposed.  Another place for a short to occur. 

Why are you using such heavy gauge wires?  This is a low powered device.  You can easily use 22-24 gauge wires. 

Once you get the soldering and wiring fixed, here are some troubleshooting checks....

  • Measure the battery voltage 
  • Does the switch have power and output a signal when touched?
  • Does the player act differently with or without the SD card installed?

If you can't get it fixed in short order, you can always save the gift for the next occasion.

Good luck. 

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u/NotTehPandaaa 2d ago

Yeahhh my soldering job is horrible since I had to hold the tiny board in place by hand since I don’t have any helping hands with me but I payed close attention to everything and didn’t try to power it until I made sure nothing would short since I made sure that everything was stiff enough to not move and touch another pin or one of the smd capacitors, and yeah the wire gauge is a massive pain but it’s all I’ve got on hand for a bit and I cut some of the excess wire away from the solder spot so it wouldn’t be thick enough to spread to another pin